New York Rangers: Alex Kerfoot Is Good Fit For Center Depth

Photo by Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Photo by Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images /
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Alex Kerfoot is headed for free agency next week. The Harvard alum is going to have the whole NHL as his playing ground and the New York Rangers should give him a call.

Alexander Kerfoot is a recent Harvard grad and New Jersey Devils draft pick who will be opting for free agency next week. The center declined signing with the Devils and has decided to test the free agent market.

Luckily for Kerfoot, there are a many NHL teams in need of center depth. Among these teams is the New York Rangers. The Rangers should pursue Kerfoot because he would be an ideal solution to adding some center depth.

New York Rangers Should Give Kerfoot a Call

The Rangers need some more center depth after trading Derek Stepan earlier in the offseason. Having reliable and plentiful center deoth can prove helpful for the Rangers as they find their footing early in the season.

Currently, the Rangers have Mika Zibanejad, Kevin Hayes, J.T. Miller and David Desharnais down the middle on the roster. Despite recently drafting centers Lias Andersson and Filip Chytil and having Cristoval Nieves in the system, the Rangers will benefit from more talent.

Alex Kerfoot is a very reliable center who posted solid stats in his final year at Harvard. In his final season, Kerfoot posted 45 points in 36 games and notched a national championship with his team. Harvard trusted Kerfoot to be a reliable and productive player every game; he would be a very skilled and trustworthy player for any team.

The Rangers would benefit by adding a reliable rookie center to their lineup. New York already has a link to Kerfoot in his former teammate, Jimmy Vesey, who caused a signing frenzy last season.

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Kerfoot would benefit the Rangers’ roster by giving them another center option and a reliable producer. He would be able to provide the team an affordable yet highly skilled player. His production and ice presence is significant and destined to increase.

Kerfoot as a Ranger

The Rangers are in ‘win mode.’ This team is making every move necessary to get closer to the Stanley Cup this season. While the team lost Stepan, the Rangers gained Kevin Shattenkirk and have a noticeably improved defense from last season. Now, they need an affordable center to add depth.

An impending NCAA free agent is the perfect pick up for a team in the Rangers’ position. Kerfoot is an excellent player who would provide reliable play at an affordable price. The center also has a lot of potential for growth and would greatly benefit from immediate exposure.

New York can provide Kerfoot the opportunity to reunite with a former teammate, develop his skills further and join a team that is destined for big success. Therefore, Kerfoot might find a perfect fit in New York.

A Perfect Fit?

There is a shot we see Kerfoot in a blue shirt next season. Kerfoot will be limited to a max entry-level contract therefore he must consider location and opportunity alone. The center will find a lot of opportunity throughout the league but New York might have enough to offer.

While Kerfoot might be interested in signing with his hometown team, the Vancouver Canucks, the Rangers have a fair shot. The opportunity to reunite with Vesey and have an immediate impact might be enticing.

Kerfoot would be a perfect fit for the Rangers. He is a reliable center with a lot of potential and won’t cost the Rangers a lot to grab him. If the Rangers can offer Kerfoot opportunity and devlopment, he might make the decision to head to New York.

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In conclusion, the Rangers should, at least, make a call to Kerfoot when he hits the market. Reliable centers are difficult to find and if the Rangers can fill a hole with a promising player, they ought to do so.