3 Bottom-Six Fowards the Rangers Should Target in Free Agency

One area that both New York Rangers general manager Chris Drury and head coach Mike Sullivan said the team needed to improve was the bottom-six forward group. They want players who can provide some offense, as well as play on special teams to help take some of the load off the team’s top players. With guys like Conor Sheary and Johnny Brodzinski unlikely to return, and younger players looking to take another step, the Rangers are going to need some veteran help in the bottom six. In this piece, we are going to go over three players they could target in free agency to help fill out the bottom six.

Boone Jenner

The only team Boone Jenner has ever played for, and the one he is currently captain of, is the Columbus Blue Jackets. However, he is a pending unrestricted free agent (UFA), and the Blue Jackets might not want to give him the contract he’s asking for. His 13-year run in Columbus could be coming to an end, and if he does end up hitting the open market, the Rangers could be a team that shows interest in him. If they end up trading Vincent Trocheck, they are going to need a player who can play center to take his spot, and Jenner could be the perfect fit at third-line center.

There is some risk with Jenner as he just turned 33 years old and has not played a full 82-game regular season since 2016-17. In 67 games this season, he scored 13 goals and recorded 38 points, the most goals and points he’s had in two years. He has scored 20 or more goals four times in his career, and the Rangers could use that kind of offense in their bottom six. Jenner can also play on the penalty kill, and they are going to need someone to fill that role if Trocheck is traded. While his contract ask might be steep, the Rangers have the cap space to pay him, and if they are trying to get back to the playoffs next season, Jenner could be a player they look to bring in.

Mason Marchment

Another pending UFA from the Blue Jackets is Mason Marchment. After starting this season with the Seattle Kraken, he was traded to the Blue Jackets, where he fit in well as the team pushed for the playoffs but fell short. He recorded 13 points in 29 games with the Kraken and went on to score 15 goals and record 32 points in 39 games with Columbus. While it would make sense to keep him as he was a good fit, he, like Jenner, could also want a contract the team isn’t willing to give the 31-year-old, so he will likely test the free-agent market. The Rangers seem like a team that would covet a player like Marchment, as he can score, but also brings the toughness and physicality they currently lack.

Marchment also comes with some injury concerns, as he has not played a full season since 2023-24. He seems like the perfect fit for what the Rangers want in their bottom six. A player who brings size, scoring, and toughness is exactly what the team is looking for. The question is what kind of contract he’s looking for, and whether the Rangers, even with almost $27 million in cap space, would want to give out money and term to a player who’s going to play mostly in the bottom six. We saw how that turned out with Barclay Goodrow, and while Marchment is a more effective player than Goodrow, is he worth the money he’ll want?

A.J. Greer

After helping the Florida Panthers win the Stanley Cup last season, A.J. Greer had the best regular season of his career during his contract season. In 78 games, he scored 17 goals and recorded 32 points, practically doubling his previous career high in those categories. He got to play in a more elevated role this season due to all the injuries the Panthers were dealing with, and he made it count. Now, it seems he will be testing the free agent market, and with players like him wanted by other teams around the league, he is going to get a deal that shocks people. The Rangers could be one of the teams interested in him, as like Marchment, Greer can score and play a tough, physical game.

While this season could be a one-and-done in terms of the production Greer had, he would still bring a presence to the Rangers that they currently lack. No team in the league is afraid to play the Rangers, and while one player might not change that, having a player like Greer would make them tougher to play against. He can also play on the penalty kill and would take some of the pressure off of the Rangers’ top players, as they would not have to play PK minutes every game. Will his contract be too much for the player that he is? Probably, but with the salary cap going up, players like Greer are going to make more money than you expect.

While many might feel the Rangers could use more help in their top six, the bottom six needs to be better next season. Players like Sheary and Brodzinski didn’t provide much offense, and with younger players still learning to play at the NHL level, they are going to need veterans to help fill in the holes. While these might not be the most attractive names, they could help the Rangers be a better team next season.