New York Rangers: What to do with their free agents

Now that the New York Rangers’ season is officially over, eyes shift towards the off-season and NHL Free Agency. For the Rangers, it will be a busy one; they have a lot of names set to hit the market and it is up to Chris Drury, Gerard Gallant and company to decide who stays and who goes.

The Rangers were one of the last three teams standing this season, and if they want to reach their ultimate goal the team has to make the right moves this summer. They are tight on money, as they are paying big money to their stars like  Artemi Panarin, Jacob Trouba, and Chris Kreider while new deals kick in for Mika Zibanejad and Adam Fox.  Meanwhile, younger players like Alexis Lafrenière and K’Andre Miller are primed for contract extensions soon.

This means that the Rangers will have to be nit-picky with money this off-season and with Sammy Blais just signing a one-year extension for $1.525 million they currently have just under $12 million in cap space. They are going to lose some key players, but will also keep some with hopes of recreating their playoff run.

Who stays and who goes? Let’s find out.

Ryan Strome, Unrestricted Free Agent

Ryan Strome saw his career take flight in New York over the past four years. While a Blueshirt, Strome saw career highs in goals, assists and points over and he was a top six center for New York. While some questioned that,  Strome filled the role well

Putting numbers aside, one of the most noteworthy aspects of Strome is his relationship with Artemi Panarin. Strome and the Rangers’ star have developed a chemistry since the 2019-2020 season and it improved every year. The two are extremely close on and off the ice, and New York definitely benefited from this.

But, Strome also has some negatives. He has a tendency to take bad penalties, and most notably for New York fans he misses open nets more than anyone else on the team. Many Ranger fans have went for his head after a crucial miss in the dying minutes of Game Five against Tampa Bay.

When you look at Strome and free agency there are a few possibilities and it gets tough for Chris Drury. This is not the same Ryan Strome negotiations from two years ago, where he signed a bridge deal, but now he is primed for a payday. The question is if the Rangers can give it to him.

Based on his numbers, Strome will probably receive a contract with an Average Annual Value (AAV) in the $6-7 million range. Not much has been said about the Rangers’ contract negotiations in the past few months, and while Strome says that his heart is in New York, is New York willing to pay him or will they look somewhere else for their center? How does the emergence of Filip Chytil play into this? This might be it for Strome in New York.

Verdict: The Rangers will let Strome walk in free agency. He will yield a contract with an AAV of around $6 million/year, it just won’t be from the Rangers.

Andrew Copp, Unrestricted Free Agent

Here is arguably the most impactful of Chris Drury’s four players that he brought in during the season, and out of the four, Andrew Copp was arguably the most important. In 36 games with New York (both regular season and playoffs), Copp tallied 32 points and was considered one of the best acquisitions not only for the Rangers, but any NHL team.

While Copp spent the majority of the time playing right wing for the Rangers this season, his value is high due to the fact that he can also play center. Throughout the playoffs, Copp was taking key faceoffs for New York and lined up in the center position often.

Coming off a contract that he signed with Winnipeg for $3.64 million, Copp is due for a deal of about $5-5.5 million and will be looking for a longer term. With the Rangers, what happens with Copp depends on what happens with Ryan Strome. The bottom line is that New York cannot afford both players.

Also note that the Rangers lost a first rounder in the trade for Copp, as the team made the Eastern Conference Finals. The Rangers probably do not want to give up a first rounder just for a rental.

Chris Drury has talked highly about Copp during his time in New York and before Copp arrived in the Big Apple. Copp does more good than Strome, and his production when paired with Artemi Panarin is worth an extension. Though he will be deservedly expensive, New York will want him back.

Verdict: The Rangers re-sign Copp to a four year deal with a $5.5M AAV. Copp will play center for New York alongside Artemi Panarin, and if this happens, they are essentially passing on Ryan Strome for a new option.

Tyler Motte, Unrestricted Free Agent

Even Chris Drury said it, he did not know how impactful Motte was.

Though New York did not get an extended view of him during the regular season, their playoff run showed the impact Motte had not only on the Blueshirts, but any team that has him. He is a gritty forward who gets in on checks and does not let many pucks by him. He is also sturdy in the defensive zone though his size is smaller compared to other players that occupy his role.

