Tye Kartye continues to reward the Rangers' faith in him

When the New York Rangers claimed Tye Kartye off waivers from the Seattle Kraken last February, there wasn't much reason to expect anything beyond a useful depth addition. He was physical, defended responsibly, and still young enough to warrant a look. For a Rangers team limping through the final months of a lost season, that was more than enough to take a flyer on him.

It didn't take long for Kartye to make himself comfortable. After recording just eight points in 40 games with Seattle before being waived, Kartye finished last season with five goals, and 14 points across 24 games with the Rangers. More importantly, he started showing signs that there might be more offense in his game than his previous role allowed him to show. Just eight games into his first full season in New York, those signs are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

Everyone loves an underdog

Kartye's path to the Rangers hasn't been conventional by any means. He went undrafted before eventually signing with the Seattle Kraken in 2022, but it wasn't because he lacked production. Kartye scored 45 goals during his final season with the Soo Greyhounds before immediately carrying that offense into the professional leagues.

His first AHL season offered another glimpse of what was underneath his high motor and incredible work ethic. Kartye scored 28 goals and 57 points for the Coachella Valley Firebirds in 2022-2023, with another six goals in the Calder Cup playoffs, earning AHL Rookie of the Year mentions in the process. He was called up during Seattle's playoff run that spring and promptly scored his first NHL goal in his first game.

That offense never translated quite as consistently once Kartye became a full time NHL player. He carved out a role with Seattle with his physicality and willingness to play without the puck, but his production gradually took a back seat. By last season, he had just six goals and eight points through 40 games before the Kraken placed him on waivers. That's where the Rangers entered the picture.

At 24 years old, Kartye wasn't exactly a reclamation project. He was still young, cost controlled, and had already shown enough at different levels to suggest there could be something worth investigating.

Making the most of it

It's one thing to get an opportunity. It's another to make yourself difficult to take out of the lineup.

His arrival in New York came with modest expectations, but his willingness to buy into Mike Sullivan's system made him an immediate fit. He was aggressive on the forecheck, willing to battle along the boards, and quickly earned the trust of the coaching staff.

Kartye's 14 points in 24 games to close out last season weren't necessarily groundbreaking, but they represented a significant improvement over his production in Seattle. He was playing with confidence, getting more involved offensively, and making the most of the opportunities in front of him.

That confidence from both himself and the Rangers coaching staff has carried into the new season, where Kartye went from a likely bottom six role, to playing with J.T. Miller and Alexis Lafrenière. It's a considerable responsibility for someone who was available on waivers just eight months ago, but he hasn't looked a bit out of place.

In the last two games against Vancouver and Tampa Bay, he's been completely on fire, with two goals and two primary assists on both of Lafreniere's early goals.

The Canadian army knife

There is something refreshing about a player who doesn't need the puck on his stick to make an impact.

Kartye isn't going to command the same attention as the Rangers' more established offensive players, or exciting young homegrown talent. His value comes from being able to complement those players without sacrificing the qualities that earned him an NHL contract in the first place.

He can retrieve pucks, extend possessions, and create space for his linemates. He's a dog on a bone. He never stops moving his skates. Much like Jesper Fast and Barclay Goodrow before him, these players earn the respect of the fans for their willingness to leave it all out there, and hustle whenever they're on the ice. That combination of skillsets is why he continues to climb the lineup and is now being rewarded for his efforts.

It also helps that his early production doesn't feel entirely accidental. Kartye has always had some offense in his game, even if it became less noticeable in his early 20s in his first few seasons in the best league in the world. The Rangers simply continue to put him in the best position to succeed, and they keep reaping the benefits from it.

A promising future

Eight games is hardly enough to declare Kartye's transformation complete. His early scoring pace will almost certainly cool down, and expecting him to maintain this level of production throughout an entire season would be unfair. For context, he's currently paired with someone on pace for 73 goals. There will be stretches when the points aren't coming, particularly if he continues taking on difficult assignments against opposing team's top lines.

But that's also what makes his game appealing. Kartye doesn't have to score every night to justify his place in the lineup. His physicality, defensive responsibility, and willingness to do the less glamorous work give him a perfect mix of both a high floor and a high ceiling.

If he can continue contributing offensively while maintaining those qualities, the Rangers may have found themselves a legitimate middle six option at a fraction of the cost typically associated with acquiring one.

For an organization that spent considerable time and resources trying to reshape its roster, it's not always the biggest trade or the flashiest free agent signing that rewards you with the most value. Sometimes it's taking a chance on someone willing to buy in to what the coach is selling.

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