Hurricanes and Rangers turn their divisional rivalry into NHL free agency signing frenzy
The Carolina Hurricanes and New York Rangers are taking their on-ice Metropolitan Division rivalry to paperJULY 1 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK RANGERS
47-22-13 · 2022-2023 3RD IN EAST, METROPOLITAN
Next Game at Islanders · Today 11:00PM
What we're hearing about the Rangers heading into free agency The latest on Barclay Goodrow (no buyout), Alexis Lafrenière (quietly being shopped), Jonathan Quick (will become official today) and more.
JULY 1 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Blake Wheeler - Pens one-year deal Wheeler agreed to terms on a one-year, $800,00 contract with the Rangers on Saturday.
Impact Wheeler joins the Rangers having spent the previous 13 seasons with the Jets, including one campaign as the Atlanta Thrashers. During his time in Winnipeg, the Minnesota native racked up 262 goals and 550 assists in 897 contests. Despite the young talent in the Big Apple, Wheeler should be in the mix for a spot in the top six, perhaps even on the top line with Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad.
JULY 1 • ROTOWIRE
Nick Bonino - Signing with Rangers Bonino signed a one-year, $800,000 deal with the Rangers on Saturday, per Dan Rosen of NHL.com.
Impact Bonino appears to slot in as the Rangers' fourth-line center after posting 19 points (10 goals, nine assists) in 62 games between the Sharks and Penguins last season. The 35-year-old Bonino has 158 goals and 195 assists in his 15-year NHL career.
JULY 1 • ROTOWIRE
Erik Gustafsson - Inks one-year deal Gustafsson agreed to a one-year, $825,000 contract with the Rangers on Saturday, per Arthur Staple of The Athletic.
Impact Gustafsson recorded seven goals, 42 points, 52 hits and 63 blocks in 70 contests between Washington and Toronto in 2022-23. If he's going to finish around those offensive numbers next season, he'll likely need to get a reasonable amount of power-play ice time with the Rangers. Gustafsson averaged 2:15 with the man advantage last season and contributed 14 assists in that role. That said, the 31-year-old might start the season serving as the sixth or seventh defenseman, per Vince Z. Mercogliano of USA Today, and that limited role would in turn hinder his offensive potential.
JULY 1 • ROTOWIRE
Jonathan Quick - Joining the Rangers Quick signed a one-year, $825,000 deal with the Rangers on Saturday, per Pierre LeBrun of TSN.
Impact The 37-year-old Quick went 16-15-6 last season, posting an .882 save percentage in 41 games between the Kings and the Golden Knights. Quick, a Connecticut native, will serve as Igor Shesterkin's backup in the 2023-24 season.
JULY 1 • ROTOWIRE
Alex Belzile - Signs with Rangers Belzile (fractured leg) signed a two-year contract with the Rangers on Saturday, Arpon Basu of The Athletic reports.
Impact Belzile will get a two-way contract in his first season and one-way deal during the 2024-25 campaign. Belzile played 31 games for the Canadiens in 2022-23, scoring six times and adding eight assists. He will be a depth player for the Rangers.
JULY 1 • ROTOWIRE
Tyler Pitlick - Joins Rangers Pitlick signed a one-year, $787,500 with the Rangers on Saturday.
Impact Pitlick picked up seven goals, 16 points and 103 hits in 61 games with St. Louis last season. He will battle for a bottom-six role with the Rangers going into the 2023-24 campaign.
JULY 1 • ROTOWIRE
Riley Nash - Grabs two-year contract Nash signed a two-year deal with the Rangers on Saturday.
Impact Nash spent the entirety of the 2022-23 campaign in the minors with AHL Charlotte. For the Checkers, the veteran notched 24 goals and 35 assists, adding another five points in seven postseason contests. Nash figures to slot into a bottom-six role for the Blueshirts and could still find himself playing in the minors periodically despite being on a one-way deal for year one.
JULY 1 • ROTOWIRE
Nikolas Brouillard - Signs one-year deal Brouillard signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Rangers on Saturday.
Impact The 28-year-old defenseman has spent his entire career in the minors. He had six goals and 39 points in 77 games with AHL San Diego in 2022-23. He should see time with AHL Hartford next season.
JULY 1 • ROTOWIRE
Connor Mackey - Signs with Rangers Mackey signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Rangers on Saturday.
Impact Mackey played 10 games with the Flames last season and 20 games with the Coyotes, scoring three times and adding four assists. Mackey should see some time with the Rangers next season as a depth defenseman.
JULY 1 • ROTOWIRE
Libor Hajek - Not receiving qualifying offer Hajek won't get a qualifying offer from the Rangers, which will make him an unrestricted free agent Saturday, per Arthur Staple of The Athletic.
Impact Hajek had two goals and six points in 24 AHL contests with Hartford in 2022-23. At the NHL level, the 25-year-old defenseman has accumulated four goals and 12 points in 110 career games.
JUNE 30 • ROTOWIRE
What we're hearing about the Rangers after the NHL Draft Rangers GM Chris Drury is staying busy now that the draft is over.
JUNE 29 • THEATHLETIC.COM
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JUNE 26 • THEATHLETIC.COM
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JUNE 25 • DALLASNEWS.COM
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JUNE 24 • DALLASNEWS.COM
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JUNE 23 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM
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JUNE 18 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM
Rangers agree to two-year extension for D Zac Jones The Rangers signed defenseman Zac Jones to a two-year contract extension on Friday.
JUNE 16 • SACBEE.COM
Zac Jones - Inks two-year extension Jones, who was eligible to become a restricted free agent this summer, signed a two-year contract extension with the Rangers on Friday.
Impact Jones will come with a $812,500 annual cap hit, according to PuckPedia. The 22-year-old had a goal and two points in 16 contests with the Rangers last season. He also recorded eight goals and 31 points in 54 outings with AHL Hartford. Jones will compete during training camp to earn a roster spot.
JUNE 16 • ROTOWIRE
Five keys to a successful first season for Peter Laviolette There are several areas of concern for the Rangers that Peter Laviolette will have to navigate.
JUNE 15 • THEATHLETIC.COM
2023-24 NHL Stanley Cup odds: Every team's championship futures
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Is Peter Laviolette the right coach for this Rangers team? Rangers general manager Chris Drury went with the safe choice.
JUNE 14 • THEATHLETIC.COM
