The New York Rangers face a crucial offseason in 2025 after a disappointing 2024-25 season that saw them miss the playoffs, a stark contrast to their President's Trophy-winning performance the year before. Several key areas need addressing to ensure the team bounces back and returns to contention. With limited cap space and some difficult decisions looming, General Manager Chris Drury must navigate the free agency period wisely.
One of the most pressing needs is bolstering the defense, particularly the left side. The potential departure of K'Andre Miller would leave a significant void, leaving the Rangers with a largely unproven left defense group. While promising prospect Drew Fortescue is developing, he's unlikely to be an immediate solution. Therefore, the Rangers need to find a veteran defenseman or two willing to sign short-term deals to stabilize the blue line. Some potential free agent targets include Dmitry Orlov, a player the Rangers are familiar with, and Vladislav Gavrikov. However, the Rangers must be cautious about overpaying for these players or handing out lengthy contracts that could become liabilities.
Beyond the defense, the Rangers need to re-sign key restricted free agents like Will Cuylle. Cuylle had a strong season and is developing into a valuable player. Losing him to an offer sheet would be a significant blow, especially considering the aging core of forwards like Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, and Vincent Trocheck.
Another area the Rangers need to address is their center depth. While J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck are solid top-six centers, the team needs to find reliable options for the bottom six. Adam Gaudette could be a potential target to add some depth down the middle.
The Rangers also need to inject more youth into their lineup. For too long, the team has relied on veteran stopgaps, hindering the development of their young players. It's time to give prospects like Will Cuylle, Brennan Othmann, and Brett Berard real opportunities to play meaningful minutes and contribute. Relying on veterans in every depth role isn't sustainable and creates salary cap issues.
Financially, the Rangers are in a tight spot. The NHL's salary cap is set to rise to $95.5 million for the 2025-26 season, but the Rangers have limited cap space. They have approximately $8.4 million to fill three or four roster spots. Several large veteran contracts are on the books, including an eight-year, $92 million extension for Igor Shesterkin, making him the league's highest-paid goalie.
To create more cap flexibility, the Rangers might consider trading Chris Kreider, their longest-tenured player. Kreider's production has declined, and he has a $6.5 million cap hit for the next two seasons. Moving Kreider would free up valuable cap space and allow the Rangers to address other needs.
Overall, the New York Rangers' biggest free agency needs include:
By addressing these needs effectively, the Rangers can retool their roster and return to contention in the 2025-26 season.
