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Offseason Keys: New York Rangers

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While the playoffs are well underway, many teams have already started their offseason planning.  What storylines lie ahead around the league in what is shaping up to be a likely busy NHL offseason?  Next up in our Offseason Keys series is a look at the New York Rangers.

Back in the 2017-18 season, the Rangers announced that they were entering a rebuilding phase so it didn’t come as a surprise to many that they missed the playoffs by a considerable margin this past season.  New head coach David Quinn got an opportunity to play several young players and despite a thinned out roster, they were still competitive most nights.  They enter the offseason with the number two pick after securing a victory in the Draft Lottery but there are several other keys to their offseason.

Kreider Extension Talks

Several impact veterans have been shipped out over the last couple of seasons as they were in or approaching the final year of their respective contracts.  The next in line that they need to make a decision on is winger Chris Kreider who will be in the final year of his contract next season.

The 28-year-old has been inconsistent in recent years.  At times, his combination of size and speed makes him a real threat as a power forward but at others, he has been more of a perimeter-oriented player that has a penchant for cold streaks.  That complicates things a little bit for GM Jeff Gorton.  There’s no denying that he can be a dominant player at times but because of the highs and lows of his play, how much of a raise on his current $4.625MM AAV can they realistically justify?

If the two sides quickly realize that they’re too far apart on a contract, Kreider is someone who could plausibly hit the trade block this offseason over waiting to make an in-season deal as they did with Kevin Hayes and Mats Zuccarello.  There would be no shortage of interest around the league in his services though it’s worth noting that he has an 11-team no-trade list.  The sooner they find out what it’s going to cost, the better it is for them, especially with the cap space at their disposal this summer.  Speaking of which…

Spend Wisely

As a result of moving out several veterans recently, New York has plenty of cap space to work with for next season.  CapFriendly pegs them at just under $64MM committed to 19 players already for next season with winger Pavel Buchnevich standing as likely the most notable restricted free agent to re-sign.  In other words, they’re going to have a big chunk of cap space at their disposal in July.

While some expect them to go after a big name player or two, there are some potential drawbacks to that approach.  Doing so will limit the ice time of their younger players while also limiting their flexibility to lock those players up long-term after as their payroll room will be limited.  On the other hand, it’s hard to pass up the opportunity to add a core piece or two when the opportunity presents itself.

Knowing that a potential new deal for Kreider will be pricey and that extension talks for promising youngsters Lias Andersson, Filip Chytil, and Brett Howden are only a year away from occurring, Gorton likely won’t look to do long-term deals with all of his potential targets.  Finding a buffer player or two to assist in the short-term will also likely be on their target list.  The Rangers have been big spenders in the past and have the potential to do so again this summer which will undoubtedly make them a team to watch for.

Rebuild The Defense

Back when they dealt Ryan McDonagh to Tampa Bay in 2017-18, the status of New York’s back end wasn’t ideal.  There was a mixture of underachieving veterans and unproven (but promising) youngsters.  Fast forward to today and nothing has really changed.

Marc Staal is a serviceable stay-at-home player but is vastly overpaid for his role.  Kevin Shattenkirk has underachieved considerably after being a big signing just two summers ago.  Brady Skjei had an up-and-down year.  Youngsters Neal Pionk, Anthony DeAngelo, Libor Hajek, and the just-acquired Adam Fox have upside but there are still question marks.  There’s the making of a capable defense corps in this group but they will need some reinforcements to take a step forward.

If Gorton decides to look to add some veteran players this summer, adding a top-four defender needs to be at or near the top of the priority list.  That will take a bit of pressure off some of the younger players and lower the ice time for the underachievers at the same time.  New York was near the bottom of the league in goals allowed this past season and adding to that back end would go a long way in helping turn their fortunes around.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Rangers Tried To Trade Kevin Shattenkirk During The Season

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Kevin Shattenkirk’s time in New York has not gone as well as he or the Rangers had hoped.  Two years into his pricey contract, he found himself a healthy scratch at times last season.  Not surprisingly, Larry Brooks of the New York Post reports that the team tried to trade the 30-year-old earlier in the season while being willing to retain 50% of his contract but had limited interest.

While Shattenkirk has never been known as a defensive dynamo, he had been a consistent point producer, notching at least 43 points in five of the six seasons before signing with New York.  (The one season he didn’t was the lockout-shortened campaign.)  However, that level of production hasn’t followed him; Shattenkirk had just 28 points in 2018-19, the lowest of any full season he has played.

