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.<\/p>\n
Firstly, the 35-year-old blueliner<\/a> put up good defensive numbers this season with the Boston Bruins<\/a>, notching 85<\/a> blocks in 61 games. He was also physical with 63<\/a> hits. Shattenkirk\u2019s<\/a> good veteran presence is complimented by a Stanley Cup championship<\/a>, his being in 2019-20 with the Tampa Bay Lightning<\/a>. He demonstrated his two-way defenceman abilities with the Bruins this past season, with six<\/a> goals and 18 assists in 61 games.<\/p>\n Also, he notched four goals and 23 assists in 75 games with the Anaheim Ducks<\/a> 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<\/a> blocks in 82 games. Any gap the Blueshirts need filled on the defensive pairings could be filled by Shattenkirk.<\/p>\n Shattenkirk can also read the play beautifully. On Dec. 2, 2023, he took a beautiful feed from David Pastrnak<\/a> 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<\/a>. The Leafs never had a lead in that game, and the final score was 4-3 for Boston in overtime.<\/p>\n He had a $1.05M<\/a>-cap hit in 2023-24, and the Blueshirts have $5.123M<\/a> in cap space at the time of writing.<\/p>\n (113) David Pastrnak Displays Unreal Vision with Sweet Feed to Kevin Shattenkirk to Extend Bruins’ Lead – YouTube<\/a><\/p>\n The 34-year-old Kelowna, B.C. native notched 68<\/a> blocks in 70 games with the Seattle Kraken<\/a> this past season, and decent offensive numbers with 7<\/a> goals and 19 assists. In 2016-17, Schultz helped the Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a> win their second consecutive Stanley Cup. That year, Schultz hit his NHL career high for blocks with 116<\/a> in 78 games. The same was true for hits that season, with 67<\/a>. He also hit his NHL offence peak that year, with 12<\/a> 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\u2019 defensive pairings.<\/p>\n On May 2, 2023, Schultz was the first of three Kraken players who scored three goals in under a minute against the Dallas Stars<\/a>. 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<\/a> notched a wrister and Jordan Eberle<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n Schultz had a $3M<\/a>-cap hit in 2023-24.<\/p>\n Kraken’s Schultz, Bjorkstrand, And Eberle Stun Stars With Three Goals In 52 Seconds (youtube.com)<\/a><\/p>\n Finally, the 2011<\/a>-12 Bill Masterson Memorial Trophy winner<\/a> had an offensive NHL career peak with the Montreal Canadiens<\/a>, where he served as captain<\/a> from 2015 until 2018. In 2014-15, he notched 37<\/a> goals and 67 points in 80 games. Most recently, he notched four<\/a> goals and 19 assists in 47 games with the Washington Capitals<\/a> this past season, missing games due to injuries. Pacioretty is former captain of the Habs, the team with the most Stanley<\/a> 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\u2019 forward lineups if he stays healthy.<\/p>\n On Jan. 11, 2024, Pacioretty scored his first goal of the 2023-24 season with Alex Ovechkin<\/a> and Trevor van Riemsdyk<\/a> 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<\/a>.<\/p>\nJustin Schultz<\/a>, D, Seattle Kraken, 2024 Free Agent<\/h3>\n
Max Pacioretty<\/a>, LW, Washington Capitals, 2024 Free Agent<\/h3>\n