The New York Rangers' fanbase got a clear picture of what their retool would entail. Gone are players like Artemi Panarin, Vincent Trocheck, and Brennan Othmann, and entering are Pavel Dorofeyev, Sean Durzi, Marcus Pettersson, and Oliver Bjorkstrand. The team is better on paper, and should have a better path to the playoffs.
Still, the Rangers do have a lack of star power, but it's not for a lack of effort. The team tried to acquire the likes of Brady Tkachuk and Dylan Larkin, but neither had the Rangers on their trade destination wishlist. But before this, the plan was for the team to target superstars in free agency. Yet, that plan disintegrated after all of said superstars signed contract extensions with their respective teams.
Even after those ideas didn't pan out, they do have an idea of who they want to target in the near future.
During a recent episode of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast, former Rangers player Mike Rupp discussed how they can get a player that can attract other top names to join them. The Rangers had that in Artemi Panarin, who was dealt to the Los Angeles Kings before he was set to hit free agency. Rupp said that it's evident their plan was to sign Connor McDavid if he hit free agency this summer. Even though he signed a two-year extension, he believes they still have "a plan to do something big."
Rangers' obvious plan was to get Connor McDavid
"I also think that they have always had an eye on Connor McDavid and that situation and monitoring that," Rupp said. "So I think there's probably a plan to do something big. It just hasn't come to fruition up to this point.
"I think they realize you've got to have, not just for luring other players in to play with them like you just mentioned with Artemi Panarin, but they need to have a dominant guy like that. So, I think they're always planning and maybe scheming for that. It just hasn't really presented itself up to this point."
The Rangers' plan was always to go get a superstar onto their roster. It was the worst-kept secret that they wanted Tkachuk dating back to 2024, but that never came to fruition. This 2026 free agency class was supposed to be stacked with superstars that the Rangers could sign without limitation. From McDavid to Jack Eichel to Kirill Kaprizov. Yet, each of them signed contract extensions with their teams. So, the idea to sign a star was off the boards for the Rangers.
But with McDavid, there is hope that they can get him. McDavid only signed a two-year extension with the Oilers, meaning he will hit free agency in the summer of 2028. There is also the chance that McDavid grows frustrated with the Oilers, which he was already after this past season where they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, and demands a trade.
Let's be real here, the Rangers won't be the only team looking to land McDavid. Every team is going to try and acquire one of the best players of this century. They'd be foolish not to. But the Rangers have shown over the years that they can bring in a superstar. From Panarin to Marian Gaborik to Wayne Gretzky.
Adding McDavid would be such a home run for the Rangers, and it'd drastically increase their chances of contending for a Stanley Cup. But, they do have some work to do beforehand.
Rangers will have to prove they are heading in the right direction to convince a star like Connor McDavid to join them
The Rangers got a wake up call this offseason that they have some work to do to ensure they can be a destination for the stars. Both Tkachuk and Larkin essentially said "thanks but no thanks" by not including the Rangers on their trade lists. It was a shock, considering the Rangers are usually in the running for some of teh top players in hockey. But their drop-off after theit trip to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2024 has hurt their reputation.
Despite finishing in last place in the Eastern Conference this past season, some of the veterans on the team praised playing with some of their younger players, like Gabe Perreault and Adam Sykora. While that's fine to hear from inside the organization, that may not be enough to entice outside players, especially free agents.
Drury was active in trying to bolster the roster. He shored up the defense in a huge way by trading for Durzi and Pettersson, locking in their second pairing defensive duo for the season. Not to mention, fifth-overall pick Alberts Smits can slot in on the third pairing if he impresses in training camp. Not to mention, the Rangers brought in a consistent 35-goal a season player in Dorofeyev to help improve their offense. These moves will have to result in the team escaping the basement of the Eastern Conference standings and back into playoff contention, and soon.
Plus, they'd have to hope that Drury's methods of getting rid of Jacob Trouba and Barclay Goodrow didn't sour any player from signing with them, McDavid included.
While adding McDavid was the Rangers' plan, they still have work to do to see if they can make it a reality. If not, they'll have to work to see if they can convince the next star to join them in the future. It might take some time, Rangers fans.
Add us as a preferred source on Google