Previewing the Rangers’ 2026-27 Forward Group

After finishing last in the Metropolitan Division in the 2025-26 season, the New York Rangers are looking to get themselves back in the mix for a playoff spot this season. General manager (GM) Chris Drury has been busy to this point in the offseason working on upgrading the roster, and that includes the group of forwards that head coach Mike Sullivan will have at his disposal.

With a mix of veterans and younger players projected to be on the roster this season, the Rangers have a group that should perform at a higher level than last season, and with only four forwards under contract after this season, the organization is in a good spot for the future as well. So who is all included in this season’s forward group?

The Established Veterans

Oliver Bjorkstrand

After spending parts of the last two seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Oliver Bjorkstrand signed a one-year, $4.5 million deal this offseason with the Rangers. The 11-year veteran is coming off a season where he put up the fewest points in a season in his career (32), as well as the second-lowest ice time. But he still brings a two-way game that should help balance out the Rangers’ middle six of the forward grouping. He has the ability to play up or down in the lineup and can help out on the power play as well.

J.T. Miller

After spending the first five full seasons of his NHL career with the Rangers, J.T. Miller returned via trade in the 2024-25 season and had a solid finish with the team that season. Last season, the offensive numbers showed through again to a certain extent, but the defensive metrics, including a minus-30 plus-minus, did not help things. The 33-year-old center will once again be relied on in a second-line role and play a factor on the power play after putting up his most goals on the man advantage last season (six) in three seasons.

As he begins to get closer to his mid-30’s, seeing how reliant the Rangers are on him will be something to keep an eye on, as he is also one of the four forwards under contract next season (signed though 2029-30 at a $8.0 million cap hit). Being able to stay healthy and bounce back after a bit of an up-and-down 2025-26 will be a big key for the team to have success this season.

Taylor Raddysh

More of a depth player, Taylor Raddysh is entering his second season in a Rangers uniform after putting up 19 points last season. He may not light the world on fire with his offense, but where he makes an impact is on the penalty kill. Raddysh plays a responsible defensive game and will be relied upon in the bottom six of the lineup most likely this season again.

Mika Zibanejad

Coming off his best statistical season since the 2022-23 season, Mika Zibanejad has been a model of consistency in the Rangers’ lineup the past five seasons. He has missed just a total of three games over the past five seasons and continues to produce at a high level in his early-30’s. He played the most of all the forwards last season (20:54 a game), and will likely be right at the top of that category again. If he can keep up the production and possibly feed off the play of offseason acquisition Pavel Dorofeyev, Zibanejad could be in line for another big season.

Young Players

Will Cuylle

Entering his fourth season in the NHL, Will Cuylle will likely be a player who slides down in the lineup due to the new additions this offseason. He plays a strong two-way game and will be a great third-line player for the Rangers this season after also chipping in more than he has previously on the man advantage (four power-play goals). Entering the season, the 24-year-old will be trying to carve out a niche spot in the lineup and earn himself a longer-term contract, as he will be an RFA come the end of the season.

Pavel Dorofeyev

The big offseason acquisition by the Rangers was made at the 2026 Draft, when they traded for Pavel Dorofeyev from the Vegas Golden Knights and then signed him to a seven-year contract as he was a restricted free agent (RFA). Dorofeyev immediately gives the Rangers a winger that can light the lamp at a high rate, having put up 35-plus goals in each of the last two seasons and being a constant threat on the power play.

Dorofeyev will slot in on either the first or second line and will be a major key to the Rangers’ success this season. If he can replicate his production and play from the past two seasons, he not only will become a fan favorite in New York, but could help elevate the entire Rangers offense to another level.

Tye Kartye

While he does not have the most offensive game in his repertoire, Tye Kartye ended up being a solid pickup via waivers last season when the Rangers claimed him from the Seattle Kraken toward the end of February. After arriving to New York, Kartye saw an uptick in ice time (14:02 compared to 10:42 with the Kraken),and took advantage of it to put up 14 points in 24 games. If he can hold off a few younger players, he should likely crack a fourth-line role for the Rangers again this season. He will be looking to try and prove he has a future with the organization, as he is set to be an RFA at the end of the upcoming season.

Alexis Lafrenière

After a career year last season for Alexis Lafrenière, putting up 57 points (tied career-high) and 33 assists, he will be looking to build off of that and take the next step into becoming even more of the player that the Rangers hoped he would be after they selected him number one overall in the 2020 Draft.

Being one of two forwards that are signed for the 2030-31 season, Lafrenière is going to obviously be a big part of not only the immediate future, but the long-term future and success for the Rangers, so his building off of last season’s success will be a big thing to keep track of and watch for. With the murmurs of a possible trade involving Lafrenière, if he is unable to take that next jump though, those murmurs will only get louder as the season progresses.

Joe Veleno

Joe Veleno has struggled to live up to the first-round pick expectations since he was taken 30th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2018 Draft. He has bounced around over the past few seasons and signed a one-year deal with the Rangers this offseason. He has shown flashes sporadically of the game that made him not just a first-round pick, but also a player who was granted exceptional status by the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) in 2015.

Playing on his fourth Original Six team now (he has played with the Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, and the Montreal Canadiens), Veleno is at the point in his early career where he is going to need to find a way to stand out and stick in a lineup, and he was unable to do that last season with the Canadiens, playing only 61 games. He is likely to be a fourth-line player at this point unless the Rangers make another move for a center, which could push him to the press box more times than he is dressed.

Players Looking to Establish Themselves

Jaroslav Chmelar

After having two stints with the Rangers last season, putting up six points in 28 total games, Jaroslav Chmelar will be looking to earn a spot on the opening night roster and establish himself in the bottom six of the lineup. The 23 year old winger has great size (6-foot-4, 226 pounds), and plays a really solid power forward style of game with great skating for a player his size. If he can come into training camp and the preseason and impress, there is no reason to believe he will not make the roster this season and become a young player to get acquainted with as a Ranger fan.

Noah Laba

Following a strong rookie season where he tallied 24 points in 75 games, Noah Laba has the two-way game teams want from their centers and has plenty of upside in his game to be a full-blown NHLer. With good size, the 22-year-old center loves getting into the dirty areas of the ice, both in the offensive and defensive zones, and makes plays in doing so.

He is another young player within the organization who, with a strong season, can carve out a long-term role in the middle six of the forward grouping. He will also be an RFA this next offseason and will certainly be coming out this season to prove that he has what it takes to be a building piece for the future of the Rangers’ organization.

Gabe Perreault

Probably the prospect that has garnered the most excitement and hype in recent memory within the Rangers organization, Gabe Perreault made his way to the NHL last season and had a strong impact and made a great impression with his play in the 49 games he dressed for. He put up 27 points (12 goals, 15 assists) and was great whenever he was given an opportunity to make a difference.

Building off a solid first season and taking his game to the next level would certainly make Perreault a player who will be a massive building block for the Rangers’ future, and there is zero reason to believe that he will not do that this season after watching him play last season.

Final Word

While there is still plenty of time for things to change before opening night of the 2026-27 NHL regular season, whether it comes in the form of more acquisitions or surprises in training camp, the New York Rangers find themselves with a forward grouping that has better depth and overall skill. The moves made this offseason could very well end up helping the team get on track and push for a playoff spot come the end of the season.