The New York Rangers have been mentioned in a big rumor during hockey’s off-season.
Marc-Olivier Beaudoin shared on X that the Rangers are one of the few teams that Connor McDavid would consider joining if he decided to waive his no-move clause.
Montreal is also being talked about as a possible option for him. There are a few other unnamed teams as well. However, the Rangers showing up in this rumor is something exciting for Madison Square Garden this week.
Beaudoin was careful with his words. He did not say that McDavid has made a final choice or that he has asked for a trade. He simply mentioned that if McDavid wants to leave Edmonton at some point, New York is one of the few places he might think about going.
This is a significant suggestion for a team that is figuring out its future. The Rangers finished in 29th place with a record of 34 wins, 39 losses, and 9 overtime losses, earning a total of 77 points. Their drop from being a strong team to one of the weakest happened really quickly. Chris Drury’s team needs to find its identity.
Adding McDavid would give them that identity. The 29-year-old just had an amazing regular season with 138 points, scoring 48 goals and getting 90 assists, all while earning $12.5 million. This is the kind of talent that no competitive team trades for without going all out.
What McDavid could bring to the New York Rangers is enormous. Mike Sullivan took over a team last summer that had some strong players. Adam Fox costs $9.5 million and plays on defense. Mika Zibanejad scored 78 points in 81 games. Igor Shesterkin is in goal with an $11.5 million contract and a 0.911 save percentage.
If McDavid joins this talented group, it could completely change the team’s situation. The Rangers could go from a team that is still rebuilding to a serious contender for the Stanley Cup with just one signature.
Zibanejad’s minus-20 rating shows what the team is missing. The Rangers struggle to keep the puck in the offensive zone consistently. McDavid is the player who can fix that problem better than anyone since Wayne Gretzky.
Alexis Lafreniere is 24 years old and has scored 57 points while costing the team $7.45 million. Playing with McDavid could be just what he needs to thrive by having a top center to play alongside.
Madison Square Garden has been looking for a superstar player for many years. The Rangers have not had a Hart Trophy winner since Mark Messier won it back in 1992. The last time they celebrated a Stanley Cup victory was in 1994. The fans are really wanting success.
McDavid will be able to be a free agent starting July 1, 2028. That gives the Oilers two more years to persuade him to stay. It also gives the Rangers two years to make him think that New York is a great option for him.
Last week, I had some really intriguing talks, but I wanted to wait until things calmed down to share them. I learned that if Connor McDavid decides to leave Edmonton, the Canadiens would be one of the few teams he might consider for a trade or to sign with when he can fully choose on July 1, 2028. When he visited Montreal for the F1 Grand Prix, he took the chance to check out some areas in Brossard and Westmount. So, Montreal and New York (Rangers) would be two of the few places he might think about. This was reported by Marc-Olivier Beaudoin.
Pierre LeBrun mentioned earlier this week that McDavid and Auston Matthews still haven’t made any final choices about what they’ll do next. LeBrun thinks both players will likely stay where they are for at least another year.
This gives Chris Drury time to improve the Rangers’ team. They need to fix how their budget is set up. The defense plan with Sullivan needs more time to work well. The path to becoming a team that players like McDavid want to join depends on how they perform in 2026-27.
To be honest, this is the type of gossip that usually doesn’t turn into reality. Most top players never actually leave the teams that picked them. However, McDavid keeps getting better every year, while the Oilers keep not making it far in the playoffs.
The Rangers can’t rush anything. They need to create a team that players will want to join. The call will come from the player’s side when it’s time. New York just found out they might be the ones receiving that call.
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