Rangers offseason depth chart 1.0: Where the roster stands after recent adds (2024)

NEW YORK — After heavy speculation entering the offseason, the New York Rangers made two NHL additions during the free-agent frenzy, signing Sam Carrick and adding Reilly Smith via trade. It was not a splashy week for Chris Drury, but the general manager also did not give out any high average annual value contracts he could come to regret.

The Rangers still have a little more than $8 million in cap space, according to CapFriendly. Some of that will go to restricted free agents Braden Schneider and Ryan Lindgren, but New York could still have room to make another addition, or it can save space for the trade deadline.

With the roster starting to solidify, let’s take an early look at the Rangers’ depth chart. These tables are sorted by salary cap hit, and they only include players who appeared in at least one NHL game last season. Because of that, some prospects are not on the table but are mentioned in the blurbs beneath.

Center

Departed: Alex Wennberg (San Jose), Barclay Goodrow (San Jose)

There’s not much reason to expect a ton more movement in the center position group heading into the season. The Rangers appear pretty set. Mika Zibanejad and Vincent Trocheck are the clear top-six centers, as evidenced by both their track records and their salaries. Zibanejad’s numbers dipped a bit last season, but he was still a 72-point centerman who was responsible defensively. Trocheck, meanwhile, had the highest point total of his career (77) and was probably the Rangers’ best skater in the playoffs.

Filip Chytil is an X-factor for the Rangers. He missed almost all of last season with suspected concussion issues, but he returned to play six postseason games. His health will be paramount in the coming season. The Rangers’ center depth takes a big hit when he’s out.

After putting Goodrow on waivers, allowing for San Jose to claim the center and his $3.641 million cap hit, Chris Durry signed Sam Carrick as a 4C replacement. Carrick has much less playoff experience than Goodrow, but he makes only $1 million and finished the year on an Edmonton team that got within a game of hoisting the Stanley Cup. Jonny Brodzinski, a career journeyman who earned an extension last season, can also play up the middle or on the wing. He’ll likely enter the year as the Rangers’ 13th forward.

Riley Nash and Jake Leschyshyn both spent almost all of last season with AHL Hartford. They can fill in during the regular season in a pinch. Drury also added Benoit-Olivier Groulx, who played 45 games for Anaheim last season, for some organizational depth.

Along with Goodrow, the Rangers lost Alex Wennberg to San Jose. That shouldn’t come as a surprise. Wennberg was a pure deadline rental, and Chytil’s return makes him much less necessary, especially at the $5 million average annual value contract San Jose gave him.

Left Wing

The Rangers know what they’re getting from Artemi Panarin and Chris Kreider, two of the roster’s primary offensive forces. Will Cuylle had a strong rookie season, so there’s reason to believe the 22-year-old can continue to develop as a bottom-six winger. Jimmy Vesey, who can play both wing positions, is back after a 13-goal season, the most he’s had in a year since 2018-19.

Beyond Vesey gets a little interesting. Brennan Othmann is one of the team’s top prospects and stressed during development camp that he views himself as a winning player. He could contend for a roster spot if he has a good training camp. If he makes the team, Vesey could end up playing more right wing. Adam Edstrom is another option among young players. The 23-year-old got in 11 games last year, and his 6-foot-7 frame brought size to the lineup.

If New York has a rash of forward injuries at any point during the season, the wing could be a place for some young players to get an NHL look. Brett Berard, a 2020 fifth-round pick, led Hartford with 25 goals last year, and 19-year-old Adam Sykora, a 2022 second-round pick, could also be in line for a call-up at some point.

Right Wing

Departed: Jack Roslovic (Carolina)

In his biggest move since the start of free agency, Drury acquired Smith from the Penguins, who retained 25 percent of his $5 million contract. The winger did not have his best season with Pittsburgh last year but still put up 40 points in 76 games. The Rangers, though, will hope he can be more like the player he was the year before, when he scored 26 goals and had 56 points for the Golden Knights during their Stanley Cup season. He’ll be an option to play with Kreider and Zibanejad.

Alexis Lafrenière had an excellent 2023-24 season, setting a career high in points and goals without much power play time, and will look to continue his breakout in 2024-25. He’ll likely play again with Panarin and Trocheck. Last year, that was one of the best lines in hockey.

Kakko had a disappointing, injury-impacted 2023-24 season, and it’s possible Drury trades him before the season if he needs to clear up cap space. The 23-year-old had a 40-point season in 2022-23, and a resurgence would be a big boost for New York’s middle six.

Vesey can play right wing, but Matt Rempe is another option. Coach Peter Laviolette clearly valued the 6-foot-8 forward’s presence in the lineup last season, putting him in playoff games despite his limited NHL experience.

Blake Wheeler remains unsigned. He said after the season that he didn’t know if he wanted to play in 2024-25.

Left defense

Departed: Erik Gustafsson (Detroit)

The Rangers still need to sort out how much they’re going to play Ryan Lindgren, who is a restricted free agent. He’s safe to pencil into next year’s lineup, though, as Adam Fox’s primary partner. K’Andre Miller will also be back after playing more than 21 minutes a game for the second consecutive season.

Erik Gustafsson’s departure might open the door for Zac Jones to get consistent playing time. He was up with the NHL club all of last year but appeared in only 31 games and none in the playoffs. He showed promise in his limited action and is still only 23. If the Rangers don’t sign anyone else, he’s in line to get a real shot.

Connor Mackey and Brandon Scanlin got in a game apiece last season. They could be options if needed. Matthew Robertson, a 2019 second-rounder, is still awaiting his NHL debut. The Rangers gave him a qualifying offer this summer, so he’ll be back.

Right Defense

Jacob Trouba is the biggest storyline among the Rangers’ right-side defensem*n. He had a difficult playoffs, then the Rangers unsuccessfully tried to shop him and his $8 million salary cap hit. For now, though, it appears the captain will be back. Braden Schneider at points supplanted Trouba on the second pair toward the end of the 2023-24 season, so it’ll be interesting to see who starts the year higher on the depth chart.

Adam Fox, of course, is the team’s top defenseman. He finished fourth in Norris Trophy voting last season, his fourth consecutive year in the top five.

Chad Ruhwedel seems likely to be gone. The Rangers played him in only five regular season games after acquiring him at the deadline.

Drury signed Casey Fitzgerald for a little extra organizational depth. He spent all of last season in the AHL but has 63 games of NHL experience and played in a 2023 Stanley Cup Final game for the Panthers.

Goalies

Igor Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick made up one of the best goaltending tandems in the league last season. Between them, the Rangers should be set in net for 2024-25, though both are pending unrestricted free agents after the season.

Louis Domingue played one game last season. He’s a perfectly acceptable No. 3 goalie for an organization.

Current projected lineup

Chris Kreider – Mika Zibanejad – Reilly Smith
Artemi Panarin – Vincent Trocheck – Alexis Lafrenière
Will Cuylle – Filip Chytil – Kaapo Kakko
Jimmy Vesey – Sam Carrick – Matt Rempe
Extra: Jonny Brodzinski

Ryan Lindgren – Adam Fox
K’Andre Miller – Braden Schneider
Zac Jones – Jacob Trouba

Igor Shesterkin
Jonathan Quick

(Top photo of Jacob Trouba and Reilly Smith: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)

Peter Baugh is a staff writer for The Athletic NHL based in New York. He has previously been published in the Columbia Missourian, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Kansas City Star, Politico and the Washington Post. A St. Louis native, Peter graduated from the University of Missouri and previously covered the Missouri Tigers and the Colorado Avalanche for The Athletic. Follow Peter on Twitter @Peter_Baugh