NY Rangers Shockingly Not Among Potential Landing Spots for Lightning Star

The New York Rangers were shockingly not listed as a potential landing spot for a Tampa Bay Lightning star.

Jan 21, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; View of a Tampa Bay Lightning logo on a jersey worn by a member of the team during the first period at Bell Centre. / David Kirouac-Imagn Images

With the NHL Draft Lottery now complete and the New York Rangers knowing where they will be selecting, the next phase of the offseason will begin. 

It was undoubtedly a disappointing night for the Rangers during the NHL Draft Lottery. The team fell to the fifth pick, which was the lowest that they could have gone. This will create some uncertainty for the franchise on what they will do with the pick, and all options should be considered. 

New York is a team that is hoping to be retooling and be a contender once again next year. It is not easy to go from last place in the Eastern Conference to a playoff spot, but the Rangers seemingly believe that they can make it happen. 

With a lot of cap space to use this summer, they will be primed to improve. However, the team might also look toward the trade market to see what they can do there. While some big names will likely become available, New York was shockingly not mentioned as a landing spot for one of them. 

Lyle Richardson of Bleacher Report recently wrote about a few landing spots this summer for Tampa Bay Lightning star Nikita Kucherov. Surprisingly, the Rangers weren’t listed as a landing spot. 

New York Not Being Listed is a Surprise

Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov / David Kirouac-Imagn Images

With a need for starpower and a desire to be a contender next season, it was surprising not to see the Rangers listed as a potential landing spot. There were five teams mentioned, with the New York Islanders, New Jersey Devils, Washington Capitals, Carolina Hurricanes, and Los Angeles Kings all having a case made for them. 

New York falls in the same category as a couple of those teams, and they are always seemingly linked to star players. In terms of Kucherov, the winger is now 32 years old and will be entering the final year of his contract with the Lightning. 

Due to the struggles in the postseason the last couple of years and his being a free agent, Tampa Bay could explore what moving him would look like. Despite some struggles in the playoffs, Kucherov has been excellent in the regular season and is coming off a 130-point season. 

While the Rangers might not be the best fit for a player like Kucherov, who is entering free agency, he could be a complete game-changer for a franchise. If New York were able to lock him up long-term, that would certainly change things. With a steep asking price, more than likely, they would have to do that.