Brandon Pirri’s status as a Ranger went from being an important fourth-line and power-play piece of the team’s potent, diversified attack over the season’s first five weeks to a spot on the taxi squad during the playoffs.
Now, after failing to receive a qualifying offer from the Blueshirts and credible interest around the NHL as a free agent, the 26-year-old forward is going to Switzerland for 2017-18 in joining one-time New York teammate Kevin Klein on the ZSC Lions.
It is conceivable that Pirri — whose shoot-first mentality has produced 57 goals in 226 career games with the Blackhawks, Panthers, Ducks and Rangers — could sign with an NHL club at the conclusion of his year in Europe.