New York Rangers roundup: Nemeth coming, others leaving

Patrik Nemeth coming?

Larry Brooks of the New York Post is reporting that the Rangers are prepared to sign defenseman Patrik Nemeth when the free agency window opens on Wednesday.  He’s a big blueliner at 6’3″, 228 pounds and was described as “nasty.”   He spent the last two years with the Red Wings, though he was traded to Colorado at the deadline this season as defensive depth.

The Avalanche gave permission for Nemeth to talk to other teams prior to the commencement of free agency on noon on Wednesday.   The report is that he will be signing a two or three year deal for anywhere from $2.25  million to $2.75 million Average Annual Value (AAV).

Two years ago, when Nemeth first became a UFA, we listed him as a possible option as a free agent target.  He signed with Detroit in 2019 for an AAV of $3 million.   The Swede was drafted by Dallas in the second round of the 2010 Entry Draft and after three seasons was claimed on waivers by the Avalanche.  He was regular on the blueline for Colorado for two seasons.  In his last year there he had 131 blocked shots and 137 hits and he was in the top 27 among NHL defensemen in per game average for both.

That ends the rumors that Alec Martinez is Broadway bound.  Despite his ability, any Ranger fan who remembers the 2014 Stanley Cup Final would find the addition of Martinez hard to swallow.

Free agency needs

The Rangers will still be in the free agent marketplace as they need to fill out some roster holes in New York and Hartford.    With Barclay Goodrow, Sammy Blais and Patrik Nemeth, they have filled some needs, but they still don’t have a center who can win a majority of faceoffs.

Barclay Goodrow has played some center and has shown that he can win draws.  He won 50% of his 324 faceoffs this season,  the fourth most draws taken on the Lightning.  To compare, a fourth line faceoff specialist like Phillip Danault  took over 900 draws for the Canadiens.

One option had been 35-year-old Paul Stastny who could have been a viable third line center candidate with a 54% career faceoff winning percentage.  He just re-signed for one year with the Winnipeg Jets for $3.75 million AAV.  He had played for Gerard Gallant in Vegas for two seasons.

The biggest issue facing Chris Drury is to come to a contractual agreement with Igor Shesterkin, who is arbitration eligible.  After that, he has to decide about a contract extension for Mika Zibanejad and what kind of long term deal to give Adam Fox.

As for the ongoing Jack Eichel saga, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reported that a deal is imminent, but the frontrunners are Anaheim, Calgary and Minnesota with the Rangers not close to any kind of trade.   He also reported that there could be a trade of Ryan Strome to Seattle, Vegas or Ottawa.

There was no speculation on what a return could be, but considering that Strome cannot be replaced on the second line at center by anyone on the roster, it would have to be part of a bigger strategy.

That strategy for the future won’t include one Ranger, bought out this weekend.