New York has Neal Pionk and Anthony DeAngelo returning for next season on the right side while Brendan Smith, who Brooks notes is a buyout candidate, is also on the roster.  The recently-acquired Adam Fox just put pen to paper on an entry-level deal and could very well push for a roster spot right away.  That could very well push Shattenkirk outside of the lineup on a regular basis which should only increase their efforts to move him.

Shattenkirk has two years remaining on his contract that carries a $6.65MM AAV although the salary is lower than that in each season.  While he hasn’t fit in well at all with the Rangers, there could be a team this summer that could show some interest depending on how things go on the trade market or in free agency.  Even if that happens, it appears that GM Jeff Gorton will be selling quite low to do so, a rough turn of events for their prized free agent signing just two years ago.

New York Rangers Agree To Terms With Vitali Kravtsov, Igor Shesterkin

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For the second day in a row, the New York Rangers have signed a top prospect. After convincing Adam Fox to forego his senior season at Harvard yesterday, the Rangers have finalized an entry-level contract with Vitali Kravtsov, according to CapFriendly. Kravtsov will earn the full $925K maximum in each of his three years, and can also earn up to $850K in performance bonuses. Notably, the deal also includes a European Assignment Clause that would give him the option of returning to the KHL if the Rangers decide to keep him in the minor leagues.

The team also announced that they have agreed to terms with goaltender Igor Shesterkin, another top prospect who spent the last several seasons in the KHL.

Kravtsov, 19, was the ninth-overall pick in last June’s draft and impressed on several stages this season. In 50 games with Traktor Chelyabinsk of the KHL he recorded eight goals and 21 points, solid production for a player his age, and really starred at the international level. Kravtsov recorded six points in seven games with Team Russia at the World Junior tournament, helping them secure a bronze medal. The big winger can contribute no matter what kind of game his team wants to play, bringing physicality, speed and skill in bunches.

The Rangers already have several young forwards ready to make a splash at the NHL level, and will likely add either Jack Hughes or Kaapo Kakko with the second-overall pick this year. The idea of lining up Kakko, Kravtsov, Lias Andersson, Filip Chytil and Brett Howden as they grow and develop has to be exciting for GM Jeff Gorton, who has done a nice job quickly rebuilding the team.

It’s not just forwards that Rangers fans have to look forward to though, as Shesterkin is an impressive talent in his own right. Originally a fourth-round selection in 2014, the 23-year old goaltender has been one of the best in the KHL for the last three years. Leading the league with a .953 save percentage this season in 28 games with St. Petersburg, Shesterkin had an almost unbelievably low goals against average of 1.11.

His arrival does pose some questions for the future however. Henrik Lundqvist still has two years left on his massive contract that carries an $8.5MM cap hit, but young Alexandar Georgiev has also shown he can handle play at the NHL level. With Shesterkin coming to North America the Rangers now have some decisions to make on how long they will wait before installing one of their young Russian goaltenders in the net full time. Lunqvist has said in the past that he wants to stick around New York and even turned down the opportunity of a trade last year. The 37-year old goaltender has a full no-movement clause in his contract.

Adam Fox Signs Entry-Level Contract

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It’s official now, Adam Fox will not return to Harvard for his senior season. The New York Rangers today announced a three-year entry-level contract for their newest prospect, recently acquired from the Carolina Hurricanes. Fox’s contract will kick in for the 2019-20 season.

The 21-year old defenseman was originally selected by the Calgary Flames in 2016, but after making it clear to them he did not intend to sign the team attached him to Dougie Hamilton and Micheal Ferland and sent him to Carolina. The trade made huge waves in the hockey world as it saw Elias Lindholm and Noah Hanifin go the other way, leaving some to point to Fox as the “key to the deal” for the Hurricanes, given Ferland’s expiring contract and the big potential heading to Calgary. While the Flames certainly don’t regret the deal after Lindholm broke out playing with Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan, the Hurricanes aren’t doing so bad either—Hamilton has seven points in ten games for Carolina, who are on the brink of making it to the third round.

After Fox indicated that he wouldn’t sign with the Hurricanes either, it became clear that they would need to try and work out a deal with the Rangers this summer. The young defenseman could have become an unrestricted free agent in the 2020 offseason after his senior year at Harvard, and was expected to sign with New York anyway. As he puts it, Fox “grew up a big Rangers fan, and to have the opportunity to hopefully suit up for them is definitely special.”

He’ll likely get that chance next season, as Fox is already a polished player ready for the NHL level. The right-handed defenseman is a natural powerplay quarterback that racked up 48 points in 33 games as a junior and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker. He has already far outgrown the third-round label, but will have to continue to develop if he’s ever to log big minutes for the Rangers in the defensive end. That will be the next test, now that his college career is behind him.

