The Unrestricted Free Agent (UFA) market is set to open on July 1 and, strange as it may be, it’s a market the New York Rangers are expected to be minor players in. These same Rangers, who have been no strangers to the “frenzy” the beginning of July often represents, are already out on three-year L.A. King-to-be, Ilya Kovalchuk, and presumably won’t be serious suitors for John Tavares, Joe Thornton, or James Neal, among others.
Though it’s an odd feeling to recognize that the rebuilding club won’t be their usual summer force on this front, it’s odder that for the first time in nearly 15 years, they’re going to be true to their word on this rebuild/retool/reset by giving their young players every opportunity to impress.