New York Rangers re-sign young forward Tim Gettinger

The New York Rangers have re-signed forward Tim Gettinger to a one-year, two-way contract. It will carry a $750,000 cap hit if he ends up playing at the NHL level. If not, he will be paid $80,000 in the minors. This crosses off another restricted free agent the Rangers have to sign. Of course, they still have goaltender Igor Shesterkin to re-sign, but let’s ignore that for now and focus on Gettinger.

Gettinger may not necessarily be a big-name prospect, but he did show pretty significant signs of improvement this season with the Hartford Wolf Pack. In 23 games with the team, he scored nine goals and recorded 19 total points. That is almost a point-per-game pace, which certainly is nothing to scoff about. Also, in 53 games the previous season with Hartford, he only had 27 points. That is not bad, but nowhere as productive as he was this season.

Gettinger also had the chance to play in two games with the Rangers this season, too. He failed to record a point, but the sample size was far too small for any real judgment. Over the two previous seasons, he also appeared in six NHL contests as well. In them, he recorded an assist.

Gettinger should get more NHL action next season.

When looking at the Rangers’ offensive group as it currently stands, there is a good chance that Gettinger will not be in the lineup regularly and could start the season back in Hartford. They have added wingers Sammy Blais and Ryan Reaves. They will be filling out the fourth-line. They also have plenty of high-potential wingers like Kaapo Kakko and Vitaly Kravtsov who will be prioritized first. However, with Gettinger now being 23-years-old and coming off of a good year, he could be a potential option for the team’s 13th forward. At a minimum, he should have the opportunity to fight for it.

Yet, even if they elect to use, say, recently signed Greg McKegg in that role, the possibility of Gettinger playing more than just two games this season is still high. He’s playing well enough to earn more NHL time and injuries occur frequently in this league. That could result in him getting a call-up every once in awhile if he indeed ends up in the minors. As previously stated, he progressed offensively at the AHL level, so perhaps he could blossom into a nice depth scorer for the big-league club down the line.

Gettinger also brings much-needed size when utilized.

There is no denying that the Rangers have been focused on getting both tougher and stronger this off-season. As previously stated, they have added both Reaves and Blais who are of course known for engaging in the physical side of the game. They also signed big defensemen in Patrik Nemeth and Jarred Tinordi. Gettinger, like Tinordi, is also 6’6″ and does fit into the team’s new direction when it comes to size.

Gettinger is not necessarily noted as an enforcer, but he does throw the body and can be another imposing figure when inserted into the lineup. It is hard to find many players who can match his size in the league and honestly, that alone could make him a fine addition on an occasional basis.

At the end of the day, this is a minor re-signing, but one still worth noting. Gettinger is a fascinating prospect who seems to be on the cusp of making it to the league on a permanent basis. We will have to wait and see what transpires with him next season.