New York Rangers’ Vladimir Tarasenko (91) looks to pass during the second period of Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the New Jersey Devils Monday, April 24, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
AP Photos
Analysts and fans of the New York Rangers understood that general manager Chris Drury wouldn’t be able to keep all of their incoming free agents following the end of the 2022-23 season.
To mitigate significant losses like Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko, Drury chose to attack the free agency period with bargain-bin veterans. 10 signings later, the Rangers have just over $6 million in space according to Cap Friendly. Add in future restricted free agent deals to young players like K’Andre Miller and Alexis Lafreniere, and the Rangers cap shrinks to under $1 million.
Not exactly enough room to fit superstars like Kane or Tarasenko into the fold again. But certainly not impossible.
With Kane undergoing hip surgery, the market for the former Norris trophy winner isn’t expected to materialize until later on.
Tarasenko’s market is far different than his old rival. The former Blue has changed agents and has teams like Ottawa and Carolina interested in his services. Finally healthy, and looking for a new deal, Tarasenko could very well be too much money for the Rangers to pay.
Or is he?
Drury’s 10 free agent signings have bolstered the Rangers’ depth and allowed other higher-paid vets to be expendable in the hopes of creating cap space. Barclay Goodrow’s $3.6 million cap hit could add plenty of needed space to bring the Rangers closer to a deal that Tarasenko would be comfortable taking. Even Ryan Lindgren’s $3 million hit could offer added room – however unlikely it is that the team moves one of their best lockdown defensemen.
Whatever the Rangers decide to do to create cap space though is only half the conversation. In the end, New York doesn’t have the cap space other teams…
Read the full article here
