NHL Free Agency Grades: Rangers, Panthers, Canucks, Maple Leafs, Lightning
By Santagata JJ
2017 NHL Free Agency has been hard to track with all the signings and movement. Here are some teams signing along with my grade for them this free agency.
2017 NHL free agency has been crazy so far. Even with a relatively unimpressive class, teams are spending money and players are getting paid. This makes everyone happy, as teams are improving and skaters (and goalies, for that matter) are getting a nice payday. However, not all the signings so far have been great. Some of them have been flat out terrible and inexcusable.
Five of the more active teams on the first day of free agency were the New York Rangers, Florida Panthers, Vancouver Canucks, Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs. For better or for worse, their rosters will look a bit different going into next season. Let’s take a look at how each of them did on July 1, grading their signings and judging them.
New York Rangers Free Agency Grade: B+
Acquiring Kevin Shattenkirk and Ondrej Pavelec was a step in the right direction. However, the Rangers still lack a defensive defenseman and some center depth. Trading Derek Stepan leaves a pretty big hole in their lineup.
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Shattenkirk was the most talked about free agent on the market. A lot of rumblings were said that he was weighing his options between New York, the New Jersey Devils and Boston Bruins. The now 28-year-old defensemen join the Rangers blueline with Ryan McDonagh, Brady Skeji, Brendan Smith and Nick Holden. Oh, Marc Staal too. Shattenkirk the NY native, grew up a Rangers fan and now finally gets to live his dream as skating onto the MSG ice wearing that Blue shirt crest.
Ondrej Pavelec signed for 1 year $1.3 million, a simple move to allow their young goaltending to develop a bit longer. It also gives franchise goaltender Henrik Lundqvist some time off if need be. Pavelec can step in and play 20 plus games in relief if required. He should be solid in front of what should be an improved blue line for the Rangers.