Free agency is in full swing and we’ll have all of your New York Rangers’ news, rumors, and analysis covered right here.
Friday, July 15th:
Rangers also announce RFA D Tommy Hughes has agreed to a deal.
— Andrew Gross (@AGrossRecord) July 15, 2016
Rangers announce they’ve come to terms with D Dylan McIlrath (avoiding arbitration) and with ex-Flame F Josh Jooris
— Andrew Gross (@AGrossRecord) July 15, 2016
Rangers agree to terms with RFA F JT Miller.
— Andrew Gross (@AGrossRecord) July 13, 2016
Rangers also announce they’ve agreed to terms with F Nicklas Jensen, also an RFA. Earlier, announced deal with RFA D Mat Bodie.
— Andrew Gross (@AGrossRecord) July 5, 2016
-The New York Rangers have started to knock out their RFA’s as they have re-signed defenseman Matt Bodie and forward Nicklas Jensen.
Both of these moves are more depth signings, but it will be interesting to watch both of these players throughout training camp, as both could eventually see MSG next season.
Rangers May Have A Secret Weapon Waiting In The Wings
-John Tortorella’s good friend Larry Brooks brought up in a column that the New York Rangers could possibly go after Harvard winger Jimmy Vesey. While Vesey’s rights remain with the Buffalo Sabres, he will become a UFA come August 15th.
Brooks writes that Kevin Hayes’ path to the Rangers could help to recruit Vesey, who would be a great addition to a club whose cap situation is about as tight as it comes.
-The Rangers acquired Michael Grabner, who could add sopme depth to a fourth line that wasn’t effective last season. Grabner tallied only 9 goals/9 assists last season, which stinks a bit of Tanner Glass.
–Nathan Gerbe is another depth signing, and at the price of 600K, you have to wonder why Jeff Gorton didn’t just sign Stalberg, who would have easily been more effective.
-More off-loading, as former New York Rangers’ forward Viktor Stalberg signs with Carolina. The Rangers will have some wiggle-room for their RFA’s, but still have a copius amount of holes in the lineup. Either Gorton is truly rebuilding, or has something up his sleeve.
–Adam Clendening‘s two-way contract is clearly an AHL depth signing for the Rangers.
-It was reported by Bob McKenzie earlier that Eric Staal was shipped off to Minnesota for 3 years at 3.5M.
Report: The Rangers plan to be all in for Jimmy Vesey https://t.co/tPSNsxkopG pic.twitter.com/OU76GPO1k2
— SNYRangers (@SNYRangers) July 3, 2016
Grabner is actually 1.65 mil per season for 2 years.NYR.
Gerbe gets 600K on a one year deal. NYR.#SigningSeason— John Shannon (@JSportsnet) July 1, 2016
Viktor Stalberg to CAR on a one-year deal.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) July 1, 2016
Adam Clendening signs 600/300 New York Rangers
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) July 1, 2016
Eric Staal to MIN. 3 years. $3.5M AAV.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) July 1, 2016
Beukeboom: “My end goal was to get back to the #NHL & hopefully with the Rangers” https://t.co/9AjGwd9hm1 #NYR pic.twitter.com/Ue1JqwZQiP
— Pat Leonard (@PLeonardNYDN) July 1, 2016
The fun has finally began, as the Rangers have dished Eric Staal off to Minnesota. This is a decent price, but I highly doubt that Staal will be effective past a year or two.
NHL Free agency is almost here New York Rangers fans, and that can only mean one thing.
General Manager Jeff Gorton will be making plenty of moves (hopefully). And it’s good, too, because these Blueshirts need some serious work.
We’re no longer discussing the hardened defensive-minded Rangers who sped their way through the competition a few seasons ago. This team is quite different. So different that nobody knows what is going to go down.
We’ll keep you up to date on all of the latest happenings throughout the Summer of 2016 during the free agency period.
Expect Gorton to patch up the gaping hole that is the current defensive situation, especially with the departure of Keith Yandle to the Florida Panthers. What will happen with Dan Girardi and Mac Staal are issues as well.
