McKenzie: Rangers may have interest in Antoine Vermette

Per Bob McKenzie on NHLN’s NHL Live yesterday (via Nichols on Hockey), the New York Rangers may have interest in Phoenix Arizona Coyotes center Antoine Vermette. Vermette is one of the few offensive bright spots on the ‘Yotes, but the 32 year old center is also a pending UFA primed to get a decent pay raise on his $3.75 million salary this season.

Vermette is a more expensive option –both in salary and price to acquire– than Mike Santorelli, but he has more offensive upside. Vermette is a little below the 0% median in CF% relative (usually within 2% of a 50% CF). But Vermette wins 55.2% of his faceoffs, so people will like that, even if it is a relatively insignificant part of the game.