As September arrives, hocke Penguins’ summery towns are beginning to see players trickle in for informal skates before training camp officially begins in a few weeks.
After discussing the moves extensively, it’s time to turn our attention to the other teams in the division, starting with the 2023-24 Metropolitan Division champions, the New York Rangers.
This summer’s Rangers’ news may be more about what didn’t happen rather than what did. The team approached captain Jacob Trouba about his partial no-trade clause, following the end of his full no-movement clause. Although there were reports in the NY Post about a potential buyout, nothing materialized, indicating the team’s desire to part ways with Trouba and his $8 million salary. As a result, Trouba will remain in Manhattan this season, albeit under somewhat strained circumstances.
Another significant non-event was the lack of an extension for star goalie Igor Shesterkin, whose contract expires after the 2024-25 season. While it’s expected that an agreement will eventually be reached, Shesterkin is anticipated to demand a substantial raise to rank among the league’s top-paid goalies. How Boston handles restricted free agent Jeremy Swayman will be crucial for Shesterkin’s future contract negotiations.
Aside from these points, it was a relatively quiet offseason for the Rangers. They acquired Reilly Smith from Pittsburgh, covering 75% of his contract, to bolster their forward group.
The team didn’t lose much; as usual, they parted ways with rental players brought in for the playoff push (Alex Wennberg and Jack Roslovic). They also received some cap relief when veteran Barclay Goodrow was claimed off waivers by San Jose. Defenseman Erik Gustafsson left for free agency, but Zac Jones is expected to step into his role. Veteran Blake Wheeler also departed for free agency.
The only other addition was Sam Carrick, joining from free agency. Ryan Lindgren and Braden Schneider, restricted free agents, were signed to short-term deals (one and two years, respectively), partly because of the lingering salary cap impact of Trouba’s contract. While this approach might lead to higher costs down the road, it won’t have immediate repercussions. Top prospect Brennan Othmann is anticipated to make his NHL debut soon.
