It’s time for another round of NHL rumours. We’re one week into the regular season, but general managers are already thinking of the next free agent period. The July 1, 2026, free agent class was hyped up to be a blockbuster one. However, some free agent signings have taken those big names off the board. Plenty of teams were hoping to take a run at these key skaters, but now have to change plans.
One team that was looking to make a splash in free agency was the New York Rangers. This edition of NHL rumors focuses on how the team will need to adapt to the multiple free agent signings made.
All NHL rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
New York Rangers Shifting 2026 Free Agent Strategy
Rumour: Peter Baugh of The Athletic looked at the aftermath of the plethora of big-ticket signings. New York will have to look elsewthe their .a spender here after the recent run on big names being taken off the market.
With McDavid, other NHL stars inking extensions, Rangers must pivot summer 2026 plans https://t.co/DtuRSNnuX2
— Peter Baugh (@Peter_Baugh) October 9, 2025
Analysis: The Rangers were all set to take some big swings in the 2026 free agent market. However, names like Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, and Kirill Kaprizov were taken off the free agent market after signing contract extensions.
The Rangers will have over $29.5 million in salary cap space and will utilize it effectively. New York has an aging core with veterans like Vincent Trocheck, J.T. Miller, and Mika Zibenajad all over the age of 30. Artemi Panarin is also part of that group, but he’ll be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.
The Rangers have also been dealing with some injuries to start the campaign. Trocheck and Carson Soucy are both out after suffering injuries in the first few games of the season. The pressure is on general manager Chris Drury to get the team back into the Stanley Cup Playoffs after lofty expectations the season before.
Seeing many of those key players sign extensions will prompt Drury to alter his plans. However, he may not be in a position to spend that cap space if the Rangers underperform again.
What It Means
The shifting market will mean that the Rangers will have to focus on other targets. There are still players who could be game-changers for the Blueshirts. Los Angeles Kings forward Adrian Kempe, Alex Tuch of the Buffalo Sabres, and Martin Necas of the Colorado Avalanche could be targets in the UFA market.
There’s another wild card is that the team could re-sign Panarin. He’s still one of the Rangers’ most productive players, but he’s still 34 years old. There’s always a risk of giving a long-term, big-money contract to an aging player. The deal may look good to start, but it could become an albatross later on.
Drury could use the trade market to improve the Rangers. Baugh names Jason Robertson of the Dallas Stars as a possible target if the restricted free agent doesn’t get a deal done.
However, Drury realizes that the pressure is on for him. Another bad season may cost him his post, and someone else may shape the future of the Blueshirts.
Main photo by: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
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