3 Rangers Entering Their Final Year With The Team

The New York Rangers have altered their team and are set for a season in which they return to the postseason, but that isn't a given. While the veterans have to continue to perform, the young players have to do their part as well since there will be a number of them in the everyday lineup. There will be changes over the season and into next offseason, so this is a look at who could be entering their final year with the Rangers.

Jonathan Quick

Jonathan Quick is pushing 40 years old and it just makes sense for him to end his career after this season. He is on a one-year deal and his numbers dropped last season from the one prior and he started just 20 games, posting a 3.17 GAA and .893 SV%. He has been good for a long time, and even though he wanted to have more chances at going after another Stanley Cup, he has his Cups and can retire after a very successful career.

Artemi Panarin

There are rumors that Artemi Panarin could be traded if the team doesn't start the season well. He is in the last year of his seven-year contract and has been extremely productive since signing with the team. He is still an elite player, but the Rangers have gone through some significant changes this past year and it would be a huge waste if the team missed the playoffs and Panarin decided to leave in free agency. Even if they get to the postseason and still lose, the Rangers wouldn't have accomplished the main goal since Panarin joined, which may make him leave on his own accord anyways. It is a big contract to move if the Rangers decide to trade him, but teams will make space.

Carson Soucy

Carson Soucy is expected to be the second pairing LD this season, but it feels like he is a bit of a placeholder until Braden Schneider, Scott Morrow or even Urho Vaakanainen or Matthew Robertson are capable of stepping into that role, which may be soon. Soucy is a third pairing calibre of defenseman and is headed into the final year of his deal. Letting him walk to free agency would free up some much-needed cap space with the available replacement in the organization already, or the Rangers could go after another player in free agency like they did with Vladislav Gavrikov.