The New York Rangers are in the market for a third-line center. Tyler Johnson could fit the bill for a team looking to make moves with approximately $5.2 million in cap space.
Johnson has recorded 13 points (nine goals, four assists) in 35 games this season. he is currently on IR with an undisclosed upper-body injury that he suffered on Jan. 2.
The Garden faithful will remember his name from the 2015 Eastern Conference Finals, where he posted nine points (four goals, five assists) against the Rangers to help the Lightning advance to the Stanley Cup Final in seven games.
The Spokane, Washington native has skated in 116 playoff games, posting 65 points (32 goals, 33 assists) and winning two Stanley Cup championships in 2019 and 2020 with the Lightning.
The 33-year-old pivot earns $5 million this season and becomes a UFA this summer.
The Rangers could leverage the Blackhawks with draft stock and potentially a prospect to force Chicago to retain a part of Johnsons' salary.
Five million is a lot to take on for a depth center, but he could fit right into the Rangers third-line role.
Priorities for the team include; adding a third-line center, adding a right-wing (1RW or 3RW), adding muscle/defensive depth, or promoting these roles within the organization.
The team needs to add or entrust in organizational depth to achieve early-season Stanley Cup dreams, although the club's recent stretch may not convince management to go all in.
The thesis statement for the Rangers this season is to get the most out of the current lineup. Part of that is because of the clubs' financial aspect.
Chytil's injury forces the team to make a move that would not need to make. That is not the case here.
The club has limited capital to make any big splashes before the trade deadline and will have to take a similar approach it had in 2022. Johnson is an option for the Rangers to fill a much needed role int he lineup.