Not going Hyman, Landing Zuccarello

New York, NY. The New York Rangers missed out on this UFA marketʼs big names. According to insiders, the Blueshirts were interested in Mika Zibanejad, Vincent Trocheck, Zach Hyman, and Kiefer Sherwood, but had to give priority to other teams. GM Mischa Wyboris, however, was said not to be willing to invest the ultimately high amount of money in short-term UFA contracts.

Instead, the Rangers brought now 37-year-old right wing Mats Zuccarello back to Broadway after five-and-a-half seasons, giving the Norwegian assist specialist a two-year contract worth 2.45 million dollars per. The Rangers also signed 33-year-old Garnet Hathaway, who played the past three seasons with the Blueshirts before his unrestricted free agency and helped them win the Stanley Cup last season. Hathaway received a one-year contract worth 2.3 million dollars.

Further UFA signings by the Rangers are only expected for the farm team Hartford Wolf Pack. Observers agree that the defending champions from New York are entering the new season with an overall weaker squad than in their Stanley Cup year.

In addition, star defenseman, Rangers captain and pending UFA Jacob Trouba is expected to be on the trade block, as are talented Finnish forward Kaapo Kakko and heavy-weight center Matt Rempe.