The New York Rangers have some extra salary cap space to work with following the “ruthless” release of veteran forward Barclay Goodrow. The Blueshirts will now turn their attention toward the upcoming free agency period as they consider a list of potential targets to reinvest that cap space in and upgrade their lineup.
One veteran free agent has reportedly come up on the Rangers’ “radar” ahead of free agency. NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman recently stated on an episode of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast that he “could see [Tyler] Toffoli being a guy that’s on the Rangers radar with the money they got (from Goodrow waive).”
The Rangers might have Tyler Toffoli on their radar
The Rangers’ noted interest in Toffoli is intriguing. The 32-year-old Winnipeg Jets winger has been a fan-favorite target entering this offseason as a potential upgrade for New York. He will be an unrestricted free agent this summer following an impressive season split between the New Jersey Devils and Winnipeg Jets.
In 79 games played this season, Toffoli totaled 55 points behind 33 goals and 22 assists. He’s tallied 30 or more goals in each of the last two seasons, indicating his age crossing the 30-year-old threshold has not slowed him down just yet.
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Toffoli is reportedly seeking a long-term contract on which he can finish out his career. His AAV is projected to come in around $5 million or higher, which makes him a bit of a pricey target for the Blueshirts. But with the added cap space they have received from the Goodrow release, they could manage to get Toffoli under the cap.
Adding Toffoli to the lineup would give the Rangers an extra scorer to pair with Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad on the first line. If general manager Chris Drury could make the financials work, it would be worthwhile to consider adding Toffoli through free agency this summer as the Rangers gear up for another run at the Stanley Cup next season.
