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The New York Rangers made an impressive run to the Western Conference Finals but ultimately failed to get past the reigning champs in the Tampa Bay Lightning. With their championship dreams put to rest for this season, it'll be back to the drawing board for Gerard Gallant and Co. as they look to figure out what pieces are missing in order to build a title-winning team.
Getting to the Stanley Cup within the next couple of seasons will be critical for the Rangers, who face a very troubling cap situation down the line. The Rangers are expected to be extremely cash-strapped in the near future, so their window to contend for a Stanley Cup championship is narrow.
The Rangers have a solid defense, headlined by the likes of Adam Fox and Jacob Trouba. With Igor Shesterkin in the net, the Rangers are set at goalie for the long haul. They have offensive stars in Chris Krieder, Artemi Panarin, and Mika Zibanejad, on whom they'll be leaning heavily both on the ice and in terms of their salary. Those aforementioned players make up more than 60% of New York's cap space, meaning if the Rangers want to win a title, it'll be through that core.
With a handful of impending free agents to negotiate with, the Rangers may have to make some tough decisions regarding their future. With all that in mind, here are three moves the Rangers must make in order to get over the hump and make the 2023 Stanley Cup Finals.
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3 offseason moves Rangers must make to reach 2023 Stanley Cup Finals
3. Re-sign Andrew Copp
The trade to land Andrew Copp from the Winnipeg Jets immediately paid dividends for the Rangers. Copp was excellent for the Rangers, registering 18 points in 16 games during the regular season. He's clearly a great fit in New York, and it would be foolish to let him walk in free agency. Copp has openly discussed his desire to re-up with the Rangers, who would benefit greatly from bringing the 27-year-old back on a new deal. While his price tag may have increased due to his prolific play after the trade deadline, the two sides will be eager to work out a new deal and compete for a title in 2023.
Copp was one of the best trade deadline acquisitions in all of the NHL this year. Making the Eastern Conference Finals actually caused the Rangers to give up a first-round pick to the Jets, rather than the second-round pick that was initially in the deal. Due to that clause, keeping Copp around will become even more important for the Rangers this offseason.
2. Promote from within
Despite some big-named offensive free agents set to hit the open market, the Rangers likely won't be in play for any top free agents considering their financial situation. With just under $12 million available this offseason and at least four roster spots to fill, the Rangers will need to make some big decisions when it comes to their offense. They have a plethora of young talent that will be looking to play a big role in 2022-23, and that includes the likes of Alexis LaFreniere and Kaapo Kakko, both of whom Gallant is hoping to become Top 6 forwards next season. Kakko is a restricted free agent, and after being benched in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals, his future with the team has come under question. Considering the Rangers won't be players for any of the top free agents, ensuring Kakko returns in 2022-23 will be crucial.
1. Trade for JT Miller
The Rangers know their window to win a championship isn't wide. It's closing fast and if they don't make the necessary improvements to stage a title run in the near future, they may miss it altogether. JT Miller's future with the Canucks remains uncertain, so perhaps Chris Drury will consider offloading some future assets in order to bring the star center to the Rangers. Miller is coming off an excellent season that saw him register 99 points in 80 games. With one year left on his current contract, he could be a quality rental addition for the Rangers and provide the team with a major boost on offense. The Rangers failed to get quality chances against the Lightning. Adding a playmaker like Miller, who logged 32 goals and 67 assists last year, will help them get more consistent chances against some of the league's most dominant defensive units. Exactly what a Miller trade would look like remains to be seen, but the Canucks would demand a significant haul in any deal.