Youth Added To Team USA For IIHF World Championship

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USA Hockey has announced a trio of new additions to their IIHF World Championship roster, and all three represent the next wave of NHL talent. Not only will the team bring in potential first-overall pick Jack Hughes, but newly acquired New York Rangers prospect Adam Fox is heading to Slovakia along with Ottawa Senators defenseman Christian Wolanin.

Hughes is obviously a huge addition after lighting up the U18 tournament last month, but Fox represents a very interesting situation. The 21-year old defenseman was traded from the Carolina Hurricanes to the Rangers just yesterday, but hasn’t officially signed his entry-level contract. While it is obviously expected to happen before the season begins, technically he still could return to Harvard for his senior season in 2019-20. Fox will be joining Brady Skjei on the Team USA roster, a potential defensive partner next season with the Rangers.

Wolanin meanwhile is a little bit older than the other two, after turning 24 in March, but also brings a little bit of NHL experience. The Senators defenseman has 40 games under his belt at the highest level, but still spent most of this season in the minor leagues with the Belleville Senators. The former University of North Dakota standout has 15 points in those first 40 NHL contests, and is expected to take on a bigger role with Ottawa next season.

The full roster is now as follows:

G Thatcher Demko
G Cayden Primeau
G Cory Schneider

D Quinn Hughes
D Alec Martinez
D Brady Skjei
D Ryan Suter
D Noah Hanifin
D Adam Fox
D Christian Wolanin

F Alex DeBrincat
F Jack Eichel
F Luke Glendening
F Patrick Kane
F Clayton Keller
F Chris Kreider
F Dylan Larkin
F James van Riemsdyk
F Frank Vatrano
F Colin White
F Johnny Gaudreau
F Derek Ryan
F Jack Hughes

Hughes, at just 17 years old will become the youngest player ever to suit up for Team USA at the World Championships.

Carolina Hurricanes Trade Adam Fox

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After finding out that they weren’t going to be able to sign top prospect Adam Fox, the Carolina Hurricanes have traded his rights to the New York Rangers. In return, the Hurricanes will receive the Rangers’ 2019 second-round pick and a conditional 2020 third. That third-round selection will bump up a round if Fox plays 30 games next season.

The Rangers were always the expected destination for a trade, given the belief that he would leave college early and sign with them. Fox has completed three seasons at Harvard and could become an unrestricted free agent next summer, but instead is expected to start his professional career in 2019-20.

This was the exact scenario that the Calgary Flames did not want to take part in when they decided to include Fox in last summer’s blockbuster trade with the Hurricanes. It was clear to them that he had no intention on signing in Calgary, but the Hurricanes did believe that they could get him under contract. For whatever reason, that wasn’t to be and the Rangers seemed like the eventual destination. The Hurricanes front office made it clear that they would seek out a trade this summer, and they did well to secure at least some sort of return for the college star.

Fox, originally selected in the third round back in 2016, developed into one of the best defensemen in college hockey and put up 116 points in 97 regular season games for Harvard over his three years. A natural powerplay quarterback, he routinely carried the puck up the ice and gained the zone himself before setting up teammates for high danger chances. While not a physical presence, his defensive ability also improved to the point where many expect him to step right into the NHL next season. Right-handed offensive options are difficult to find, and the Rangers have now secured one with a ton of potential.

For the Hurricanes, this trade will certainly bring back some interesting franchise memories. In September 2006, the Hurricanes traded third-overall pick Jack Johnson to the Los Angeles Kings after he turned down their offers to sign out of college. That was just a few months after Carolina had secured their first Stanley Cup, something the current team is trying to replicate this spring. If they are somehow able to, it would be an odd quirk of history to have failed to sign another top college defenseman in the same year.

Luke DeCock of the Raleigh News & Observer was first to report that Fox has been traded, while Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet confirmed it was to the Rangers.

The Dallas Stars’ Mats Zuccarello Dilemma

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Mats Zuccarello’s start with the Dallas Stars could not have gone worse. He was injured in his first game with the team after being acquired at the trade deadline and missed all but one of the remaining regular season games. One of two conditional picks that went back to the New York Rangers had the possibility of being upgraded if Zuccarello worked out well enough in Dallas to earn a contract extension. Yet, heading into the playoffs, few were likely looking at Zuccarello as a long-term piece in Dallas following that unfortunate start.

