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Why Rangers could target Mavrik Bourque this offseason
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- Why Rangers could target Mavrik Bourque this offseason
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
This is an extremely important offseason for the New York Rangers . After missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs two seasons in a row, including a last-place finish in the Eastern Conference in 2025-26, the Rangers aim to push their organizational retool into high gear by loading up with young NHL talent and high-end prospects, building for a better and more sustainable today and tomorrow.
To that end, Dallas Stars forward Mavrik Bourque should be on their radar. Bourque has the two-way skillset that should intrigue the Rangers, not to mention the ability to play center or on the wing. That's he's coming off his his first 20-goal season, is 24 years old, and plays for a perennial Stanley Cup contender makes him even more appealing. He doesn't scream "superstar," but he doesn't feel like a finished product yet either, with his arrow pointing decidedly up.
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The thing is, he'd help make the Rangers a better team right now. And he could be available this summer.
Bourque is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights. Still four years away from UFA status, he's the type player the Stars should sign to a bridge deal, continue to evaluate, and then decide if he's worth a long-term investment. Again, he's not a star, at least not yet, but he's a good solid player on a very good team.
But even on a bridge deal, Bourque is looking at a raise to at least $2 million per season, if not more. That's a problem for the Stars, who have a host of big ticket contracts on the books already — seven players will make at least $8 million next season — and must find a way to work out a long-term extension with homegrown star Jason Robertson this summer.
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One year removed from becoming an unrestricted free agent, Robertson is an RFA coming off his third 40+-goal season in the NHL. Think $12 million or so for an AAV on a long-term deal for him.
But the Stars have serious salary cap issues. They're about $11 million under the 2026-27 cap, per PuckPedia , with seven players from the NHL roster a free agent this summer, including Robertson and Bourque.
Rangers should explore how they can benefit from Dallas Stars' salary-cap issues
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Of course, the Rangers — and likely 30 other teams — would love to relieve the Stars of their cap headache by taking Robertson off their hands. Even in the most far-fetched dream, it's pretty impossible to envision the Rangers actually cobbling together enough intriguing assets to trade for Robertson this offseason. Nor do the Stars appear interested at all in doing anything but finding a way to keep their 26-year-old stud sniper.
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So, that's where the Rangers explore Plan B with the Stars. And why Bourque is worth taking a long look at. Dallas needs to create cap space, and acquire draft capital. The Stars do not have a first-round pick in this year's draft nor in 2028. In fact, they have only one selection (second round) in the first four rounds this year.
The Rangers have 11 draft picks in 2026, including seven in the first three rounds. Ironically, one of those was originally Dallas' first-rounder, No. 26 overall. The Rangers acquired that one in the K'Andre Miller trade last summer with the Carolina Hurricanes .
The decision Chris Drury must make is if Bourque's viewed as worth dealing away draft capital. His contract status is not a big deal for New York, which has $26.575 million in available funds, per PuckPedia.
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Or is Bourque worth an offer sheet? New York doesn't have it's second-round pick in 2027, so its potential offer sheet would have to be in the $4.680 million to $7.020 million AAV range . That would cost the Rangers a first- and third-round pick in the 2027 draft. They'd really need to believe in Bourque to go to that level starting next season, but just laying out all options here.
At worst, Bourque helps upgrade New York's top-nine forward group, likely fits into the top-six. His expected goal share 5v5 was 54.01 percent this past season, according to Natural Stat Trick . Nineteen of his 20 goals were scored at even strength, and his shot volume increased significantly from the season prior. Again, the arrow's pointing up for a young player with a solid pedigree as the No. 30 overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, one with a pair of 20-goal seasons in the AHL prior to landing full-time NHL duty.
It's not a slam dunk to try and acquire Bourque. But this must be how Drury and the Rangers approach this offseason. No more overpaying for older vets. It's time to target those players on the upswing, with skill and youth on their side, for today and tomorrow.
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