Rangers targeting several affordable unrestricted free agents this offseason
The New York Rangers management team has been busy over the past several days attempting to clear cap space and to prepare for unrestricted free agency which has several affordable free agents available.
Prior to sending Barclay Goodrow down through the waiver wire, the rangers only had $9 million in cap space which was unacceptable. With Goodrow now part of the San Jose Sharks, the team has bolstered its number to $12.6 million.
General manager Chris Drury would love to make a splash especially in his top six, but with the cap crunch it will make it extremely difficult which leads him to look at other options who are far more affordable and who could make an impact on the Rangers.
One such player would be Anthony Mantha who was acquired by the Vegas Golden Knights for their cup run which was cut short. He was told by the organization that they will part ways and he will not be back and standing at six foot 5 and 234 lbs, the 29-year-old right winger could be a good fit for the Rangers.
During the 2023-2024 season, he played 74 games, scoring 23 goals but 21 assists for 44 points it was a + 11 with 14 minutes and 26 seconds of ice time. He held a cap hit of 4.75 million AAV but likely could be reduced on a one-to-two-year deal.
Another productive forward at a lower cost would be Jason Zucker. The 32-year-old had several productive years especially when he played with the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Minnesota Wild.
Last season, he took a hit in terms of production which could help the Rangers land him at a lower cost as he is projected to have a cap hit of $3.7 million AAV over two years. His experience and leadership would help the team especially if he played on the third line.
Finally, Max Domi could be available for the Rangers depending on how contract negotiations go with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Even though the Maple Leafs would like him to return to the lineup, they also have a cap crunch and are trying to map out their money for maximum affect.
His first half of his season was quite slow, that second-half was far better especially during the playoffs as he was put at the centre position rather than the wing. It's mentioned that he could bring in a contract of two years and $3.5 million AAV.
The Rangers will need to be vigilant and to be smart with their money which may include another trade in the offseason to free up more cash in order to realign the team even though they were the presidents trophy winner.
Source: NHLTRADERUMORS.ME
5 Affordable UFAs for Top-Six Help On The Wing
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