Several New York Rangers players spoke when breaking the way the playoffs lacked gave them a lot of time to work on their games during the summer. They are not the only ones over time on their hands. The president and general manager of the team Chris Drury and the new coach Mike Sullivan also have time to assess their list and add it before 2025-26.
Igor Shesterkin, Alexis Lafrenière, Will Borgen, Juuso Pärssinen and Urho Vaakanainen have all extensions that will start next season, and Cuylle and K’andre Miller should increase a sharp increase in the limited free agency. All of this leads to a little Cap Crunch.
Puckpedia plans that the Rangers have $ 8.422 million in ceiling space entering the offseason. They may have to free up the right place to cover their group of FRG, which includes Cuylle, Miller, Adam Edström, Matt Répse and Zac Jones. To dive into free agency waters, New York will have to erase more space. This could mean negotiating or buying a player like Chris Kreider or approaching someone like Mika Zibanejad or Artemi Panarin to give up his non-Malade clause.
Let’s take a look at the potential free agent -free options without DRURY is capable of cleaning a little space. I try to keep this realistic list. Something drastic should change if the Rangers would have a chance to see high -end free agents like Mitch Marner, so don’t expect huge names like him here.
Options to be transmitted
Mikael Granlund, Dallas Stars
22 goals, 66 points in 83 games, $ 5 million AAV CAP affected in 2024-25
The San Jose Sharks exchanged Granlund in Dallas before the deadline. He can play in the center and at the wing and is on the left of a line with Roope Hintz and Mikko Rantanen. The 33 -year -old man would not make rangers younger, but his age could make him a little more affordable in the free agency. As is the case with other free agents in this section on the list, New York certainly would need to move money to have space for Granlund. AFP analysis projects He will obtain an average value agreement of $ 4.9 million $ 4.9 million, only a slight drop compared to its current blow.
Ryan Donato, Chicago Blackhawks
31 goals, 62 points in 80 games, $ 2 million Aav Cap
Donato, a former teammate from Adam Fox college, is 29 years old and can play both in the center and at the wing. Its best percentage of shooting 17% in career probably contributed to its walk in 2024-25, but its versatility and its ability to create the offensive always make it an interesting option. Even if it dives at 20 goals, it could offer a boost to the avant-garde group of a team.
The production of Ryan Donato skyrocketed in 2024-25 before the free agency this summer. (Tyler Schank / Getty Images)
Jonathan Drouin, Avalanche du Colorado
11 goals, 37 points in 43 games, $ 2.5 million AAV CAP affected in 2024-25
Drury was interested in Drouin last summer. He had a solid two-year passage in Colorado, although the injuries limited him in 2024-25, and he had trouble generating in the playoffs. Drouin signed agreements of one year each of the last two summers. Maybe he will look for a little more stability.
Patrick Kane, Detroit Red Wings
21 goals, 59 points in 72 games, $ 4 million AAV CAP affected in 2024-25
Kane could re-signate in Detroit and not reach the free agency, but he showed that he was still a goalscorer capable during his first seasons with the Red Wings. A meeting with the Rangers does not seem likely at this stage, but Drury could just as well keep tabs if it arrives on July 1. Twelve of Kane’s goals last season came to the power game, and the Rangers power play waded in 2024-25.
Trent Frederic, Oilers d’Edmonton
8 goals, 15 points in 58 games, $ 2.3 million AAV CAP affected in 2024-25
Frédéric is the type of player that Drury loves. At 6 inches 3 inches, it brings the size and plays with a physical edge. He experienced strong seasons for Boston Bruins in 2022-23 and 2023-24, scoring 35 goals and 71 points during the two seasons, but took a step back this year, as are many players from a disappointing Boston team. The Bruins exchanged Frédéric in Edmonton on the deadline. Despite his disappointing season, he faces an increase in the free agency, and he could earn even more money if he can help the ilers in a deep playoff race.
Yanni Gourde, Tampa Bay Lightning
7 goals, 31 points in 57 games, $ 5.166 million AAV CAP affected in 2024-25
Tampa Bay paid a high price to exchange for Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand on the deadline for trade, so lightning will probably try to re-sign it. If it reaches the market, it brings a rumble that the rangers could use. He was a winning player throughout his career and has a pair of Stanley Cup rings, both of his first visit to The Lightning.
Cheaper central depth
Adam Gaudette, Senators of Ottawa
19 goals, 26 points in 81 games, $ 775,000 AAV CAP affected in 2024-25
Before 2024-25, Gaudette spent almost two complete seasons in the AHL. He found his touch with Ottawa last season, replacing 19 goals. Its best shooting percentage of 21.1% contributed to this success, but could also mean a regression in 2025-2026. If Sullivan wants to put Zibanejad on the right wing of JT Miller, Gaudette could be an affordable option to deal with central work at the lowest.
Christian Dvorak, Montreal Canadians
12 goals, 33 points in 82 games, $ 4.45 million AAV CAP affected in 2024-25
Dvorak is only 29 years old. If Drury could get it or a similar level player on an agreement for less than $ 2 million AAV, this could make sense as a central third line option. AFP Analytics has planned to obtain a two -year contract at 1.765 million AAV dollars. It is a reasonable scope for the Rangers.
Lars or, Washington Capitals
10 goals, 22 points in 80 games, $ 2.45 million AAV CAP affected in 2024-25
Eller has played more than 1,000 NHL games and won a Stanley Cup. He does not bring much offense at this stage of his career, but is the third line center of a good Washington club.
Fox couple possibilities
Vladislav Gavrikov, Los Angeles Kings
5 goals, 30 points in 82 games, $ 5.875 million AAV CAP affected in 2024-25
Recordedly, the Rangers could probably only make a race in Gavrikov if they exchange the free rights of K’andre Miller, and they may have to free up more space in addition to that. It is a risky proposal – and perhaps short -see. Miller has four years younger than Gavrikov and showed that he was capable of a 43-point season (2022-23) and plays 21:57 per game (2022-23 and 2024-25). He and Fox also had underlying numbers of elite when they were twinned last season. Abandon Miller could come back to bite Drury if the defender takes off with another team.
Gavrikov comes out of a strong season with Los Angeles in which he played more than 23 minutes per game. It is a left shot, and if the Rangers were chasing it, it would probably be with the idea of playing it on a pair with long -term Fox. His underlying defensive metrics were Elite last season, according to the model of the colleague Dom Luszczyn. The 29 -year -old would adapt well to the list of Rangers, but Drury should make important sacrifices to obtain it. AFP Analytics has provided that it will get an average annual value contract of $ 7.6 million for seven years.
Brian Dumoulin, New Jersey Devils
3 goals, 22 points in 80 games, $ 3.15 million AAV CAP affected in 2024-25
Dumoulin, whom the Devils acquired Anaheim on the deadline, was a warrior at the brief play in the New Jersey qualifiers, on average almost 30 minutes per match in five games against Carolina and playing more than 36 minutes in the two double extension games. It would be a much cheaper acquisition than Gavrikov and would not require as much ceiling sacrifice elsewhere. If the Rangers have signed someone like Dumoulin, they could twin this player with Fox for game pieces, then assemble Fox and Miller in specific situations, whether late in the match or if they have a large quasi-offensive draw.
(Best photos of Patrick Kane and Vladislav Gavrikov: Ronald Martinez and Jason Mowry / Getty Images)
