It’s time for another edition of the NHL rumours. In this edition, the focus will be on the New York Rangers. The Blueshirts are still in the Stanley Cup Playoff hunt, despite a largely inconsistent season. That situation could prompt the team to drastically reshape its roster next season. So, let’s take a closer look at what one notable Rangers insider has to say about NHL rumours and the New York Rangers.
NHL Rumours and the New York Rangers’ Plans Heading into Next Season
Rumour: Rangers’ insider Vincent Mercogliano conveyed an important message in a December 23 mailbag piece in The Athletic. The longtime New York hockey guru addressed one of the biggest NHL rumours this season. The New York Rangers will be looking to get younger, potentially passing on the top available free agents next summer, including Artemi Panarin.
Analysis: The Rangers will try to sign free agents that make sense for the club’s plans to get younger moving forward.
Mercogliano noted that several of the team’s free-agent targets will not hit the market next season. For instance, Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, Kirill Kaprizov, Adrian Kempe, Kyle Connor, and Martin Necas, to name a few, all reupped with their current clubs. As such, the 2026 NHL rumour mill lost plenty of its star power. The only major star on track to become a unrestricted free agent is Artemi Panarin. However, letting Panarin walk and replacing him with another big name may not be in the cards this season.
Thus, instead of taking a huge swing at someone like McDavid, Rangers’ general manager Chris Drury may have to settle for multiple acquisitions. Mercogliano wrote:
“Drury could pivot to the next tier and try to rebuild depth through multiple signings. Alex Tuch is trending toward an eight-figure AAV as the best non-Panarin UFA, but would some combination of Oliver Bjorkstrand, Michael Bunting, Mason Marchment, Nick Schmaltz and Kiefer Sherwood be enough to move the needle?”
That list of forwards doesn’t seem enticing enough to kick NHL rumours into high gear. As Mercogliano underscored, loading up on veteran forwards seems like a “short-sighted” plan. That approach that does not promise to usher in a new competitive era on Broadway.
Rangers Also Need to Address a Key Area
Another area the Rangers would like to address is the blueline. The Blueshirts could use another top-four, left-shot defenceman. The goal was to make a play for Quinn Hughes earlier this season. However, as NHL rumours pointed out after the fact, the Rangers were simply unable to make a competitive offer.
Mercogliano took a deep dive into the issues plaguing the Rangers’ ability to land a big star in this December 15 piece. As such, the club may have no choice but to head towards a slight retool/rebuild. Thus far, no NHL rumours seem to support that path. But the lack of star power on the free agent market next summer will not help the Blueshirts spend their way out of the mushy middle.
So, it remains unclear what direction the club will take. That direction ultimately depends on whether this core is good enough to remain competitive in the coming weeks.
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