For the Rangers this past season, Motte was a penalty killer and played extra minutes when Gerard Gallant needed him to. He won the hearts of most Ranger fans; though he did not play flawless hockey he was noticeable.

When looking at Motte, what the Rangers will do with him comes down to money. It is pretty clear that the Rangers want him back. Everyone speaks high of him in the locker room, his impact on the ice is clear, and he is someone you want on the team.

But, the Rangers are working tight on cap, and though Motte is someone they would want to bring back, their cap space might prevent them from this. Motte made $1.225 million last year, and at this price he is a keeper. On the other hand, if another team wants to double his salary, Motte is essentially a goner.

Prediction: The Rangers will not keep Motte. Though Motte loved New York and New York loved him, they might not have the funds to keep him. The Rangers will prioritize other current players.

Justin Braun, Unrestricted Free Agent

Braun was brought in for his defense and experience  and he did not have an impact for New York until the playoffs. He was their sixth defensemen after Patrik Nemeth imploded, and he occupied the role well.

Keeping this short, Braun’s age and the Rangers’ defensemen depth, and of course money works against Braun staying in New York. His role is clear, he is experienced and has played consistent hockey for years. The Rangers do not really need him.

On the other hand, Braun provided some stability on defense and played pretty well in the postseason. It COULD work out for him in New York if the Rangers can unload Patrik Nemeth’s contract and Braun is willing to take a pay cut from his $1.8 million salary.

Going into next season, Gerard Gallant has five defensemen locked in for opening night: Adam Fox, Ryan Lindgren, Jacob Trouba, K’Andre Miller and Braden Schneider. The sixth will have to wait and will be decided (Zac Jones? Libor Hajek? Nils Lundqvist? Nemeth?). It’s doubtful it’s Braun.

Prediction: Braun walks. Most people think he is a definite goner, but there is a chance he stays. With New York’s money situation and their desire to give others a chance, his short tenure in New York officially ends.

Kaapo Kakko, Restricted Free Agent

The Kaapo Kakko situation truly is an interesting one. While many thought Kakko had his place firmly in the starting lineup, he was a surprising scratch for the Rangers for Game Six in Tampa Bay, clouding his future with the team.

There are a few notes regarding the Kakko situation, and the first is this: if Kakko is willing to hear offers from other teams, and one other team decides to give Kakko an offer sheet (less likely than it sounds), the Rangers are going to have to let him go. They do not have the cap space, and with an offer sheet in the range of $4.2 million and $6.3 million for the Finn, New York would be in trouble.

But, going off of this, that’s if Kakko wants to hear offers. New York really has control in this situation, as they have until July 13 to get him under contract.  Though they are in a tight situation, they will definitely qualify him by this date.

This Kakko decision would be much easier if Gerard Gallant did not decide to scratch him for Game Six. Gallant said in his exit press conference that he would be disappointed if Kakko did not become a top six forward in the future and statd that he will be beack.  Kakko also expressed that he wants to be in New York and most people want him. But, he has not lived up to the potential that he has.

If the Rangers are able to seal up Kakko, it will be by July 13. If not, he might have  played his last game in a Rangers’ sweater.

Prediction: The Rangers WILL give Kakko a bridge contract, similar to what they did for Filip Chytil, at 2 years, $2-2.5 million/year. Though this puts them in a tough situation and primed to lose some other free agents, they will still be in position to sign players such as Alexis Lafreniere and K’Andre Miller next season. For now, Kakko stays.

Kevin Rooney, Unrestricted Free Agent

For the past two years, Kevin Rooney has been underrated by most Rangers fans. While he has a low ceiling, his role is clear: be a solid fourth liner that gives defensive stability, gets in on checks and kills penalties.

In his tenure with New York, Rooney did this well, but in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, he was a healthy scratch when Barclay Goodrow and Tyler Motte came back from injuries.

Rooney was making $750,000 a year, and he is probably due for a raise. He can be a fourth liner on any team, stays healthy most of the time and again, kills penalties. He will probably be looking for a contract of around $1.5 million/year.  It won’t help that he failed to score in his last 51 regular season and playoff games.

