New York Rangers’ Biggest Free Agency Needs – The Hockey Writers – New York Rangers

The New York Rangers are entering a critical offseason. One that has already seen Chris Kreider traded to the Anaheim Ducks, and that likely won’t be the only name missing from the roster when next season starts, with K’Andre Miller looking likely to be traded. The Rangers are at a crossroads. They had a horrific season, but they have a new coach and still have a number-one center, a number-one defenseman, and a top-tier goaltender. They can’t rebuild, so they’re headed for more of a retool. They have needs to address this offseason, but whether they fill them with long-term pieces or short-term solutions remains to be seen.

The Zibanejad Question

One of the key decisions head coach Mike Sullivan will face is where to play Mika Zibanejad. Does he play on J.T. Miller’s right wing, or does he center the third line? If he’s on Miller’s line, the Rangers have a clear hole at 3C with no obvious internal option to fill it. If they want a long-term solution, it likely has to come through a trade or an offer sheet, with Marco Rossi being a logical target. Otherwise, they should go short-term.

If Zibanejad stays at center on the third line, then Gabe Perreault should be given an opportunity to play in the top six and take the right wing spot next to J.T. Miller. Giving Perreault a real chance to grow in a scoring role, rather than burying him in the bottom six like they did with Kaapo Kakko and Alexis Lafrenière, would be a smarter approach. The Rangers have failed to develop skilled forwards properly in recent years. They can’t afford to make the same mistake again.

Adam Fox’s Defense Partner

The Rangers have a massive hole next to Adam Fox. While Fox is good enough to elevate whoever plays alongside him, the team should still look for a shutdown defenseman who can handle tough minutes and allow Fox to focus more on driving offense. This is likely a short-term fix. Drew Fortescue is developing at Boston College and looks like the kind of player who could eventually slot in next to Fox long-term. The Rangers cannot afford to hand out another multi-year deal with no-trade protections that ends up being a liability.

The Left Defense Corps

The rest of the defense needs help…