Projecting the Rangers’ ideal offseason: 7 steps for New York to find summer success

The next two weeks figure to be a blur of NHL activity, with the draft scheduled for Friday and Saturday in Buffalo and free agency set to open July 1. But the fireworks were already ignited last weekend, making for a Father’s Day that hockey lovers won’t soon forget.

The blockbuster trade that sent Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers had dads everywhere dropping their jaws and grill tongs. A Tkachuk move had been speculated for years, but so often rumors don’t turn to reality in this league. It’s created a feeling that anything is possible, with players increasingly emboldened to dictate their terms.

That could be seen as an exciting proposition for the roster-retooling New York Rangers, who always seem to be interested in big stars. But it may not be that simple for a franchise that’s lost its luster as an attractive destination.

That’s what the market is telling us. The Rangers had long coveted Tkachuk, but as colleague Pierre LeBrun reported, they weren’t among the four teams the 26-year-old winger told the Senators he would consider. That also seems to be the case for Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin, whose trade request went public earlier this month. Like many other established veterans, he doesn’t view New York as a place to quench his thirst for winning.

Where does that leave the Rangers and team president Chris Drury? I’ve reported on his preference to take a big swing if the right opportunity presents itself, and still believe he’s looking for ways to do just that. But skepticism is warranted regarding his ability to pull it off. There’s a world where no major additions materialize, forcing him to recalibrate plans for nearly $30 million in salary cap space.

As Rangers fans wait to find out what Drury will do, I detailed seven steps that he should take to ensure a successful offseason.

1. Draft Carels or Šmits at No. 5

It would be one thing if promising center Caleb Malhotra or dynamic winger Ivar Stenberg falls to No. 5. The Rangers should be all over either forward if that happens. But should the chalk scenario occur, Drury should implement a best-player-available strategy and make the pick with conviction. Let’s not forget that this is an organization with holes all over. Outside of starting goalie, they could use players at virtually every position.

I’d be tempted by Swedish center Viggo Björck, who was impressive at the IIHF World Championships, but there’s belief that he tops out as a second-liner and could even end up as a wing.

The chance to grab a potential top-pair defenseman, which many around the league believe both Carson Carels and Alberts Šmits could become, provides better value and would solidify New York’s blue line in a way they may not be able to achieve otherwise. (Both prospects sound promising to me, so I’ll leave it to John Lilley and the rest of the amateur scouting staff to determine which is the better option.)

The lottery didn’t do the Rangers any favors, but they can still move forward with a blue-line pillar. Their D corps has struggled in recent years, but a top three of Adam Fox, Vladislav Gavrikov and either Carels or Šmits could raise the floor significantly.

2. Focus on skill and speed in the rest of the draft

There are upwards of six high-end defenseman available near the top of the draft, and if New York can lock one of them up at No. 5, the focus with their other 10 picks should shift to two glaring areas of need: skill and speed. I would also prioritize coming away with at least a couple centers who check those boxes, seeing as that’s the weakest position in the prospect pool — and arguably the most important position on the ice.

The Rangers have largely targeted size and grit under Drury, but it’s left them lacking in players who can keep up with the pace and scoring of today’s NHL. It’s time to course-correct. (I went with that strategy in my seven-round mock simulation and came away pleased with the results.)

Lastly, with a total of four third-round picks, I like the idea of using one or two to move up for a coveted player in the first or second round. They need quantity, but coming away with nine or 10 new prospects instead of 11 is worthwhile if it improves the overall quality of the haul.

3. Take the best offer for Trocheck

The Rangers are telling other teams they won’t trade Vincent Trocheck unless someone meets their price, which is the right stance to take. But in the end, they need to leverage their position as best they can before accepting the best offer they can get this summer.

There’s simply too much risk in letting the situation linger. Trocheck will turn 33 in a few weeks and may never have this much trade value again. He’s coming off an Olympic gold medal with Team USA and is available at a time when teams are thirsting for trades due to an underwhelming free-agent class. Waiting until the 2027 trade deadline would mean banking on good health and performance for another eight or nine months, all while Trocheck plays without his most productive linemate: Artemi Panarin, who was dealt to the Los Angeles Kings in February.

