Rangers bolster depth by claiming Tye Kartye off waivers from the Kraken

Tye Kartye is the newest member of the New York Rangers, and he joins the team after being claimed off waivers from the Seattle Kraken. For a team that is already full of bottom six players, President and General Manager Chris Drury figured he could always use one more. That might speak to future moves the organization hasn't executed yet, but fans will have to wait and see how things pan out. That said, let's get you all up to speed on the newest Blueshirt.

Who is Tye Kartye

Kartye is a 6'1" and 198 pound forward that has 180 games of NHL experience during which he's scored 20 goals and added 21 assists for 41 points. He spent 75 games in the American Hockey League with Coachella Valley, and compiled a line of 30 goals and 31 assists for 61 points. He was AHL rookie of the year during the 2022-23 season, and led rookies in scoring that season.

Kartye was not drafted, and he joined the Kraken organization after spending his junior career with the Soo Greyhounds of the OHL. This season has been a challenge for the young forward, and he's appeared in 40 games while skating 378 minutes at 5v5. During that span he's posted a slash line that features a 38.52 GF%, a 46.89 CF%, and a 39.17 xGF%. Last year those numbers included a 34.67 GF%, a 47.44 CF%, and a 49.34 xGF% in 576 minutes across 63 games.

Kartye brings a distinct flavor to the lineup: a physical edge and reliable 5v5 defensive metrics. He is a prototypical grinder who doesn't mind the dirty work. It is a useful toolkit, certainly, but let’s be clear: the Rangers’ glaring hole this season isn’t grit... it’s goal production!

There is zero risk in kicking the tires on a former AHL Rookie of the Year, but keep the expectations grounded. While the organization has much larger fires to put out before the deadline, adding a cost-controlled asset for the price of a waiver claim is simple, effective roster maintenance.

With Brendan Brisson remaining in the mix, Brennan Othmann is now Hartford-bound to ensure he continues logging top-line minutes rather than riding the bench.