That all changed in the first round, as Zuccarello came up big with three clutch goals and looked like a natural fit with the Stars. His efforts helped to lead Dallas to an upset of the Nashville Predators and on to the second round. All of a sudden, Zuccarello has the support of his teammates and the fan base and indeed looks like he may be more than just a rental. But, as the New York Post’s Larry Brooks writes, Dallas’ leadership faces a tough decision in that regard. Brooks issues a reminder that if the Stars re-sign Zuccarello, they will give up a first-round pick to the New York Rangers in 2020 instead of the third-rounder initially transferred in the deal. The Stars are already at risk of losing their 2019 first-rounder, which goes to New York in place of their second-rounder if the team reaches the Western Conference Final with Zuccarello playing in at least half of those games. If Dallas defeats the St. Louis Blues, with Zuccarello continuing to be an impact player, would they really surrender two straight top picks to keep the veteran winger in town?

Zuccarello is set to turn 32 prior to next season and his point totals have dropped in each of the past three seasons. Dallas stands little chance of getting great value on a new contract for the veteran forward. Yet, even on a downward trajectory, Zuccarello is still a top-ten free agent winger. The Stars already have him in the building and he is building chemistry and familiarity with their core. It could be a mutually beneficial scenario for both sides and the Norwegian scorer could be amenable to staying with the Stars at a reasonable term and rate. If Dallas opts to let him walk instead, they stand a decent chance of missing out on any of the better targets. Is that a gamble worth keeping a first-round pick? There are far more factors yet to be determined, but the Zuccarello situation will continue to be a lingering topic during Dallas’ current postseason run.

Adam McQuaid, Ryan Murray Remain Out For Blue Jackets

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For anyone hoping to see Adam McQuaid face off against his former team this postseason, you’ll have to wait a while longer. As the Columbus Blue Jackets departed for Boston today to face the Bruins in their second-round series, Brian Hedger of the Columbus Dispatch reports that neither McQuaid nor fellow defenseman Ryan Murray made the trip. There is no clear timeline for either’s return, but they will at least miss the first two games in Boston.

McQuaid, 32, has yet to play this postseason after suffering a concussion late in the regular season. The veteran defender was acquired by the Blue Jackets from the New York Rangers at the trade deadline, but many still remember him most from his time with the Bruins. McQuaid, ironically a Columbus draft pick, spent the first nine years of his career in Boston before he was traded this past off-season. At the time, Boston was dealing from a position of strength, but ended up struggling with injuries on the back end all season and could have used McQuaid. Now, they could face the physical stay-at-home defender in the playoffs, that is if he can get healthy. Not only would McQuaid sure up the Blue Jackets’ bottom pair and provide insight into the Bruins’ inner workings, he would also provide the playoff experience sorely lacking from the roster. McQuaid has appeared in 68 playoff games and two Stanley Cup Finals, including winning it all with the Bruins back in 2011.

Murray, like McQuaid, is no stranger to being injured. The 2012 No. 2 overall pick has only played in more than 66 games in a season once in his six-year NHL career and finds himself on the sidelines again this postseason with a back injury. Murray has actually had a career campaign, recording 29 points in just 56 games and +20 rating that led all Columbus defensemen. Yet, Murray has been out since early February and it grows harder to imagine a comeback with each missed game. If Murray is able to return versus Boston or perhaps later in the playoffs, it would give the Blue Jackets a major boost and make them an even more dangerous puck-moving team.

Fortunately, Hedger notes that Markus Nutivaara did make the trip and is not expected to miss any further time with the upper-body injury that cost him the final two games of the first round sweep. He joins Seth Jones, Zach Werenski, and David Savard as a very capable top-four unit for Columbus. However, with McQuaid and Murray still out, the Blue Jackets could struggle matching up their bottom pair against the Bruins. Scott Harrington played very well against the Tampa Bay Lightning, but will have to keep up with that level of play if he and Dean Kukan (or Adam Clendening or Vladislav Gavrikov) want to defend against a deep Boston team.

2018-19 King Clancy Finalists Announced

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The NHL has released the finalists for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy. The award is given to “the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.” Last season was the first time it was awarded to a pair of players, as the Vancouver Canucks’ Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin took home the trophy for their long history of helping the Vancouver community.

Each team nominated one player for the award. The finalists are:

Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Arizona Coyotes

Jason Zucker, Minnesota Wild

Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers

Rangers Prospect Jacob Ragnarsson Signs Two-Year Deal In SHL

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  • Rangers prospect Jacob Ragnarsson has signed a two-year contract with Rogle, the SHL team announced. The defenseman was the 70th overall pick back in June and spent the 2018-19 in the Allsvenskan, Sweden’s second division.  As he wasn’t drafted out of the CHL, New York has four years to sign Ragnarsson so this contract shouldn’t have any bearing on them trying to sign the 19-year-old down the road.

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