Let’s not forget that New York already tried to trade Trocheck at the previous deadline and determined the summer would elicit better offers, so why would that change at the next deadline? The challenge will be extracting what the Rangers are looking for from interested parties. Drury wants a package headlined by a young roster player with upside, which makes sense, but contending teams generally prefer to part with future assets. In a recent exercise at The Athletic in which I asked opposing beat writers to propose feasible offers for Trocheck, my favorites came from Boston and Buffalo, with the Bruins offering two first-round picks while the Sabres put a first and 51-point winger Jack Quinn on the table.

Colleague Chris Johnston has reported that Trocheck, who recently signaled he’d like to rip off the bandage by switching to power agent Pat Brisson, may be open to considering a few Western Conference locations as his no-trade list shifts from 12 teams to 10. Three worth monitoring are the Kings, Anaheim Ducks and Utah Mammoth.

Between Panarin being there and the hiring of former Rangers coach Peter Laviolette, you can see why Trocheck might have interest in L.A. But the Kings’ prospect pool is barren, so a deal would likely require including someone like 24-year-old New Jersey native Alex Laferriere. LeBrun has reported that the Ducks are receiving calls about 23-year-old center Mason McTavish, so could there be a match? The Mammoth are loaded with attractive young talent, but would Trocheck go to Utah?

Regardless, the onus is on Drury to strike before allowing his biggest asset to depreciate.

4. Explore other ways to add young talent

Taking this step won’t be easy due to the glut of no-movement clauses on the Rangers’ roster. A team in this position would typically try to deal veterans for youth, as is the case with Trocheck, but the rest of New York’s 30-and-older players have full trade protections.

That’s why the team is listening to offers for 24-year-old RFA Braden Schneider. He hasn’t blossomed into the shutdown defenseman the Rangers once envisioned, but there should still be a market for a first-round pick who brings size, physicality and high character.

I don’t see Schneider’s situation to be as urgent as Trocheck’s, but if the Rangers can use him to acquire a scoring forward, then they should go for it. As an example, in our recent staff mock draft, I was able to pry playmaking winger William Eklund from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Schneider and a third-round pick. I’m not sure how feasible that is, but something along those lines is what Drury should be seeking.

There aren’t many other obvious trade candidates, but fellow right-handed defenseman Will Borgen is another to shop around (his value is likely less than Schneider’s), as well as any of New York’s excess bottom-six forwards prospects.

Where does Alexis Lafrenière stand in this equation? The Rangers have gauged the market, but I’d be hard-pressed to part with him unless they get blown away. They need to add offensive players, not subtract them.

5. Sign short-term UFAs who could become deadline assets

The temptation is there to use all of that cap space, but the problem is no free agents are worth splurging on in this year’s class.

Colleague Peter Baugh took a closer look at potential Rangers targets, which showed just how slim the pickings are. The best available is 30-year-old winger Alex Tuch, and he doesn’t come close to pushing them over the hump — especially not at a bloated average annual value that’s expected to eclipse $10 million.

The focus, in my opinion, should be on low-risk, short-term deals. Rather than overpay for the likes of Michael Bunting, Anthony Mantha or Mason Marchment, Drury should target blemished players who have some redeeming qualities — we’re back to that skill-and-speed theme — and are willing to accept a one- or two-year deal.

If they help New York become a scrappy team that hangs around in the playoff race, great. Otherwise they can be flipped at the deadline to continue the accumulation of draft picks and prospects. I’m thinking along the lines of Andrei Kuzmenko and Patrik Laine: players who’ve shown they can produce offense but have struggled in recent years due to injury or otherwise.

I’d be less inclined to spend on bottom-six help, outside of center. Expect the Rangers to sign a new 4C after trading Sam Carrick to Buffalo in March — someone such as Teddy Blueger, Tomáš Nosek or Kevin Stenlund — but I’d rather give looks on the wing to in-house candidates Jaroslav Chmelař, Tye Kartye and Adam Sýkora.

