Frank Vatrano is the latest former Ranger every fan wishes the club re-signed.
Even with players like Artemi Panarin and Adam Fox shooting the puck at every chance they can this season, the Rangers could use "Frankie V" for depth.
Vatrano was acquired by the Rangers on March 16th, 2021 for a 4th round pick. His one-of-a-kind energy and shoot-first mentality helped the Rangers advance to the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals, where he played alongside Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad, netting 5 goals and 13 points.
The 29-year-old became a cap and lineup casualty in a similar fashion to Pavel Buchnevich. The intent behind not resigning Vatrano had to do with money and to give the top six opportunities to Kaapo Kakko and Alexis Lafreniere.
The Rangers brought in Kane and Tarasenko, and they too are no longer in New York.
With Vatrano scoring 8 goals in 8 games this season for the Anaheim Ducks on a 3-year 3.6-million-dollar contract, the question of why the Rangers didn't keep him has validity.
Players like Goodrow are vital to winning a championship the 2023 Rangers prove that a collection of stars does not. But with players like Vesey and Bonino playing the same, if not better hockey than Goodrow this season on league-minimum contracts, could they just have played Pitlick full-time on the fourth line and moved him?
That also theoretically could have nullified the growing concern about Wheeler's production. Vatrano wouldn't steal a spot in the lineup from Kakko on the first line, or Lafreniere on the second. He would add extremely threatening goal-scoring onto the third line. You can never have enough goal-scoring depth.
Vatrano is also a physical player. He would mesh with players like Vincent Trocheck and Will Cuylle.
The Rangers are 6-2-0 to start the season and don't necessarily need the help. Vatrano's goal-per-game start makes it hard not to think about what could be. He is another player that the Rangers could have and should have found a way to keep.
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