With a solid 2023–24 season under their belts, the New York Rangers want to continue their Stanley Cup run that began in 1994. The Blueshirts were able to clear nearly $3.5 million in salary cap space this offseason thanks to some painful decisions, one of which was to place forward Barclay Goodrow on waivers. Superstar forward Steven Stamkos, who has been successful with the Tampa Bay Lightning, is one possible target.
In addition to his two Stanley Cup victories and seven appearances in the NHL All-Star game, Stamkos has won the Maurice Richard Trophy twice and represented Canada at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. The amount of his next deal may shock his supporters since it could be far larger than what they anticipate. During the upcoming offseason, Stamkos may find himself courted by a number of teams, including the Chicago Blackhawks, Carolina Hurricanes, Boston Bruins, Edmonton Oilers, and Toronto Maple Leafs.
A minor hole will open up in the Rangers’ forward group as they prepare to lose Alex Wennberg, Jack Roslovic, and Blake Wheeler to free agency this offseason. Stamkos might be acquired by the Rangers to bolster their top-six forward group; this possibility persists even after the inescapable Shesterkin extension.
In order to get Stamkos, the Rangers might have to part with some cash if Shesterkin’s deal ends up costing more than $10 million annually. Other potential trade candidates include Mika Zibanejad, Vincent Trocheck, and Jacob Trouba. The New York Rangers, to recap, intend to improve their play on both ends of the rink and build off their successful 2023–24 season.
