The New York Rangers have emerged as online favorites to sign impending free agent Connor McDavid next summer. Speculation has gone into overdrive following McDavid’s non-committal comments last week regarding a contract extension with the Edmonton Oilers.
However, signing McDavid wouldn’t be as easy as putting ink to paper for the New York Rangers. The Blue Shirts will need to clear cap space to fit McDavid’s potentially record-setting contract under the cap.
Even with the rising cap, the Rangers will need to clear space to fit the massive new deal under the cap ceiling. That’s a proposed cap dump that could pave the road for McDavid to join the Rangers. Said cap dump specifically involves trading veteran forward Mika Zibanejad.
In this cap dump, the Rangers will team up with the Anaheim Ducks once again. The Ducks and Rangers have been active trade partners recently. The two clubs teamed up in the Jacob Trouba and Chris Kreider deals.
Here’s a look at this proposed cap-clearing move:
Rangers get:
2026 Fourth-round pick
2027 second-round pick
Ducks get:
Mika Zibanejad, F
The Rangers wouldn’t be looking to get any roster players back, as that could eat into the club’s cap space. So, a package of draft picks or non-roster prospects could be the expected return in this situation.
Rangers Could Sign McDavid to Record Deal
The speculation surrounding Connor McDavid’s new contract estimates that McDavid could get a deal ranging from $15 to $18 million AAV. Shedding Zibanejad’s $8.5 million cap hit plus the nearly $10 million bump in the cap ceiling next season could be enough to get the deal done.
Of course, there is still the matter of Artemi Panarin’s next contract. But assuming the Rangers can keep Panarin’s cap hit within a similar $11.5 million range, the Blue Shirts wouldn’t have to move any other major contracts to fit McDavid’s cap hit.
Other deals would have to follow to round out the roster. But those could be lesser deals aimed at filling our depth without breaking the bank.
Now, if Panarin was willing to give the Rangers a bit of a break, things could get even easier. For instance, a new contract for Panarin in the $8 to $10 million range could facilitate signing McDavid after the cap dump and round out the roster.
McDavid a Major Upgrade over Zibanejad
Connor McDavid would be a major upgrade over Mika Zibanejad. McDavid would easily slide in as the club’s top-line center, placing J.T. Miller as the 2C. Meanwhile, the Rangers could play with Vincent Trocheck on McDavid’s wing or deploy him as a center in other crucial situations.
As it stands, Zibanejad is no longer the most effective choice as a top-six center for the Rangers. His transition to the wing is almost certain. While Zibanejad is still an effective player, he’s not quite what the Rangers will be looking for to build a playoff-contending roster this upcoming season.
Lastly, adding McDavid to the team’s current roster gives the Rangers unparalleled depth. Having McDavid, Trocheck, and Miller as centers is something no other team can boast of in the league.
That lineup could make the Rangers the most dangerous club in the Eastern Conference.
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