Rangers have plenty of money to spend, but are there UFAs worth buying?
Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images The New York Rangers have plenty of money to go shopping this summer as they try to build a team capable of returning to the Stanley Cup Playoffs after back-to-back postseason misses. But while GM Chris Drury is sure to be willing to open his checkbook when free agency begins on July 1, the pickings look pretty thin. The NHL’s salary cap is projected to rise to $104 million in 2026-27, an increase of $8.
5 million from this season. According to Puckpedia, the Rangers will have nearly $27 million to shop with. That’s a lot of money; the problem is that there’s not much in the way of impact talent among unrestricted free agents to spend it on.
One year ago, Rangers fans were likely salivating at the thought that megastar Connor McDavid would be available, as well as impact players such as Kirill Kaprizov, Jack Eichel and Kyle Connor. Instead, all re-signed with their teams. McDavid inked a two-year deal with the Edmonton Oilers that begins next season; Kaprizov (Minnesota Wild), Eichel (Vegas Golden Knights) and Connor (Winnipeg Jets) each signed eight-year contracts worth upwards of $12 million with his respective team.
Perry Nelson-Imagn Images Add in Artemi Panarin (two years, $23 million) with the Los Angeles Kings after they acquired him from the Rangers in February, Adrian Kempe (eight years, $85 million) with the Kings, and Martin Necas (eight years, $92 million) with the Colorado Avalanche, and the ranks of impact talent are pretty thin. So, who’s out there? Let’s take a look (we won’t look at goalies because the Rangers are set with Igor Shesterkin in net).
Semi-impact players Alex Tuch, RW, Buffalo Sabres Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images Tuch’s 33-goal, 66-point season played a key role in the Sabres’ advancing to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2011. He’s scored at least 33 goals in three of the past four seasons and is a combined plus-63 during that time. Tuch also had three goals and six points during Buffalo’s first five playoff games this spring.
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