Mark 2023 down as a formative offseason for the New York Rangers, who are looking to stamp out any doubts next season after a disappointing First Round exit against the New Jersey Devils. While they’re already looking for a new head coach after firing Gerard Gallant, general manager Chris Drury has some offseason player personnel decisions to make, too, after going all in at this year’s trade deadline.
In his latest column for The Athletic, Arthur Staple listed forwards Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko, as well as defenseman Niko Mikkola, as the least likely returnees to the Rangers roster in 2023-24. All pending unrestricted free agents, they’ll likely be too rich for the Rangers’ blood, at least in terms of what they’ll offer to the team over the life of their next contracts.
As Staple concurs, Kane’s health is an obvious question mark moving forward, and Mikkola’s cap hit on his next deal will price the Rangers out of what they can afford for a depth defenseman, especially when offensive acumen from the blueline is an area of need on the third pair. Tarasenko is likely a pure cap casualty, with a strong showing down the stretch boosting his value on the open market.
- Speaking with CHEK’s Rick Dhaliwal, pending Calgary Flames unrestricted free agent Milan Lucic hinted at a potential return to his hometown of Vancouver this offseason. While Calgary hasn’t given any indication of whether they’d like to retain Lucic, the veteran forward likely wouldn’t say no if the Canucks came calling after July 1. Lucic will be 35 by the time next season starts and had just seven goals and 19 points in 77 games with Calgary last season.
- Czech goaltender Michael Hrabal, one of the best prospects available in net for the 2023 NHL Draft, has committed to the University of Massachusetts for the 2023-24 season. The 6-foot-6 18-year-old posted a .920 save percentage in five appearances for Czechia at the World Juniors this year, also earning USHL All-Rookie Team honors with the Omaha Lancers (9-13-4, .908 SV%, 31 games played). Hrabal could hear his name called as early as the late first round.
Why would the Canucks want to waste money on an ineffective Lucic?
Lucic has already hung around to long but I’m sure there is some cap strapped team that will think it’s a good idea to sign him, I keep hearing about all these clubs that are in cap hell and certainly the pandemic didn’t help matters but I continue to witness clubs waste money. Latest example, Buffalo Sabres and Kyle Okposo. Lol.
You just conflated “cap strapped” and “the Buffalo Sabres”, Wilf. Really?!
Do you actually pay any attention to the NHL?
The Sabres will be the youngest team in hockey. Okposo was brought back more for his Leadership intangibles with the Sabres (the last few seasons) & it’s only for 1 year.
Wilf, it is nice to see that you are finally laughing at your posts. The rest of us saw the light some time ago.
Really curious to see if any team gives Wilf Paiement a chance at the GM role.
Given that he doesn’t understand seemingly every signing, draft pick, or contract extension, I’ve gotta say that it would be a longshot. That said, the entertainment value would be off the charts.
I mean, the Islanders hired Mike Milbury, anything is possible.
Rangers can bridge miller and laffy. If they move goodrow, sign backup goalie for league min and play othmann
They can afford a few depth pieces and one player around 4m. Probably not tara. And hopefully not kane.
I’d go with the kid as the BU goalie – Garand. Time to bring up some of the other kids and let them play. Another possible move if they can get him to waive the no trade – Panarin. As talented as he is with the puck, his turnovers and disappearance in big games is concerning. His cap hit is too much for what they’re getting in turn and the kids need more ice time – second line perhaps.
I hope to see Kane somewhere else. The team played notably worse after he was brought in. Tarasenko fit in really well and for the time he was there and before Kane was added I thought we had a legitimate shot to take home the Stanley Cup. That idea went away pretty quickly unfortunately. I know it probably won’t happen due to money but I hope they find a way to keep Tarasenko. If we kept Mikkola I wouldn’t be unhappy, but I don’t know enough about him to know if I’d be really happy to have him back.