Rangers Exploring Options to Add a Top-Six Forward

The New York Rangers are hoping to rebound from a disappointing 2025-26 season and return to the postseason in 2026-27. After entering last season with playoff expectations, New York finished at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, prompting significant changes to the roster.

General manager Chris Drury has already overseen considerable turnover, but the Rangers could still make additional moves before or during the upcoming season as they continue evaluating potential additions.

Rangers Face a Major Need in the Top Six

The biggest concern for New York heading into the season is its offense, particularly the forward group. The Rangers lost Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings during the 2025-26 season and saw Vincent Trocheck leave for the Utah Mammoth this summer.

Those departures have created a significant gap near the top of the lineup, and filling it could be important if New York hopes to compete for a playoff spot.

Rangers beat reporter Vincent Mercogliano recently highlighted the issue on The Athletic Hockey Show, noting that the team recognizes its need for additional scoring, particularly among its top-six forwards. Ideally, the Rangers would like to add another established top-six player.

New York Continues to Explore the Market

According to projected line combinations from Daily Faceoff, New York’s top six currently features Gabriel Perreault, Mika Zibanejad and Pavel Dorofeyev on the first line, with Oliver Bjorkstrand, J.T. Miller and Alexis Lafreniere projected on the second.

Dorofeyev’s arrival from the Vegas Golden Knights gives the Rangers an additional offensive weapon. He scored 37 goals during the regular season and added 12 more during the postseason, making him a potentially important contributor, particularly on the power play.

Even with that addition, however, New York’s forward group appears less imposing than it has in recent years. Much could depend on the development of Perreault, who is entering his second NHL season and is expected to receive a larger role after spending significant time lower in the lineup as a rookie.

Lafreniere is another player under the spotlight. The former No. 1 overall pick has yet to produce the breakout season many expected from him, and the Rangers could use a significant step forward from the young forward.

Regardless of how the lineup develops, New York appears to have room for another high-end offensive player. Drury has been monitoring the market in an effort to address that need, but finding a suitable option this late in the offseason could be challenging.

The free-agent market offers few obvious top-six solutions, while acquiring an elite forward through a trade would likely require a significant price. With other teams also searching for offensive help, competition for available players could further drive up the cost.

As a result, the Rangers may have to remain patient. If they cannot find the right addition before opening night, their next opportunity could come once the season begins and trade activity around the league starts to increase.