The Rangers found a useful piece when they claimed Tye Kartye off waivers from the Seattle Kraken, and he has wasted no time making that move look sharp. The 25-year-old winger is in the final season of a two-year, $2.5 million deal, and after doing solid work in a bottom-six role last year, he has taken another step early in this season.
Kartye’s path to the NHL wasn’t exactly smooth. He went undrafted, then broke in with Seattle in 2023-24 and put up 11 goals and nine assists in 77 games while establishing himself as a steady, physical depth forward. His production dipped the following season to six goals and seven assists in 63 games, and he had three goals and five assists in 40 games before the Kraken waived him in February.
New York jumped in, and Kartye fit quickly. The Rangers used him on the third line, where his forechecking, physical edge, and nonstop energy stood out right away.
He made life difficult around the net, scored a few goals off deflections, and gave the team dependable work on the defensive side too. He also chipped in on the penalty kill and came up with important blocked shots.
In 24 games with the Rangers, he finished with five goals, nine assists, 17 blocked shots, and 75 hits.
That momentum has carried into this season, even as his role has shifted. Kartye began on the third line, but his play has pushed him into the top six.
He has kept bringing the same toughness and physical presence while continuing to help on the penalty kill, and now he’s adding more at even strength as well. Against the Los Angeles Kings on Oct. 26, he scored a beautiful goal and added an assist in a 6-3 loss.
Through 14 games, he has four goals, six assists, five blocked shots, and 38 hits.
For the Rangers, that kind of production matters. They lost two of their best forwards from last season, trading Artemi Panarin to the Kings last season and Vincent Trocheck to the Utah Mammoth in the offseason.
In response, they tried to reshape the roster on the back end, bringing in Sean Durzi in the Trocheck trade and Marcus Pettersson in a deal with the Vancouver Canucks. They also made a major addition up front by landing Pavel Dorofeyev from the Vegas Golden Knights and signing him to a seven-season, $77 million extension.
Even with all that winger depth, Kartye has forced his way into the conversation. Dorofeyev has struggled early, and Kartye now has the second most points among Rangers wingers behind Alexis Lafreniere. He wasn’t supposed to be a top-six fixture, but he has earned that spot by giving New York offense, defense, and a physical tone all at once.
The Rangers were dealt a major blow when star goalie Igor Shesterkin suffered a season-ending injury in a 3-1 loss to the Washington Capitals on Oct. 9, but the team has looked better overall than it did a year ago. They still need big seasons from players like Adam Fox and Mika Zibanejad, yet Kartye has already done his part as one of the role players stepping up. The challenge now is keeping that level going without slipping into a long dry spell.
For now, the waiver claim looks like a clear win. Kartye has been one of the Rangers’ best wingers through the first 14 games, and his speed and physical style have helped shape a team that looks faster and more aggressive than last season. If he keeps this up, an extension in New York could be in play.
In Other News...
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Seattles latest roster move sends a familiar young forward out the door after Shane Wright spent parts of multiple seasons with the Kraken and their AHL affiliate. The trade gives the organization a different kind of prospect to work with in Matthew Wood, a first-round pick in 2023 who arrives after completing his rookie season with Nashville.
For the Kraken, the deal also closes the book on a player whose development had been watched closely since he entered the league as a top pick. Wrights path in Seattle included stretches with both the NHL club and its AHL affiliate, and the swap reflects another shift in how the team is shaping its young core while adding a player with a fresh start and a different timeline. [Read more 🡒]
Kraken Just Made A Shane Wright Move Fans Will Judge Quickly
The Kraken made a notable roster swap just ahead of a stretch that will put them face-to-face with Nashville, sending forward Shane Wright to the Predators and bringing in Matthew Wood, a 21-year-old right wing who was taken in the first round in 2023. General manager Jason Botterill announced the deal, which gives Seattle a different young forward to work into the mix and adds another layer of intrigue to a matchup already carrying some extra edge.
Wood arrives with NHL experience from last season, while Wright leaves Seattle after being drafted in the first round in 2022. Both players are expected to join their new clubs before the upcoming games between the Kraken and Predators, so this is the kind of move that gets judged quickly, especially when the two teams are about to see each other and the swap is still fresh enough to color the conversation around both benches. [Read more 🡒]
Kraken Get Another Shot At A Flames Team With Real Questions
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For the Kraken, the timing makes this a useful measuring stick. Seattle gets another look at a division opponent that has already found a way past it, but Calgary is also heading into two road games against divisional teams before finally returning home, so the pressure is not one-sided. The Flames have enough talent to punish mistakes and enough uncertainty to leave openings, which is exactly the kind of setup that can turn a routine November game into a revealing one. [Read more 🡒]