The 2024 free agent market has veteran players, some more expensive than others. With the New York Rangers facing possible cap-related issues, here are some versatile veterans that could meet any needs of affordability, offence, defence, and motivating the younger players.
Veteran Free Agents Rangers Can Target
Kevin Shattenkirk, D, Boston Bruins, 2024 Free Agent
Firstly, the 35-year-old blueliner put up good defensive numbers this season with the Boston Bruins, notching 85 blocks in 61 games. He was also physical with 63 hits. Shattenkirk’s good veteran presence is complimented by a Stanley Cup championship, his being in 2019-20 with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He demonstrated his two-way defenceman abilities with the Bruins this past season, with six goals and 18 assists in 61 games.
Also, he notched four goals and 23 assists in 75 games with the Anaheim Ducks in 2022-23. Shattenkirk had an even better eight goals and 27 assists in all 82 games in 2021-22 with the Ducks. Also in 2021-22 with the Ducks, he notched an impressive, NHL career-high 135 blocks in 82 games. Any gap the Blueshirts need filled on the defensive pairings could be filled by Shattenkirk.
Shattenkirk can also read the play beautifully. On Dec. 2, 2023, he took a beautiful feed from David Pastrnak and scored his first goal as a Bruin. It took place at Scotiabank Arena and brought the score to 2-0 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs never had a lead in that game, and the final score was 4-3 for Boston in overtime.
He had a $1.05M-cap hit in 2023-24, and the Blueshirts have $5.123M in cap space at the time of writing.
Justin Schultz, D, Seattle Kraken, 2024 Free Agent
The 34-year-old Kelowna, B.C. native notched 68 blocks in 70 games with the Seattle Kraken this past season, and decent offensive numbers with 7 goals and 19 assists. In 2016-17, Schultz helped the Pittsburgh Penguins win their second consecutive Stanley Cup. That year, Schultz hit his NHL career high for blocks with 116 in 78 games. The same was true for hits that season, with 67. He also hit his NHL offence peak that year, with 12 goals and 39 assists to make 51 points in 78 games. Those are good numbers for a blueliner. This rich NHL resume would render the 2024 free agent a great veteran presence and helper on the Blueshirts’ defensive pairings.
On May 2, 2023, Schultz was the first of three Kraken players who scored three goals in under a minute against the Dallas Stars. It happened during Game 1 of the Western Conference Second Round at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. Schultz tied the game 2-2 with his second goal of the season. Over the next 52 seconds, Oliver Bjorkstrand notched a wrister and Jordan Eberle scored a tip-in. The score at the end of that first period was 4-2 Seattle. The Kraken ended up winning 5-4 in overtime.
Schultz had a $3M-cap hit in 2023-24.
Kraken’s Schultz, Bjorkstrand, And Eberle Stun Stars With Three Goals In 52 Seconds (youtube.com)
Max Pacioretty, LW, Washington Capitals, 2024 Free Agent
Finally, the 2011-12 Bill Masterson Memorial Trophy winner had an offensive NHL career peak with the Montreal Canadiens, where he served as captain from 2015 until 2018. In 2014-15, he notched 37 goals and 67 points in 80 games. Most recently, he notched four goals and 19 assists in 47 games with the Washington Capitals this past season, missing games due to injuries. Pacioretty is former captain of the Habs, the team with the most Stanley Cups overall. The now 35-year-old American would be a good veteran presence. Even with what he has been through with injuries, he may bolster scoring on the Rangers’ forward lineups if he stays healthy.
On Jan. 11, 2024, Pacioretty scored his first goal of the 2023-24 season with Alex Ovechkin and Trevor van Riemsdyk recording assists. It was a quick wrist shot after a feed made horizontally across the rink. It put the Caps on the board for that game with a 2-1 score for Seattle, although ultimately they would lose 4-1 following goals from Schultz and Adam Larsson.
Pacioretty had a $2M-cap hit in 2023-24.
Main Photo: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
