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Day 2 of free agency - depth center signed, goodbye to those now elsewhere
July 14, 2022, 11:23 PM ET [80 Comments]
Jan Levine
New York Rangers Blogger • RSS • Archive • CONTACT
On Day 2 of free agency, the market slowed as expected. The Rangers added the depth center that GM Chris Drury mentioned as a possible option Wednesday, likely ending any NHL type additions for the squad, In addition, a depth winger for Hartford was inked.

Ryan Carpenter, a target at last year's trading deadline, was signed to a one-year, $750K contract. Carpenter, a Gerard Gallant - I was going to say acolyte, but that might be too harsh, so I will go with - veteran, will make his go-around with the coach after playing for Gallant in Las Vegas. Carpenter is a perfect bottom-six center. He is solid on the penalty kill, wins over 50% of his draws. good in his own zone and comes in at a low cap hit. Carpenter replaces Kevin Rooney, who ironically signed a two-year deal with Calgary, where Carpenter finished last season.







The Rangers signed Turner Elson, yup, no one really appears to know who he is, to a two-year, two-way deal to provide septh in Hartford.



Lines will be in flux initially. What we do is that Mika Zibanejad, Vincent Trocheck, Filip Chytil and Ryan Carpenter are penciled in down the middle. Chris Kreider, Artemi Panarin, Alexis Lafreniere, Kaapo Kakko (extended a qualifying offer) , Vitali Kratsov, Sammy Blais and Barclay Goodrow looked to be locks - some more secure than others - for spots on the wing. By count, that's seven of the eight possible spots on the wing. Granted, much can still happen in the two months before training camp opens, but for all intents and purposes, those 11 should be in the Opening night lineup.

Brennan Othmann and Will Cuylle will get a chance to impress in camp and earn a spot. Dryden Hunt, on the team last year, as well as Ryan Reaves, also could be fourth line options. Gustav Rydahl, inked to a one-year deal this offseason, played in the SHLthis past season and could be a bottom-six option. My guess is that he opens the year in the AHL to adapt to North American play, but if he either impresses in camp or in the minors, he might slot into the lineup. Julien Gauthier is still in the mix, but his window of opportunity is clearly now shut and he would benefit from a move elsewhere.  way more to come on this the next two months.

Nice tribute to Ryan Strome and the rest of the 2021-22 Rangers who signed or were traded elsewhere. yes, Tyler Motte is not in the picture, so maybe there is a sliver of hope he returns. My view is he was left off because he has yet to actually sign elsewhere and it remains highly unlikely he is back..






 
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