Okay’Andre Miller, Alexis Lafreniere contracts atop Rangers’ to-do record
Because the NHL offseason begins in New York, the Rangers have five players headed toward unrestricted free agency and two coming into restricted free company.
Restricted free brokers Okay’Andre Miller and Alexis Lafreniere will probably be negotiating their second NHL contracts within the coming months, which is able to doubtless be probably the most urgent order of enterprise for Rangers president and normal supervisor Chris Drury to deal with.
The 2 have been an integral a part of the Rangers’ core since they each made their NHL debuts through the 2020-21 season.
Miller, who was drafted Twenty second-overall in 2018, is an impactful top-four blueliner who has taken strides on both sides of the puck every season, whereas Lafreniere, the first-overall decide within the 2020 draft, has been extra of a sluggish burner.
“Fortunately, I’ve an agent proper now,” Miller mentioned. “So let him go to do his job there and I’ll attempt to simply do my job and give attention to hockey, get within the gymnasium once more and get again feeling good for subsequent yr.”
Lafreniere mentioned his contract state of affairs has been on his thoughts a little bit bit, however that he clearly desires to return to the Rangers and “hopefully get one thing finished quickly.”
It’s doubtless that each skaters will probably be offered with bridge offers, particularly beneath the Rangers’ present cap state of affairs.
The UFA who’s almost certainly to return is ahead Tyler Motte, who sounded extraordinarily happy with how his exit interview went with Drury on Wednesday.
After failing to return to an settlement on the finish of final season, Motte signed with Ottawa just for Drury to reacquire the feisty fourth-liner earlier than this yr’s commerce deadline as soon as once more.
He was in a position to keep wholesome for probably the most half this time round and ended up chipping in 5 targets and 5 assists in 24 video games for the Rangers.
“Completely [I want to be back here],” he mentioned. “Snug second time round right here, for positive. Love this metropolis, love this group.”
The Rangers in all probability want they’d extra cap house to work with so as to guarantee they will retain each Vladimir Tarasenko and Niko Mikkola.
There’s a world the place Tarasenko may take a pay minimize to stay with the Rangers, however the membership might not have the monetary means to take action with Miller and Lafreniere additionally needing contracts.
Tarasenko spoke glowingly of his time in New York, saying that it’s a place he would need to return to.
Mikkola might have been a sweetener within the Rangers’ deal for Tarasenko, however he turned out to be the most valuable deadline addition in wake of Ryan Lindgren’s shoulder damage towards the tip of the season.
The towering Finn was thrust right into a top-four position, enjoying alongside Adam Fox, when he was introduced in to be a third-pair D-man.
It’s doubtless that he’ll obtain some sturdy affords for his providers across the NHL.
“You don’t get too many possibilities to play with a Norris Trophy winner,” he mentioned. “I loved each second.”
Lindgren mentioned his shoulder continues to be a little bit banged up, however no offseason surgical procedure is in retailer.
Finnish winger Kaapo Kakko and Czech heart Filip Chytil plan to compete for his or her respective nations at this yr’s World Championships.
The Rangers assigned Louis Domingue, Libor Hajek, Jake Leschyshyn and Jonny Brodzinski again to AHL Hartford for the Wolf Pack’s playoff run.