If the Rangers let him go, there’s three main reasons:

1. They can probably find someone who fills a similar role as Rooney (Tyler Motte, for example) as a penalty killer and fourth line center who can win draws., and Rooney and
2. If Rooney does go, it will be becausesomeone will be willing to pay him more. than the Rangers can afford.
3. Ryan Reaves is slated to make $1.75 million next year, and this is not to be a healthy scratch. Reaves will be on the team next year on the fourth line barring unforseen circumstances and the Rangers might not be able to afford Rooney.

But, that’s IF he walks.

Prediction: Rooney comes back and the Rangers give him a 1 year contract with a slight raise. After missing out on Tyler Motte, New York wants Rooney back for some stablity.

Alexandar Georgiev, Unrestricted Free Agent

To keep this as short as possible: the Rangers do not NEED Georgiev, but at the same time, they do not want to run Igor Shesterkin into the ground. But, at $2.45 million a year, Georgiev is much too expensive.

As long as something does not go terribly wrong, the Rangers have their number one goalie for years to come and hopefully for playoff runs to come. They just need a backup behind him that can play 30-35 or more games a year to take some of the load off of Shesterkin.

Georgiev suffered from the fact that Shesterkin played so much last season, meaning the backup goalie only started in 28 games. Georgiev had some bad moments and a lot of that is attributed to rust. He has the talent to be a starting goalie, but that means he has to play more. It’s obvious he will not be getting that in New York.

Georgiev should get a chance at a starting job elsewhere.

Prediction: The Rangers will try to trade Georgiev before July 13 to try somethin in return, even a low draft pick.  If they fail to trade him, they will not give him a qualifying offer and Georgiev will become a UFA and will be gone in the summer.

Julien Gauthier, Restricted Free Agent with Arbitration Rights

Remember Gauthier? The Ranger who many thought solidified his spot in the lineup, but after the trade deadline rarely appeared in the lineup?

Gauthier has the tools to be successful in the NHL. He has the size, he has the speed. He needs to work on his finishing. In terms of what happens with him and the Rangers, it comes down to the Rangers wanting to give others a shot.

There are many players already ahead of Gauthier in the pipeline and there will be more coming. The Rangers have many prospects and if a lineup slot opens up, expect them to be given a shot over Gauthier. It’s hard to see him in a Rangers’ sweater next year but it can happen.

Prediction: But, Gauthier will still sign with the Rangers for a qualifying offer at 105% his $775k current salary but, they will look to trade him.

Greg McKegg, Unrestricted Free Agent

McKegg suffered from the same problem as Gauthier, which was the Rangers became a deeper team after the trade deadline.

The Rangers will lose some people in free agency, and McKegg might be one of them. Chris Drury and Gerard Gallant definitely prefer players like Tyler Motte, Sammy Blais and Kevin Rooney over McKegg. But, looking the other way, McKegg should be a cheap signing with an AAV of under $1 million, and if the Rangers miss out on some of their other guys it opens the door for him to come back.

Prediction: McKegg re-signs a 1, year $750,000 contract with New York. The Rangers miss out on some of their other guys (saving to offer Alexis Lafreniere and K’Andre Miller extensions in 2023) and McKegg is a fine Plan B.

Libor Hajek, Restricted Free Agent with Arbitration Rights

Hajek was on the outside looking in the entire season, and the player Jeff Gorton loved while in New York has mostly failed to put it together in New York.

There is not much room for Hajek on the blue line, as the Rangers have five defensemen on lock. But, Hajek is cheap and provides depth.

He, like Gauthier, is arbitration eligible, meaning he will get 105% of his contract and be slated to make over $900,000 next year. The Rangers can offer him, but will they?

Prediction: The Rangers will sign Hajek to a cheap contract, but he will still be on the outside looking in.

The Rangers have their core intact, and the question of this off-season is who will be surrounding them. A lot of the Rangers’ success over the next few years will come down to this. They knew this was coming; extending stars and evolving youngsters comes with a price.

Chris Drury has what it takes to bring this team right back to where they were in the Eastern Conference Final and further. Plenty will be on the minds of Rangers fans both before and during free agency.

For now, we just have to wait.