The New York Rangers are didn’t waste time by signing Ryan Carpenter to likely center their fourth line on Thursday. According to the team it is a one-year contract, financial terms were not disclosed.
Per the NY Post’s Mollie Walker it is for $750,000.
Carpenter, 31, registered 12 points in 67 games split between the Chicago Blackhawks (59) and Calgary Flames (8). For his career, he’s amassed 69 points in 308 games with San Jose, Vegas, Chicago, and Calgary.
New York Rangers sign Ryan Carpenter
The rugged center played for head coach Gerard Gallant in Vegas for two seasons (2017-18 and 2018-19). He had the best year of his career under Gallant by scoring 18 points in 68 games (2018-19).
Last season, Carpenter was 51.5 on draws. His career average is 48.2 in the face-off circles. Per the team’s press release: Prior to being dealt by Chicago on March 21, 2022, Carpenter ranked tied for third on the club in faceoff percentage (min. 100 faceoffs) with a 52.3 percent clip and third in shorthanded time-on-ice (128:14).
New York still has between $4M to $5M in cap space but signing Carpenter is clear indication that Tyler Motte is no longer in the team’s plans.
In other news, the Rangers made a late signing with defenseman Andy Welinski to a 1-year, two-way contract for $750,000.
Welinski, 29, has 6 points in 46 career games all with the Anaheim Ducks. He was selected in the third round by the Ducks during the 2011 NHL Draft.
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