The Rangers are trimming the roster fast, and the next round of cuts could bring a real waiver headache.
New York has already sent five players through the process as it works toward being compliant by Monday, Sept. 28.
On Sept. 22, the team waived defensemen Urho Vaakanainen and Dennis Cholowski and centers Juuso Parssinen and Justin Dowling. All four cleared, which opens the door for the Hartford Wolf Pack in the AHL if the Rangers decide to send them down.
Goalie Spencer Martin followed the next day and remains on waivers.
That still leaves the Rangers with 29 players, and six more have to go. Claims are never common - only 10 players were claimed out of 233 last year - but New York has a few names that could draw attention if they land on the wire.
“In particular, according to two scouts and an NHL agent who spoke to The Athletic on the condition of anonymity to speculate on teams’ plans, three Rangers players are expected to tempt opposing front offices if they hit the wire: Rempe, defenseman Scott Morrow and goalie Dylan Garand,” wrote Peter Baugh and Vincent Z. Mercogliano of The Athletic (subscription required).
Matt Rempe is one of the forwards still fighting for a place in camp. Adam Sykora’s injury removed one option from the mix, while the signing of Eeli Tolvanen has pushed other players further down the depth chart.
Rempe was rolling early in the 2025-26 season before a thumb injury in a fight slowed him down. He’s healthy again and trying to get back on track, but he still has to hold off Taylor Raddysh and Jaroslav Chmelar, with Tye Kartye appearing to have a spot secured.
Morrow brings a different kind of intrigue. He came to New York as the key piece in the return from the Carolina Hurricanes in the K’Andre Miller trade, and he has the puck-moving ability Mike Sullivan wanted on the blue line.
But last season’s opportunities were limited, and the reshaped depth chart has left him fighting uphill again. The Rangers would have reason to keep a young, right-handed puck mover in the organization, yet with Vaakanainen already waived, Alberts Smits seems to have the inside track.
Still, at 23, Morrow is the sort of player another team could easily take a shot on if he becomes available.
Garand may be the toughest name for New York to sneak through. Goaltending is always in demand, and the 24-year-old is inexpensive after signing a two-year deal this summer.
His NHL debut late in the 2025-26 season was strong, but it didn’t stop the Rangers from bringing in Joonas Korpisalo from the Boston Bruins. That move created a crowded situation and left the club with a difficult decision on a young goalie who could attract plenty of interest if he’s exposed on waivers.
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