Even with all of the additions the New York Rangers have made this offseason, they still have one void that needs to be addressed. Even by trading and signing for Pavel Dorofeyev, the Rangers still could stand to add another forward to their top six, especially if they want to contend for the playoffs and the Stanley Cup.
As of this writing, there are no real solid options for the Rangers in free agency, and the trade market is virtually stalled. So, for the Rangers, their best bet may be to stick with who they have on the roster and in the farm system this upcoming season. But it will be a need entering the 2027-28 campaign, and luckily for the Rangers, they'd have the cap space and better options in free agency.
From a new report, it looks like an ideal target for the Rangers may hit the open market next summer.
Potential Rangers 2027 free agent target Drake Batherson hits standstill with Senators in contract talks
Ottawa Senators winger Drake Batherson has one more year remaining under contract before hitting free agency next summer. Even though Batherson has said he'd like to stay in Ottawa, the contract talks are going nowhere.
The Ottawa Citizen's Bruce Garrioch reported on Monday that there is a gap between the Senators and Batherson in contract talks. Garrioch reports that Batherson is seeking an eight-year extension from Ottawa, which both sides have until Sept. 15 to do so. However, league sources told Garrioch that they don't believe that both sides are close to a deal as of this writing.
It's important to note that there is a Sept. 15 deadline for any team to sign any of their players to an eight-year contract extension. That's because with the new collective bargaining agreement set to go into effect on Sept. 16, teams can only sign players to a maximum of seven years on a contract extension. So, if Batherson and the Senators are unable to hit that deadline, it does open the door for him to hit free agency.
That would be a dream scenario for the Rangers.
Drake Batherson would bring consistent scoring to Rangers
If there is one thing that the Rangers need, it's more consistency in scoring in their Top 6. Sure, Mika Zibanejad is a lock to put up the team-lead in points. But let's not forget that Alexis Lafreneire has seen his production rise and fall like a rollercoaster ride. Let's not forget J.T. Miller, the Rangers' captain, drastically underperforming this past season.
When it comes to Batherson, he is one of the more consistent scorers in the NHL. He did fly under the radar in Ottawa, considering he played alongside bigger names on the roster like Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stutzle. Since the 2022-23 season, Batherson has recorded 22-or-more goals and 62-or-more points. That's four years in a row. Any Rangers fan would sign up for that. Getting a consistent scorer like that to play on either of the top two lines? There should be no arguments over that!
This past season, Batherson posted 33 goals and 71 points, both of which were career-highs, through 79 games.
The good thing is if Batherson were to hit free agency, the Rangers would have more than enough cap space to fit in what would be a pretty big contract. Garrioch reported in his article that the expectation around the league is that he could command an annual salary of $10-11 million. Considering the salary cap growing on a yearly basis, with some of the younger top stars nearing $20 million per year deals, that could look like a bargain for the Rangers.
Adding Batherson to a top six featuring Zibanejad, Gabe Perreault, and Pavel Dorofeyev would certainly help the Rangers as they try to contend in the Metropolitan Division.
Let's face it, it doesn't appear as though the Rangers will land a top forward to throw into their top two lines for the upcoming season. Maybe things change by the time training camp and the preseason gets underway. But when it comes to the 2027 free agency class, there will be some good options for the Rangers. Batherson should be one they consider signing, especially if he is to test out free agency and joining a class that would also feature forwards Nikita Kucherov and Alex DeBrincat.
Add us as a preferred source on Google