The New York Rangers face a critical need to strengthen their left-side defense as the NHL offseason market opens. The dropoff in defensive depth on the left side after Vladislav Gavrikov was evident last season, and fortifying this position is a priority for the Rangers as they aim to remain a contending team.
Last season, the Rangers finished with 21-year-old Drew Fortescue and Matthew Robertson, who had been a career AHLer until the previous campaign, as their second and third-pair left-handed defensemen. Recognizing this gap, the team has added Alberts Smits, a left-handed defenseman drafted fifth overall, to the roster.
Depending on training camp performance, Smits could be given an opportunity to contribute early. However, there is an expectation that the Rangers will seek to further enhance their defensive corps through either free agency or a trade before the season commences. The upcoming free agency period, beginning Wednesday at noon, presents an immediate opportunity to address this need.