Rangers Free-Agent Big Board: Top targets, from deep guards to a big swing on D.

Several New York Rangers players talked about how the lack of playoffs gives them enough time to work on their games in summer. They are not the only ones who have time in their hands. Team President and General Manager Chris Drury and the new coach Mike Sullivan also have time to evaluate their roster and expand before 2025-26.

Igor Shesterkin, Alexis Lafrenière, wants to Borgen, Juuso Pärssinen and Urho Vaakanainen have all the extensions that will start next season, and wants to increase Cuylle and K’andre Miller in limited freelance agency. All of this leads to a kind of cap crunch.

Puckpedia projects that the Rangers enter the low season of 8,422 million US dollars. You may have to delete space to cover your group of RFAS to which Cuylle, Miller, Adam Edström, Matt Rempe and Zac Jones. In order to immerse yourself in the waters of the freedom, New York has to delete more space. This could mean acting or buying a player like Chris or buying or approaching someone like Mika Zibanejad or Artemi Panarin to do without his clause without movement.

Let’s take a look at potential unrestricted options for free agents if Drury is able to delete space. I try to keep this list realistic. Something drastic would have to change if the Rangers have a chance to have a chance in the free free and Mitch Marner. So don’t expect huge names like him here.

Forward options

Mikael Granlund, Dallas Stars

22 goals, 66 points in 83 games, $ 5 million AAV-CAP achieved in 2024-25

The San Jose Sharks exchanged granlunds before the deadline for Dallas. It can play both in the middle and in the wing and is on the left with Roope Hintz and Mikko ranten. The 33-year-old would not make the rangers younger, but his age could make him a little more affordable in the free agency. As with the other free agents in this section of the list, New York would have to almost certainly move money to have space for granlund. AFP Analytics projects.

Ryan Donato, Chicago Blackhawks

31 goals, 62 points in 80 games, 2 million US dollars AAV -CAP -HIT

Donato, a former college teammate from Adam Fox, is 29 and can play both the center and the wing. His career best percentage of 17 percent probably contributed to his outbreak from 2024-25, but his versatility and ability to create crimes still make him an interesting option. Even if he sinks to 20 goals, the striker group of a team of a team could increase.

Ryan Donato’s production rose in front of the Free Agency this summer 2024-25. (Tyler Schank / Getty Images)

Jonathan Drouin, Colorado Avalanche

11 goals, 37 points in 43 games, 2.5 million US

Drury was interested in Drouin last summer. He had a solid two-year stay in Colorado, although the injuries limited him in 2024-25, and he tried to generate in the playoffs. Drouin signed one -year deals in the last two summers. Maybe he is looking for a little more stability.

Patrick Kane, Detroit Red Wings

21 goals, 59 points in 72 games, 4 million US

Kane could go back to Detroit and not reach a freelance agency, but he showed that in his first seasons he is still a capable scorer with the Red Wings. A reunion with the Rangers probably doesn’t feel likely at this point, but Drury could just as well keep an eye on if he can do it until July 1st. Twelve Kane’s goals last season came up with the power game, and the Rangers power game was raised in 2024-25.

Trent Frederic, Edmonton Oilers

8 goals, 15 points in 58 games, 2.3 million US

Frederic is the kind of player who Mag. With 6-foot 3 it brings size and plays with a physical edge. He had strong seasons for the Boston Bruins in the years 2022-23 and 2023-24 and scored 35 goals and 71 points in the two seasons, but took a step back this year, as did many players in a disappointing Boston team. The Bruins exchanged Frederic against Edmonton at the deadline. Despite his disappointing season, he is obliged to increase the free agency and could earn even more money if he can help the Oilers for a deep playoff run.

Yanni Gourde, Tampa Bay Lightning

7 goals, 31 points in 57 games, 5.166 million US

Tampa Bay paid a high price for Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand at the closing of the trade, so lightning will probably try to sign it again. When he reaches the market, he brings a growling that the rangers could use. He was a victorious player throughout his career and has a few Stanley Cup rings, both of his first use with the flash.

Cheaper middle

Adam Gaudette, Ottawa Senators

19 goals, 26 points in 81 games, $ 775,000 AAV-CAP achieved in 2024-25

Before 2024-25, Gaudette spent almost two full seasons in the AHL. Last season he found his goal with Ottawa and knelt 19 goals. His career best percentage of 21.1 percent contributed to this success, but could also result in regression in 2025-26. If Sullivan Zibanejad wants to put on the right JT Miller’s right wing, Gaudette could be an affordable option to fight a job in the lower Six center.

Christian Dvorak, Montreal Canadiens

12 goals, 33 points in 82 games, 4.45 million US

Dvorak is only 29 years old. If Drury could bring him or a player on a similar level for less than $ 2 million, this could make sense as an option. AFP Analytics predicted him to complete a two-year deal of $ 1.765 million AAV. This is a reasonable area for the Rangers.

Lars Eller, Washington Capitals

10 goals, 22 points in 80 games, 2.45 million US

Eller played more than 1,000 NHL games and won a Stanley Cup. At this point in his career, he was not much tackled at this point, but is the third center of a good Washington Club.

Fox pairing options

Vladislav Gavrikov, Los Angeles Kings

5 goals, 30 points in 82 games, 5.875 million US

Realistically speaking, the Rangers could probably only take a run in Gavrikov if they act against K’andre Millers restricted rights of free mood, and they may have to delete more space. This is a risky offer – and maybe a short -sighted. Miller is four years younger than Gavrikov and has shown that he is able to have a 43-point season (2022-23) and 21:57 per game (2022-23 and 2024-25). He and Fox also had elite on the basis of the elite when he had paired last season. Giving up Miller could return to Bite Drury if the defender withdraws with another team.

Gavrikov has had a strong season with Los Angeles in which he played more than 23 minutes per game. He is a left -wing shot, and if the Rangers followed him, it would probably be with the idea to play him on a couple with Fox in the long term. His underlying defensive metrics were elite last season, according to colleague Dom Luszczyszyn. The 29-year-old would fit well into the Rangers list, but Drury would have to make important victims to get him. AFP Analytics predicts that it will receive an average annual value contract of $ 7.6 million for seven years.

Brian Dumoulin, New Jersey Devils

3 goals, 22 points in 80 games, 3.15 million US

Dumoulin, whom the Devils acquired on the deadline of Anaheim, was a warrior during the short playoff run by New Jersey, who had an average of 30 minutes per game in five games against Carolina and played more than 36 minutes in both double-over time games. It would be a much cheaper acquisition than Gavrikov and would not require so much cap sacrifice elsewhere. If the Rangers had signed someone like Dumoulin, they could combine this player with Fox for chunks of play, then bring Fox and Miller together in certain situations, be it late in the game or if they have a big pull of offensive zones.

(Top photos by Patrick Kane and Vladislav Gavrikov: Ronald Martinez and Jason Mowry / Getty Images)