Late yesterday afternoon, the Rangers agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million contract with unrestricted free agent Eeli Tolvanen.

A solid defensive forward who can provide secondary scoring along with physicality, the 27-year-old Tolvanen was a player I hoped the Rangers would sign this summer. I felt he’d be a good fit on the third line due to his unique style. Once a 2017 Predators first round pick (30th overall), Tolvanen spent approximately three seasons in Nashville before the Kraken claimed him off waivers on Dec. 12, 2022.

Despite reaching double digits in goals twice early in his career, he wound up on a different team with the expansion Kraken. It was there where he showed improvement as a player. Over 48 games, he had 16 goals and 11 assists for a career best 27 points with Seattle for the remainder of 2022-23. Tolvanen followed that up by achieving career highs in assists (25) and points (41) in 2023-24.

In 2024-25, he posted a career-high 23 goals with 12 helpers for 35 points in 81 contests. He also had 237 hits to make it two consecutive seasons with over 200 hits. Last season, Tolvanen tallied a dozen goals and 24 assists for 36 points in 78 games. He also averaged a personal best 16:03 of ice time. He finished with 187 hits and 81 blocked shots.

Perhaps due to a down year that included a career worst minus-18 rating, he didn’t sign early. Despite being an established player, Tolvanen had to patiently wait for the Rangers to scoop him up.

For the Rangers, it’s a wise move bringing in a player who should solidify their top nine. Before Tolvanen signed, the third line was projected to include either Tye Kartye or Taylor Raddysh. Now, it looks like Noah Laba and Will Cuylle will have a more capable checking forward to play with.

In adding Tolvanen to a good off-season that’s featured the big acquisition of goalscorer Pavel Dorofeyev and signing Oliver Bjorkstrand to a one-year deal worth $4.5 million, the Rangers look improved both up front and on a revamped blue line that now includes Marcus Pettersson and Sean Durzi.

There’s cause for optimism as training camp approaches. With a better prospect pool that includes Liam Greentree, Cole Beaudoin, Nathan Aspinall, Brody Lamb, and Jacob Battaglia, the organization is moving in the right direction. By selecting Alberts Smits and signing him, he will begin his pro career either in New York City or Hartford. If it’s the latter due to incumbent defensemen Matthew Robertson and Braden Schneider, that’ll probably be best for his development. That also could go for Greentree, who was the big prospect that came back for Artemi Panarin.

If we’re to project the Rangers potential lineup, it could look like this.

Gabe Perreault-Mika Zibanejad-Pavel Dorofeyev

Alexis Lafreniere-J.T. Miller-Oliver Bjorkstrand

Will Cuylle-Noah Laba-Eeli Tolvanen

Tye Kartye-Joe Veleno-Taylor Raddysh

Vladislav Gavrikov-Adam Fox

Marcus Pettersson-Sean Durzi

Matthew Robertson-Braden Schneider

Igor Shesterkin

Joonas Korpisalo

Extras: F Matt Rempe, D Urho Vaakanainen, G Dylan Garand

Chmelar and Sykora Take Aim

That excludes Jaroslav Chmelar and Adam Sykora. Both forwards made a good first impression on Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan towards the conclusion of 2025-26. Each carved out roles on the fourth line while playing with Laba.

However, Laba is expected to move back up and anchor the third line. With Vincent Trocheck no longer around due to the trade with the Mammoth, which brought back Durzi and Beaudoin, the second-year center is expected to take over full-time in a checking role for the reliable Trocheck. Due to Sullivan playing Trocheck and Miller together for a good portion of last season, Laba should be quite familiar with what’s expected. He also doubled as a penalty killer with Kartye, who the Rangers claimed from the Kraken.

As for Chmelar and Sykora, who are both on two-way deals, they’ll each look to make the roster out of camp.

Improved Depth Means Increased Expectations

Give Chris Drury some credit. The Rangers team president and general manager had a strong off-season by addressing some key areas that needed to be overhauled from last year. With improved depth, that should mean increased expectations.

The Rangers finished last in the Eastern Conference with 77 points. A big reason for that were injuries to Shesterkin and Fox. They each missed a significant amount of time. Without their two biggest stars, the Rangers plummeted in the standings. Once they returned, the team played better down the stretch. That included Zibanejad, who had a bounce back season by pacing the Blueshirts with 34 goals, 78 points, and 16 power-play goals to win the Steven McDonald Award.

Despite missing 27 games, Fox still finished with 53 points in 55 games. He remains one of the league’s best defensemen. Now, he could be underrated due to insiders having him ranked outside the top 10. A healthy season could see Fox have a revival on Broadway.

Similarly, Shesterkin rounded into form by winning 25 games while posting a 2.50 goals-against-average and .912 save percentage in 51 starts. He should get back to winning over 30 and could seriously challenge for the Vezina.

The Blueshirts need more from captain J.T. Miller. An injury riddled season limited him to 53 points in 68 games. He played most of it through whatever was ailing him. A healthy and motivated Miller could unlock the Rangers’ potential. They can ill afford for Miller to be ineffective over the new 84-game slate, which begins on Sept. 29.

Adding a quality scorer in Dorofeyev should aid the Rangers’ lack of punch. Coming off a 37-goal, 64-point campaign in Vegas, the 25-year-old will face heavy scrutiny in the Big Apple. He signed a big contract worth $11 million AAV over seven years. Dorofeyev put up a combined 72 goals the last two seasons with the Golden Knights. During the Knights’ run to the Stanley Cup Finals, he finished with 12 goals. He’s a natural finisher with a great shot and soft hands. He’ll be counted on by the Blueshirts.

If the offense improves thanks to the additions that now include Tolvanen and Durzi, who can provide a boost from the back end, things could fall into place. The defense should be steadier as well with the dependable Pettersson on the second pair with Durzi.

It’ll be fascinating to see what happens with the backup goalie competition. Drury brought in Korpisalo from Boston to compete with Garand, who isn’t waiver eligible. Depending on how things go during preseason, that could determine if the Rangers carry three goalies.

Assuming all goes according to plan, it’s possible that the Rangers could compete for a wild card in 2026-27. As things heat up in September, we’ll have a better idea how close they are.