Rangers Seek Top-Nine Depth as Free Agency Options Narrow
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New York looks to finalize a revamped roster, with former Dallas Stars forward Michael Bunting emerging as a potential target.
The New York Rangers are attempting to put the finishing touches on a roster that has undergone a complete revamp following a difficult previous season, according to Sports Illustrated. While the team utilized draft capital and cap space to add Pavel Dorofeyev up front and pair Sean Durzi with Marcus Pettersson on the blueline—with Alberts Smits potentially ready for the NHL—a need remains in the top nine.
Sports Illustrated reports that free agency options are dwindling, noting that Anthony Mantha signed with the New Jersey Devils and Patrick Kane appears limited to the Buffalo Sabres or Chicago Blackhawks. One available option to address this depth issue is forward Michael Bunting, who recently played for the Dallas Stars and Nashville Predators. Bunting recorded 14 goals and 19 assists for 33 points across 74 games during the stretch, providing a scoring rate of over .50 goals per 60 minutes that could bolster a Rangers offense that struggled previously.
Cap flexibility has become a tighter issue after defenseman Braden Schneider signed a one-year contract worth $5.5 million, and the team has not traded him despite previous expectations. Sports Illustrated suggests that Bunting could be an affordable addition, potentially via a creative one-year deal, to fill the final roster gap.