At least one body is needed on the left side of the defense, and perhaps a righty if Schneider or Borgen are traded. At 27, Mario Ferraro can’t be ruled out because of his youth and lunch-pail style, but I’m not sure he moves the puck well enough to justify what is expected to be a long-term contract at well over $5 million per season. Ryan Shea is another name to watch, with connections to Rangers coach Mike Sullivan from their time together in Pittsburgh, but AFP Analytics projects a four-year, $4.367 million AAV deal for a 29-year-old who just broke through as an NHL regular.

Those aren’t disqualifying salaries in a rising cap world, but the preference should be snagging plug-ins who are willing sign short-term, such as Matt Grzelcyk (who also has ties to Sullivan), Ville Heinola or Jeremy Lauzon. That will keep the door open for prospects such as E.J. Emery, Drew Fortescue and whomever the Rangers draft at No. 5 to break through in the coming years.

6. Absorb a ‘bad’ contract

I write about weaponizing cap space all the time, and while it’s easier said than done, that doesn’t mean the Rangers shouldn’t be trying. Even with the cap jumping up, teams such as Dallas, Florida, Minnesota and Vegas may still need to create wiggle room to complete other orders of business.

Baugh and I recently examined potential cap casualities from those clubs and others. As long as it doesn’t require too hefty of a commitment — or for too long — New York can afford a slightly bloated salary for a couple years if it means bringing extra assets back in return, or possibly flipping for more later.

7. Don’t chase the shiny object

In an interview on WFAN last week, New York Knicks and Rangers owner James Dolan — fresh off the former team’s first NBA championship in 53 years — discussed his previous habit of chasing what he described as “the bright, shiny thing.” Dolan was talking about his hiring of Knicks president Leon Rose, compared to that of prior GMs who arrived with more experience and name recognition, but it’s a lesson that can seemingly be applied his hockey club as well.

Even if the Rangers wanted to keep chasing those shiny objects, the choice may be out of their hands this summer. Being brushed aside by the likes of Larkin and Tkachuk is a clear sign that at least some top players no longer view New York as a desirable situation. It may force Drury into taking a more methodical approach — and that could be a good thing.

Selling the farm for a star who makes the lineup marginally better but still far from a contender shouldn’t be the goal. Those are the kind of moves teams make when they’re knocking on the door, not coming off a last-place finish in the Eastern Conference.

The aim should be getting younger and replenishing a pipeline in dire need of high-end skill. Getting better in the short term could be an added benefit, but not at the expense of building something sustainable.

I believe the plan laid out in this story could help accomplish both of those things. The Rangers would enter next season with the same top line of Lafrenière, Mika Zibanejad and top prospect Gabe Perreault, giving them a chance to build on the encouraging signs we saw in the final months of 2025-26. Captain J.T. Miller would serve in a second-line role, presumably with two new players: whomever they acquired in the Trocheck trade, plus either a UFA (such as Kuzmenko or Laine) or a veteran absorbed via trade. Those would be the wild-card spots, with winger prospect Liam Greentree — who was acquired in the Panarin trade — possibly factoring in later in the season.

Then I like an energetic, 25-and-under third line of Kartye, Noah Laba and Will Cuylle, with the fourth line featuring its new center flanked by whichever wingers win the training camp competition between Chmelař, Sýkora, Adam Edström and Matt Rempe. On D, the top pair of Gavrikov and Fox returns, with the No. 5 pick and a veteran signing such as Grzelcyk, Heinola or Lauzon competing with whoever remains out of Borgen, Schneider, Fortescue, Matthew Robertson and Scott Morrow.

And in goal, Igor Shesterkin remains the team’s backbone and biggest reason they have a chance to surprise, with rookie Dylan Garand finally getting his chance to serve as primary backup. All of this while new AHL Hartford coach Jay Leach and a changing development staff increasingly shape a prospect pool that’s fortified by the team’s most consequential draft class in at least six years.

This team isn’t winning the Stanley Cup. But it should be competitive with good health and individual improvements. More importantly, the Rangers would be giving their youth a chance to develop while stockpiling assets and maintaining flexibility for the future.