Rangers To Make Big Moves In Offseason
The New York Rangers have really altered their team this season and it is yet to be seen whether this change is going to positively impact them or hurt them moving forward. The team, now tied in points for the last playoff spot, still isn't even done moving players out this season while they have been winning hockey games convincingly.
Elliotte Friedman said that the Rangers are setting up for something big in the summer. What this means to me is that Chris Kreider is going to be traded and there are going to be some interesting additions, both on forward and defense.
The new contracts of Igor Shesterkin and Alexis Lafreniere kick in next season and there are a number of RFAs that will need to be signed, but Reilly Smith is also as good as gone this trade deadline too, opening up more space. Could the Rangers add something in the next few days? Yes, as they are right there and now there is an injured Jack Hughes on the New Jersey Devils which opens up the window for the Rangers to catch them and sneak into the top three for playoffs.
With the players and contracts that are on the Rangers, there is no reason not to continue to go for it. This hiccup seems to be mended as the team is playing well and there is a decent mix of veteran talent and younger players who will be the team's future.
It is feasible the Rangers could add another major piece in the summer when the insider said there could be major moves, but that would really impact contract discussions with RFAs if deals aren't done early in the offseason. Their core is good enough to win, especially with J.T. Miller now a part of that.
The Rangers still have a good amount of cap space to work with and Smith to move out. Except more noise from New York now and in a few months to really revamp this team.
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