NHL: New York Rangers at Pittsburgh Penguins - Source: Imagn — Looking at three potential PTO signings that make sense for the New York Rangers (Image Credit: Imagn)

3 PTO signings that make sense for New York Rangers

Modified Sep 07, 2024 18:26 GMT

Last year, the New York Rangers finished the regular season with 55 wins across their 82 games. The team then made waves in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, sweeping the Washington Capitals in the first round before eliminating the Carolina Hurricanes in the second. In the conference finals, however, the team lost to the Florida Panthers in a six-game series.

With their sights now set on the season ahead, and the free agency pool nearly dried up, the New York Rangers will likely have to seek out players for PTOs during training camp.

Ahead of the Sept. 22 start to the Rangers' preseason schedule, where they will face the Boston Bruins on the road, the team is shifting its focus to training camp in the weeks to come. While they are currently in fourth place in the 2024-25 Stanley Cup voting odds, the team could seek out players for PTOs to improve its shot at the Cup.

Three PTO signings that make sense for the New York Rangers

#1: Mike Hoffman

An NHL vet who is no stranger to earning a contract through a PTO, Mike Hoffman is fresh off a one-year stint with the San Jose Sharks last season. While he's no longer producing at the same rate as he once did during his prime, Hoffman still managed to log 23 points (10 goals, 13 assists) over 66 games last season.

In addition to his experience, Hoffman has also shown that he's able to stay healthy, which is something that could make him a frontrunner for a roster spot. At 34 years old, Hoffman still has some gas left in the take, meaning he could be worth a look from the New York Rangers.

#2: Nick Bonino

Although Nick Bonino has struggled to stay healthy over the past two years, he could add depth to the New York Rangers roster, while providing familiarity and veteran leadership.

As a two-time Stanley Cup champion, Bonino has competed at the highest level, which could be invaluable for a team looking to return to Cup contention. Although his production dropped last season with the Rangers, it may be worth giving him a PTO to see if last season was simply a down year.

#3: Pierre-Edouard Bellemare

Last season, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare saw his production drop as he logged just seven points over the course of 40 games with the Seattle Kraken. Despite that, there are reasons to be optimistic about the New York Rangers bringing him in for a PTO.

Prior to last season, Bellemare stayed healthy for two straight years, where he proved that he's still capable of producing both in the regular season and in the playoffs, logging 20 points over 80 games in the 2021-22 season and 13 in the 2022-23 season.