It’s time for another edition of NHL rumours. We’re nearing the start of training camps in the middle of the month, but general managers will be scrambling. Executives are always thinking ahead and contracts have to be handed out. The Edmonton Oilers took care of a big piece of business with Leon Draisaitl getting his big extension. However, other teams may be under the gun to get deals done sooner rather than later. This edition of NHL rumours deals with the New York Rangers and multiple players they need to sign.
All NHL rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
New York Rangers Have Multiple Extensions to Sign
Rumour: The Atheltic’s Peter Baugh and Arthur Staple talk about the plethora of Rangers players that need contract extensions. Some of these names include Igor Shesterkin, Alexis Lafreniere and K’Andre Miller.
.@StapeAthletic and I broke down some big questions for the Rangers entering the year: https://t.co/0xJWIVcWF5
— Peter Baugh (@Peter_Baugh) September 4, 2024
Analysis: The Blueshirts have been oh-so-close the last few seasons, but yet to get over the hump. General Manager Chris Drury has a good group, but expectations are always high in the Big Apple. The pressure is on the Rangers to hoist the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1994.
Baugh and Staple bring up the fact there are 13 players on expiring contracts for New York. There are also a few big names in that group including Shesterkin, Lafreniere and Miller.
The Ahtletic’s insiders stated that Shesterkin seems to be priority number one for Drury. However, the main question is about contract term and money.
Some Much to Do
Both insiders tossed around numbers for Shesterkin and he will definitely get above $10 million like Carey Price and Sergei Bobrovsky did. However, the main question is how far beyond the number will the Rangers go.
Do the Rangers try to see if they can get a hometown discount of $10 million to $10.5? Or will they have go north of $11 million-$12.5 million to keep the Russian netminder in the fold? Once Shesterkin’s deal is done, it’s a matter of making sure the rest of pieces like Lafreniere and Miller are taken care of.
There haven’t been any rumblings that a deal is close, but that could change at a moment’s notice. The Draistaitl deal seemingly came out of nowhere after some thought the two sides were pretty far apart. Drury is probably working overtime to make sure his Vezina Trophy-winning goalie is taken care of for the near future.
Other Matters
Lafreniere and Miller seem to be next on the list, but there are other players like Ryan Lindgren that need to be signed as well. Drury has a lot of work to do and he’ll have to be smart about what he wants to hand out for contracts.
Lindgren signed a one-year deal, but will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year. He’s been hurt off-and-on, but has been a solid partner to Adam Fox on the blueline.
There are also players like Reilly Smith and Smith and Jimmy Vesey that need new deals. Vesey has been an effective player for the Blueshirts, but Smith has yet to suit up for the Rangers. Drury will likely take a wait-and-see attitude before offering a new deal to the recent acquisition from the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Broadway cast could change for New York after this season. However, they want a smash hit before deciding the future.
Main photo by: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
