The New York Rangers’ offseason has been deceptively quiet, but don’t let that fool you. Behind the scenes, the gears are turning. After the recent bombshell rumor linking Alexis Lafrenière to Buffalo for Bowen Byram sent shockwaves through the fanbase, it appears GM Chris Drury is pivoting his strategy. Sources close to the situation indicate the front office is now laser-focused on the remaining free agent market to add that final, crucial piece to the forward group. This isn’t about finding a placeholder; it’s about finding an impact player.
The chatter isn’t just smoke; there’s a specific shortlist of targets emerging. The Rangers are reportedly kicking the tires on four intriguing veterans: Jack Roslovic, Victor Olofsson, Robby Fabbri, and the biggest wildcard of them all, Max Pacioretty. Each brings a different skill set to the table, and the player they choose will tell us a lot about the identity they want to forge heading into training camp. The question is no longer if the Rangers will make a move, but who will be pulling on a Blueshirt this fall.
Analyzing the NY Rangers’ UFA Wish List
Let’s break down the options, because they represent four very different paths. Max Pacioretty is the ultimate high-risk, high-reward play. If he’s healthy, he’s a proven 30-goal scorer who could feast on a line with Panarin or Zibanejad. But his recent injury history is a massive red flag. Any deal would have to be a heavily incentivized, low-base-salary contract. Then you have the Jack Roslovic trade to the Rangers, the familiar face. He fit in reasonably well after the NHL trade deadline in the 2023-24 season, and that chemistry can’t be discounted. He’s the safest, most logical choice to slot into the middle-six.
On the other hand, Victor Olofsson is a pure sniper. His shot is lethal, and he could be a game-changer for a power play unit. The concern is his one-dimensional game. Is he a fit for Mike Sullivan’s system? Finally, there’s Robby Fabbri—a tenacious, versatile forward who can play up and down the lineup. He provides grit but, like Pacioretty, has battled injuries. My take? While the allure of Pacioretty is strong, Roslovic feels like the most pragmatic fit to solidify the forward corps without disrupting the team’s core chemistry. Drury needs a reliable contributor, not another question mark.
Projected New York Rangers lineup for the 2025-26 season:
Forwards:
Artemi Panarin – Vincent Trocheck- Alexis Lafrenière
Will Cuylle – J.T. Miller – Mika Zibanejad
Gabriel Perreault – Juuso Parssinen – Jonny Brodzinski
Adam Edstrom – Sam Carrick – Taylor Raddysh
Defenseman:
Vladislav Gavrikov – Adam Fox
Carson Soucy – Will Borgen
Urho Vaakanainen – Brden Schneider
Goalies:
Igor Shesterkin
Jonathan Quick
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