Please forgive this ridiculously early glimpse into next summer’s free agency but it appears that next summer many Rangers fan’s attention is fixed on center Brad Richards. A few things spring to mind; firstly for another year or so the Rangers need to be pretty prudent with their cap space. Secondly do they really, truly need to give big dollars to a 31 year old given the emerging youth?Finally, there are indeed other options potentially available. The Rangers have marquee players in Gaborik and Lundqvist. They have emerging (potential) marquee players in Staal and Del Zotto and perhaps further down the line, Kreider and Stepan. With core players such as Dubinsky, Callahan and Girardi in place perhaps the best thing the Rangers could do is find a solid top six forward to strengthen the scoring department. Giving $7m a year and a long term deal to an aging (albeit talented) center is not necessary the best route to Lord Stanley’s Mug.

With that in mind here’s a few players the Rangers should consider for extra scoring in what looks a relatively weak free agent class;

  • Marco Sturm; Unless the Rangers pay top dollar they won’t get either 30-40 goal scorer or a playmaking center but a guy like Sturm can be routinely pencilled in for 20+ goals, could be cheap because he’s currently injured (and thus will have a modest 10/11 season) and given the Bruins tight cap concerns should make it to free agency. His work rate, flexibility and experience could be a nice addition for 1-2 years.
  • Tim Connolly; If the oft injured yet talented pivot makes it to free agency and the Rangers feel Stepan, Anisimov et al aren’t ready for full time top line minutes offering Connolly a one or two year deal wouldn’t be a bad idea. He’s a pass first center who can rack up points and may look good feeding Gaborik.
  • Brooks Laich; If and it’s a big if, Laich makes it to free agency he’s another versatile forward that can play on any line, play both ends and can put up points – you can never have enough of those. He does come with a risk as the question remains whether he can put up points without the AO’s and Semin’s garnering the attention of the opposition. That said, he’s a young UFA at 27 and comes from a strong franchise.
  • Tomas Fleischmann; Another Captial worth targeting. If the Caps find a way to keep Semin in the fold Fleischmann (and Laich) will almost certainly need to be let go. Another young UFA at 26, the Czech has scoring potential (has a 57 point season) and seems to be suffering this year in a numbers game in DC. On course for just 40 points this year the young winger couldn’t command big money and is a potential home run signing. The risk is in whether you believe he can build on 19 and 23 goal seasons with another franchise.
  • Simon Gagne; The definition of risk. A supremely talented goal scorer who cannot stay health for long periods, he makes Gaborik look like an iron man. Currently injured, if he doesn’t stay in Tampa and is available at the right price he would look good – maybe great – opposite Gaborik but my word that’s a fragile line. If he’s healthy pencil him in for a minimum of 30 goals but is a player who should only be targeted on a short deal.

The above five players are the type of players the Rangers should target under the right circumstances. Looking at players of a certain age and not veterans such as Rangers granddad Vinny Prospal (or Ray Whitney, Mark Recchi and Alex Kovalev who are all players who offer no long term potential ) it really is a weak forward market. The real depth seems to be on defense and in goal where players such as Vokoun, Bryglazov, Markov, Kaberle and Jovanovski highlight their positions; positions which the Rangers don’t need. The Rangers shouldn’t chase the Alex Semin’s or even Brad Richards’ because those players will get more money than the Rangers should spend. The Rangers should spend a little and spend it wisely. The above named five players could fall into that category.

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