The Rangers have been linked to plenty of ways to tweak their roster, but Connor Zary is one name that apparently got some real consideration before the club passed.
On the latest edition of the 32 Thoughts Podcast, Elliotte Friedman said New York had checked into the Calgary Flames forward before Zary landed on waivers earlier this week. The issue, according to Friedman, wasn’t whether the player could help. It was whether the money made any sense.
“I think one of the teams that has kind of dipped their goes on Zary a bit are the… Rangers.”
Friedman said the obstacle is Zary’s $3.775 million cap hit.
“So, the biggest challenge, and the reason Zary wasn’t claimed on waivers, is because of his cap hit… And they couldn’t, people just can’t take that right now.”
That lines up with the Rangers’ current situation. They have just $376K in cap space, which leaves almost no room to absorb a move like this without clearing salary first. And for a player who projects as a bottom-six forward, taking on nearly $4 million is a tough sell.
Still, Zary does fit a need. New York could use more depth at center, especially with Joe Veleno injured and Noah Laba struggling early.
From a roster-construction standpoint, Zary would make sense. At his current number, though, he doesn’t.
There are a couple of ways this could be worked out. Friedman noted that the Flames could retain part of Zary’s salary, which would make the contract much easier for the Rangers to swallow. If the number came down to something like $1.8 million, the fit would look a lot better.
The problem is that Zary still has two more years left on his deal after this season, and Calgary likely wouldn’t want to be carrying dead cap space for three years.
The other route would be a mutual contract termination. That’s a path players and teams have used when a fresh start becomes the best option, and the most recent example Friedman pointed to was former Ranger Chris Kreider.
Whether Calgary and Zary would ever go that far remains to be seen. If no trade emerges that takes on the full cap hit, it’s at least a possibility worth watching.
And if that happened, the Rangers could circle back on a player they already liked - only at a price that actually works. For now, though, this one sits in the category of intriguing idea, expensive reality.
In Other News...
Rangers Suddenly Face A Brutal Igor Shesterkin Question
Igor Shesterkins night against the Capitals ended abruptly when the Rangers No. 1 goaltender had to leave with a lower-body injury and did not return, a scary development for a team that has leaned heavily on him. Dylan Garand stepped in and handled the workload after Shesterkin exited, giving New York at least a steady stopgap while the bench waited for word on the starters condition.
The concern goes beyond one game because the Rangers are already dealing with injuries in goal, which has thinned out their options at a position that rarely allows for much margin. New York is still waiting for a fuller update on Shesterkin, and with another game looming, the teams depth chart could be pushed into uncomfortable territory if he is not available. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Affiliate Is Building Early Momentum Behind An Intriguing Goalie Start
The Hartford Wolf Pack kept their early-season roll going with a 2-0 win over the Providence Bruins, giving the Rangers AHL affiliate three straight victories to open the year. Glenn Gawdin supplied one of the goals, and the result continued a start that has put Hartford in a good place before the calendar really settles into the grind of the season.
Callum Tung was at the center of it, turning aside 28 shots to give Hartford the kind of steady goaltending every affiliate hopes to find early. The Wolf Pack now head toward their home opener against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on October 10, with the early question being whether this start is the beginning of something more substantial. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Goalie Surge Suddenly Feels More Real Than Expected
The Hartford Wolf Packs fast start kept rolling with a 2-0 win over the Providence Bruins, another encouraging sign for a Rangers organization watching its goaltending depth closely. The Wolf Pack opened the 2026-27 season at 3-0-0-0, and the latest result came with the kind of steady, low-event hockey that can make an early run feel more legitimate than decorative.
Callum Tung was the biggest reason it held together, turning aside all 28 shots he faced for his first AHL shutout. In a development system, those are the kinds of nights that matter because they hint at more than a clean sheet in October, especially when the results keep stacking up and the crease picture in the organization starts to look a little more interesting. [Read more 🡒]