NHL Rumor Roundup: Latest On The Rangers, Potential UFA Targets For The Maple Leafs
Some observers wonder what New York Rangers GM Chris Drury has in store this off-season. Meanwhile, the Toronto Maple Leafs might have to turn to the depleted free-agent market to bolster their roster.
Video Transcript
I'm Lyle Richardson of the Hockey News, and in today's NHL Rumor Roundup column, I'm looking at the latest speculation regarding the New York Rangers and the Toronto Maple Leafs.
And we begin, of course, with the Rangers, as they've been shaking up their roster for the last two seasons, and some observers are wondering what, general manager Chris Drury might have in store for the team this summer, whether he intends to be patient and rebuild, or if he's gonna try and add talent in order to speed things up and stage a quick turnaround to get them back into playoff contention.
Vincent Z. Mercogliano of The Athletic noted that, the Rangers had hoped to use their, cap space this summer in the free agent market, but since that's now largely depleted, the free agent market that is, they could instead turn toward the trade market.
Now, he said it's no secret that the Rangers have long coveted Brady Tkachuk of the Ottawa Senators, and he also wondered about, Auston Matthews' status with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
However, it's unlikely they'll be able to get either player.
Both of them have full no-movement clauses on their contracts.
There's no indication they want to be traded.
And Mercogliano doubts that, the Rangers have the, sufficient trade capital in order to be able to pull off a deal of that magnitude.
Meanwhile, in Toronto, of course, all the speculation's about who's going to become the next general manager of the Maple Leafs.
Now, we know that, Keith Pelley, the team honcho, has already said that the club will be re-retooling rather than rebuilding.
And that has, Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun suggesting that if they wanna try and stage a quick turnaround, they're going to have to go into the free agent market because they lack sufficient, capital to be able to swing a deal in the trade market.
And he believes they should target, Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh or Buffalo Sabres winger Alex Tuch, provided both of those players are still available in the free agent market on July 1st.
