The Colorado Avalanche re-signed Brock Nelson to a three-year, $22.5 million contract extension.
This contract proves one thing; the market for these free agents will be extremely high, so the New York Rangers should keep their distance.
Nelson is a quality NHL center, but giving him an AAV of $7.5 million at 33 years old could be problematic.
The Rangers' Reported Interest In JJ Peterka During Trade Deadline Leads To Speculation Heading Into Offseason
If JJ Peterka is in play this summer, the New York <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers" target="_blank">Rangers</a> should certainly pursue him.
This upcoming free-agent class is not overly strong, but that doesn't mean a lot of money won’t be shelled out, as Nelson’s contract extension is just a glimpse of what we may see this offseason.
The Rangers, a team perfectly set up to go after star-caliber players in 2026, should not risk giving out a contract this summer that they’ll not only regret, but will hinder the franchise down the road.
Nelson’s contract is just the start of a long offseason filled with multi-year deals that you’ll be scratching your head over.
With the salary cap set to go up over the next couple of years, teams will likely be spending money that we’ve simply never seen before.
This increase in the salary cap should not give the Rangers an excuse to be reckless and come July 1, Blueshirts president and general manager Chris Drury will have to be cautious and patient.