Tye Kartye's Rapid Ascent With Rangers Validates Claim After Kraken Waived Him

Tye Kartye is rapidly ascending the New York Rangers lineup, a quick turnaround after being waived by the Seattle Kraken in February. The 25-year-old forward has already been promoted from the fourth line to the second line this season, impressing head coach Mike Sullivan with his tenacious play.

Kartye expressed his motivation during a preseason broadcast, stating his desire to prove the Rangers right for taking a chance on him rather than focusing on proving the Kraken wrong for waiving him. "When it happened," Kartye told The Post on Monday of being waived, "I kinda move from the last team that I was on and I focus on the team that I’m on now — and doing everything that I can to be successful here and help the team win here."

After arriving in New York last season, Kartye skated in 24 games, scoring five goals and accumulating 14 points, while building early chemistry with J.T. Miller. He began training camp on the fourth line but demonstrated his offensive instincts in scrimmages and exhibitions, scoring a goal in multiple camp games and netting a shot past the Islanders' Semyon Varlamov in the final exhibition.

During a recent win against Detroit, Sullivan shifted Kartye to the second line alongside Pavel Dorofeyev and J.T. Miller, aiming to inject speed and tenacity into the unit. This combination has become the Rangers' top forward pairing in terms of expected goals for percentage, according to Evolving-Hockey, and ranks among the top lines leaguewide.

Sullivan praised Kartye's ability to win puck battles, describing him as a "dog on a bone on the puck." This skill has been a defining aspect of Kartye's game since his junior hockey days, where he first developed his tenacity and improved his shot to excel in high-danger areas.

"Whether Tye’s on a top line or a fourth line, his role and his identity as a player does not change," said Jamie Tardif, a former assistant with the OHL's Soo Greyhounds and AHL Hartford. "So everyday, Tye is a very predictable hockey player. … To me, it’s no secret why he’s in that role, he’s in the top six, because he’s predictable, he’s dependable and guys want to play with him."

Kartye's journey included three years with the Kraken, where he played in 180 games, scoring 20 goals and 41 points, and experienced his first taste of the postseason in 2023. His opportunity in the Rangers' top six also serves as an audition for his future with the organization, as he is a restricted free agent.

The Rangers do not expect Kartye to replicate his junior scoring output but rely on his established identity: his puck pursuit, forecheck, and other under-the-radar contributions that can elevate his linemates. Sullivan emphasized this point, telling Kartye, "Don’t change your game just because you moved up the lineup. You got moved up the lineup because of the game that you’re playing. Bring that element to the line, and everything will work."