The squeeze of the salary cap has always been the bane of any FNHL GM and that squeeze is certainly felt with the Rangers this offseason. With no room to resign him, the Rangers had to part ways with team captain Chris Kreider. Seeking in excess of a well-deserved $7.5 million, the veteran's negotiation rights were dealt to the Seattle Kraken. With that added space, the Rangers brought in Mitch Wahl on a controversial waiver claim, and resigned kingpin defenseman Haydn Fleury to a five year deal. However, look a little closer and you can see that GM Nagle has his work cut out for him in the next two offseasons.

The core of the veteran Rangers group are all due for new contracts, and ultimately raises. Zemgus Girgensons is severely underpaid will be seeking a $7m+ deal in two seasons, same can be said for forward Linus Omark and Calle Jarnkork. However, at the heart of the roster, the Rangers also have to look at their defense. Slater Koekkoek is due for a giant raise over his current paltry $4.35 million contract this offseason. Steady Mark Pysyk is also due for a good raise the offseason after. Oh, and don't forget in goal. Leland Irving is likely headed to retirement as the aging 38 year old has this year and next to bring the Rangers to the promise land and will likely hang the pads up on the wall for the final time.

Anyway you look at it, the Rangers are due for a magnificent makeover after this year and next. How deep of a makeover is yet to be seen. Could GM Nagle plug holes with savvy deals and free agents? Or would he prefer to strip it down to the studs and bank on their upcoming crop of draft picks (all of their first rounders belong to the team) to usher a new era of Rangers hockey. Who knows? But whatever way the weather vane turns, one thing is for certain, the music is playing loudly for the Pete Martin-era Rangers as the Last Dance for this crew is surely in the works.