Three Cheap Depth Players the New York Rangers Should Target

Chris Drury, NY Rangers (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Chris Drury, NY Rangers (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 15: Max Comtois #44 of the Anaheim Ducks skates against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on March 15, 2022, in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 15: Max Comtois #44 of the Anaheim Ducks skates against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on March 15, 2022, in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Maxime Comtois

Sticking with the forward core as we look for more wing support for the Blueshirts, some will be put off of Josh Bailey due to his age. So, let’s talk about 24-year-old winger Maxime Comtois. As the former Anaheim Duck draft pick has struggled to consistently produce in the NHL, he’s shown flashes of absolute brilliance during his time on a Ducks team that has been in the depths of a rebuild.

Comtois has a career-high of 16 goals and 17 assists for 33 points in 55 games back in 2020-21. You can make the argument that this total is inflated because of the season as this was the year when the divisions were realigned to accommodate the closed border between the United States of America and Canada. That Pacific division was not good that year so you can argue that the weaker teams helped raise those totals, but that Ducks team was still not good either.

If Comtois was to come in and slot into the top six wherever Blake Wheeler does not play, the Rangers could give this player a chance on the second powerplay unit and give him chance to become the player he was drafted to be. If the deal is league minimum or something that can be completely buried in the AHL if things go awry, there’s completely no risk to the Rangers in this situation.

Comtois could also play further down the lineup if there are issues. At 6’2, 210, he’s more than capable of filling out the bottom six in a more physical role if Laviolette doesn’t want to put him in a larger role. This player can move around the lineup and fit in wherever the team needs him to, and that versatility is something that could be incredible for a roster that at times got too stale upfront before the deadline.

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