The New York Rangers have a number of openings on their roster to try and fill this offseason, and they have limited options in free agency. New York doesn't have a ton of assets at their disposal to make a trade, and they may end up trying to get better by selling high on players like Vincent Trocheck and Braden Schneider. However, there's always the chance that they try and fill some holes with internal options, and it is possible that a recent acquisition could alter the team's offseason roster strategy.
Liam Greentree could be ultimate wild card for Rangers
No one expected Noah Laba to make the Rangers' roster in 2025-26, but he worked hard in rookie camp, regular training camp, and started the season as the No. 4 center. He ended the season as the No. 3 center, and his most productive month came following the Olympic break. He didn't have a lot of hype as a prospect, but he forced the issue.
Greentree, on the other hand, was a first round draft pick by the Los Angeles Kings, and he was the main trade piece received in the Artemi Panarin deal. He is a 6'3" and 216 pound right winger that turned 20 in January, and it is possible the Rangers will give him every chance to compete for a main roster spot.
Greentree scored 36 goals and finished with 90 points during the 2023-24 season. He followed that up with 49 goals and 119 points in 2024-25, and added 24 points in the playoffs. This year Greentree was limited to 52 games, and he finished with 38 goals and 74 points in the regular season. He also added 14 points in 13 playoff games, and that track record at the very least is enough to give him an opportunity.
If the Rangers want Greentree to learn at the NHL level, as opposed to spending time in Hartford, that would alter the type of players they could pursue in free agency. There are a number of attractive options that could work in the middle six, but if the Rangers sign someone, they are going to have to play.
If the Rangers were to try and sign someone who is an upgrade over Conor Sheary, a player that can play on the third line and be bumped up in a worst case scenario, that would suggest they want Greentree to have a chance to make the roster. In other words, if the Rangers were to go after someone like Anthony Mantha, that would be a sign that Greentree is going to primarily play in Hartford. If the Rangers pursue someone like Michael Bunting, that's a different story.
Greentree is an intriguing prospect, and the hope is he can have a positive impact sooner rather than later. It is tough for him knowing that he was aquiried in exchange for Panarin, but that's something fans shouldn't hold against him. He deserves the time to continue to develop and grow, and that just might be at the NHL level. If it ends up being in Hartford, so be it.
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