Perfect opportunity presents itself for the Rangers as they desperately look to make changes
Yesterday, the New York Rangers Metropolitan Division rivals the Pittsburgh Penguins had placed Valtterri Puustinen on waivers which presents the Rangers an opportunity to shake up their roster.
The Penguins organization made a surprise move in landing Phillip Tomasino from the Nashville Predators which caused the team to make Puustinen Available.
Puulstinen has played 63 games in his NHL career and scored six goals with 23 points. The 25-year-old centre who stands at 5 foot 9 and weighs 180 lbs was drafted by the Penguins in 2019, seventh round 203rd overall.
Known as a penalty killer and a checker for the bottom six of the Penguins, he could likely be a benefit for the Rangers who are currently in a state of flux as reports continued to surface of potential change on the horizon for the Blueshirts.
The team needs players that can play defensively and kill penalties. A player of his caliber could certainly help the Rangers, and his salary would certainly not be a hindrance to the team as he currently holds a cap hit of $775,000.
He is in his first year of a two-year deal which means general manager Chris Drury would have some cost certainty.
Over the past couple of weeks, the Rangers have had very poor performances, and it has been noticed by the head coach Peter Laviolette who had a blunt message to his players after losing their latest game.
It was also mentioned by Elliotte Friedman on the 32 Thoughts Podcast that the Rangers are preparing to make other players uncomfortable to whip them back into shape with possible trades of Chris Kreider, K'Andre Miller and Jacob Trouba.
Picking up a player like Puustinen will certainly not be an earth shattering move for the Rangers but could give them more depth down their lines as the team continues to look at ways to shake up and change the teams outlook.
The Rangers next game will take on one of their division rivals as they are on the road to face off against the Carolina Hurricanes. Game time will be at 7:00 PM eastern at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh NC.
