The Rangers bolstered their bottom six today, adding Frank Vatrano for a fourth-round pick (the lower of the two between theirs and the Jets pick they own) in 2022. Vatrano, a shoot first winger, has been somewhat buried in Florida, but he should slot in opposite Filip Chytil, giving the center someone who can finish. The only downside might be if the clearing of his salary allows Florida to add an elite winger or blueliner by Monday at 3pm. That said, the Panthers would have figured out how to create salary, so New York gets to be the beneficiary of such a move.
OFFICIAL: #NYR have acquired forward Frank Vatrano from the Florida Panthers in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. pic.twitter.com/6nAjpUVAV5
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) March 16, 2022
Vatrano is in the final year of a three-year deal so he will be a UFA at the end of the season. His current deal carries a $2,533,333 cap hit, which New York assumed without blinking given all the room they have. Vatrano, a left winger, could also skate on the second line, if needed. But with Kaapo Kakko potentially back in a week or so and Dryden Hunt somewhat better lately, plus other reinforcements possibly added by Monday afternoon, I expect him to slot onto the third line.
The Rangers need forward depth and some bottom-six scoring. Vatrano's a pending UFA. https://t.co/h68ONHumZQ pic.twitter.com/3EjxQalVTX
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) March 16, 2022
A solid first trade by Drury to add depth and starry to remediate a need. I expect Morgan Barrron to be sent down to the AHL to play on the first line rather than sit in the press box. In addition, either Julien Gauthier or Jonny Brodzinski is the odd man out of the lineup, since I don’t expect Ryan Reaves or Greg McKegg to sit. If choosing one of those two, Gauthier should be the one on a suit as Brodzinski has brought some energy to that third line and can play on the penalty kill as well as the fourth line.