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3 Former Rangers Who Could Return To Fill The Top-Six Void

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With no clear timeline for when Filip Chytil or Kaapo Kakko will return from damage, the New York Rangers shall be enjoying with out two of their top-six forwards for the foreseeable future. They have tried to place different gamers within the top-six, like Blake Wheeler and Jonny Brodzinski, however the outcomes simply haven’t been nearly as good as they should be.

The Rangers are going to be tight on cap area going into the commerce deadline on March 8, 2024, however they’ve sufficient to make a transfer to assist the workforce’s top-six going ahead. With loads of names available on the market, listed here are three former Rangers who may find yourself again with the workforce to assist fill the void.

Anthony Duclair

It’s straightforward to neglect that Anthony Duclair was drafted by and performed 18 video games for the Rangers in the course of the 2014-15 season. He scored one aim and 7 factors earlier than being traded to the Arizona Coyotes within the deal that introduced Keith Yandle to New York.

Now, with the San Jose Sharks, his sixth workforce, Duclair finds himself as the proper commerce goal for groups in search of a scoring possibility of their top-six. The Sharks shall be sellers on the deadline, and he’s going to be one in every of their prime commerce items. He has six objectives and 11 factors in 27 video games on a struggling workforce, however two seasons in the past, he scored 31 objectives with the Florida Panthers. Any workforce in search of a scoring improve can have Duclair excessive on the checklist.

Anthony Duclair, San Jose Sharks (Photo by Kavin Mistry/NHLI by way of Getty Images)

For the Rangers, Duclair would match completely into their top-six and can be a fantastic placeholder till Chytil and Kakko return. He would even be the simplest commerce to make, given the workforce’s restricted cap area. Duclair makes $3 million and shall be an unrestricted free agent on the finish of the season, so if the Sharks retain half his wage, the Rangers may simply tackle the $1.5 million. Duclair would carry pace and talent to the Rangers, which is what the workforce is missing with out Chytil and Kakko. He would even be an improve over a participant like Wheeler; it might even be good to see him again in a Rangers uniform.

Vladimir Tarasenko

As of this writing, the Ottawa Senators are the worst workforce within the Eastern Conference, with an 11-15-0 document and 22 factors. They are prone to be sellers once more on the deadline, and Rangers followers are positive to need Vladimir Tarasenko again.

He had an honest run with the Rangers final season, scoring 8 objectives and 21 factors in 31 video games, and it appeared that he wished to return to New York, however the group didn’t have the cash to signal him. He signed with the Senators on a one-year deal, and he has been good for them, with six objectives and 19 factors in 24 video games. If he retains up this tempo, he shall be one of many extra enticing items available on the market because the deadline will get nearer.

Related: Rangers Regaining Defensive Form In Latest Stretch


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The Rangers know what they’d be getting in Tarasenko. While he may not be the identical participant he was once, he nonetheless has an elite shot and is a shoot-first participant, one thing the Rangers proceed to lack. He would instantly match on the highest line with Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad since he already has chemistry with them after enjoying collectively final season. The cash may be a problem because the Senators would want to retain half of his $5 million wage, and it might nonetheless be a good match for the Rangers.

Frank Vatrano

Rangers followers have been wanting Frank Vatrano again from the Anaheim Ducks. In his brief time with the workforce in the course of the 2021-22 season, Vatrano grew to become a fan favourite because the type he performed, together with his shoot-first mentality, was a pleasure to observe on a workforce stuffed with gamers who look to go. He is a pure goal-scorer and continues to be with the Ducks. He scored 22 objectives final season and has 14 objectives in 30 video games this season – nonetheless, he solely has two objectives in his final ten video games.

Frank Vatrano Anaheim Ducks
Frank Vatrano, Anaheim Ducks (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

Like Tarasenko, Vatrano already has chemistry enjoying with Kreider and Zibanejad and can be a fantastic match within the top-line right-wing spot. The distinction between Vatrano and the opposite gamers talked about right here is that he has one other 12 months left on his deal after this season. The Ducks must retain a part of his $3.650 million deal, however that shouldn’t be a problem since they’ve loads of cap area and are a rebuilding workforce. If the Rangers may make the cash work, Vatrano can be a fantastic match for the remainder of this 12 months and subsequent season.

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These three former Rangers can be a great match to fill the Rangers’ top-six emptiness. There shall be different gamers to observe because the commerce deadline approaches, however these three are arguably the very best match for what the Rangers are in search of and what they want whereas they await injured gamers to return.



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