The Stanley Cup Final matchup is almost set with the Vegas Golden Knights having qualified already and the Carolina Hurricanes now up 3-1 over the Montreal Canadiens, but that doesn't mean we can't focus on what's happening off the ice. The New York Rangers are a franchise that recognizes the need to make changes, and this summer will be a continuation of the Letter 2.0 process which was unveiled a few months back. In order to get back to being a true contender, they are going to need extra star power. Some of that star power could become available soon, and the latest news should be music to the Rangers ears.
NHL Insider Pierre LeBrun provides key update on superstar centers
On Wednesday Pierre LeBrun released his latest NHL rumblings notebook, and the column touched upon a number of different topics around the league. There was one segment which will be of interest to Rangers fans, and LeBrun's finding could speak to the strategy Chris Drury might embark on this summer.
It is no secret that Auston Matthews and Connor McDavid want to win the Stanley Cup, and with both stars in frustrating situations and free agency a few years away, the moves their respective teams make this summer could have big implications for their immediate future.
According to LeBrun:
The reality as of now is that it’s a holding pattern on both fronts. Matthews and McDavid are most likely staying put for at least another season, but neither can yet commit 100 percent to that. For starters, both of their teams still need to hire a new head coach.
That’s going to be a factor. Matthews and his agent, Judd Moldaver, who also represents McDavid, had a Zoom call with Chayka and Leafs senior executive adviser of hockey operations Mats Sundin about 10 days ago, and it went well by all accounts. But Matthews and Moldaver still need to see how the Leafs’ offseason moves play out before they can say that they’re for sure committed for next season.
The same goes for McDavid. The Oilers’ moves over the next five or six weeks are important to monitor before McDavid and Moldaver sign off for next season.
This news makes a ton of sense, and let us start with Matthews. The Maple Leafs lost Mitch Marner in the offseason, and the team declined mightily this season. It didn't help that Matthews battled injuries, but the team as a whole has been on a downward trend. Toronto winning the draft lottery certainly changes thing, and infusing another top end piece who can be part of the solution could be of interest to Matthews.
The Rangers link here is that Matthews played for Mike Sullivan at the Olympics, and was teammates with J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck. It is possible that New York could be a place he'd consider joining if he leaves Toronto, but he likely wouldn't be the team's top target.
The Rangers choosing to no re-sign Artemi Panarin, and instead trade him to Los Angeles, is a move that freed up considerable cap space for the foreseeable future. With a lack of impactful free agents available this summer, the Rangers can keep their powder dry and improve around the edges. As constructed, they have a lot of things that could appeal to McDavid, but there's still work to be done.
McDavid, likewise, needs to figure out what he wants to do. It stands to reason that if he decides he's leaving Edmonton that the team would try and trade him to recoup assets, something that could pose a bit of a challenge. The ideal scenario would see New York sign him when he's a free agent, and have him enhance a group as opposed to him joining a team that became weaker in the process of acquiring him.
That said, it is possible the team's long-term center plan involves adding someone like McDavid to the picture, bumping Mika Zibanejad to the No. 2 spot, and then Miller down to the No. 3 spot which would result in Noah Laba playing the role of an overqualified No. 4 center. This could simply be wishful thinking, but how much the Rangers spend of their available cap space this summer could be a good indication of how aggressive they will be to target bigger name players in the upcoming offseasons.
Add us as a preferred source on Google