The New York Rangers postseason run ended in a heartbreaking Eastern Conference Finals loss to the Florida Panthers. Although the Rangers have an elite roster, they still need a few more pieces to get them into the Stanley Cup Finals.
Unless they trade for one, it is unlikely the Blueshirts will get a big-name player this offseason due to their cap space, but if they can pick up a few solid role players they may be able to take their team to the next level.
Tyler Bertuzzi
Bertuzzi is entering his ninth year in the NHL and will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason. He is coming off a solid season with the Toronto Maple Leafs where he netted 21 goals and had 22 assists. He got some work on the second power-play unit scoring five goals on the man advantage.
What I love about Bertuzzi is his playstyle. He is a gritty player who never takes a shift off. His energy is always at 100% and he plays with good aggression. His playstyle reminds me of Barclay Goodrow who is now with the San Jose Sharks after being waived by the Rangers. Teams always need these types of players and the good thing about Bertuzzi is he brings an offensive skillset.
One of the main reasons for the Rangers' exit from the ECF was because of the Panthers' aggressive forecheck. Bertuzzi brings that type of energy that the Rangers need, especially late in the playoffs when teams may be tired, and good forechecking can really turn the tide of a game.
Bertuzzi may be a tad expensive for New York. He made 5.5 million with the Maple Leafs this past season and his next contract will be around that as well, but if the Rangers can make some cap room then this could be a great fit.
Career Stats
113 Goals 148 Assists 261 Points -37 Rating 13.9 Shot%