Rangers Being Predicted to Land $65M Star This Offseason: How New York Could Reshape Its Future
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The New York Rangers entered the 2025 offseason with one goal in mind: get over the Stanley Cup hump. After another disappointing playoff exit, it’s clear that tweaks around the edges won’t be enough. The Rangers need a game-changer.
Now, whispers around the league are growing louder, and those whispers are tied to a blockbuster prediction: the Rangers are being forecasted by several insiders to land a $65 million superstar this offseason.
Whether through trade or free agency, this potential addition could redefine the direction of the franchise — and either push them into contention or lock them into a high-risk, high-reward future.
But who is this $65 million star? Why are the Rangers considered a likely landing spot? And what would it mean for the current roster, the salary cap, and head coach Mike Sullivan’s system?
Let’s dive deep into everything surrounding the Rangers’ most headline-worthy offseason speculation.
The $65 Million Man: Who Are Insiders Pointing To?
While no name has been confirmed by the team, multiple reports from league insiders, including The Athletic and Sportsnet, have pointed toward Elias Lindholm and Martin Necas as two top targets. However, the most prominent name floating around as the “$65 million star” is Jake Guentzel.
Guentzel, who finished the 2024–25 season with 36 goals and 42 assists, is expected to command a long-term deal in the range of $62–$70 million. At 30 years old, he is a proven top-line winger with playoff pedigree, elite scoring touch, and a long-standing relationship with new Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan from their shared time in Pittsburgh.
Why Guentzel Makes Sense
- Chemistry with Mike Sullivan: The two-time Stanley Cup champion coach knows Guentzel’s tendencies inside and out. That matters for a team trying to install a new system quickly.
- Fits a Need: The Rangers’ top-six needs a dynamic finisher, especially with aging veterans and streaky scorers. Artemi Panarin is elite, but adding Guentzel could spread the scoring across multiple lines.
- Playoff Performer: Guentzel has scored 34 goals and 58 points in 69 career playoff games — exactly the kind of production the Rangers need in May and June.
The Price Tag: How Would the Rangers Afford a $65 Million Star?
Assuming Guentzel seeks a seven-year deal worth around $65 million, that’s roughly $9.3 million per year. The Rangers, already tight against the cap, would need to make space — and that means tough decisions.
Cap Casualties or Trades That Could Make It Work:
- Buyout or trade of Barclay Goodrow
- Cap savings: ~$3.6 million
- Goodrow’s role is replaceable by younger, cheaper forwards.
- Trading Kaapo Kakko (RFA) or letting him walk
- Projected cap hit: ~$2.4–$3 million
- Kakko’s development has stalled. He could be part of a deal or cleared for space.
- Chris Kreider decision
- Full no-move clause complicates this, but a mutual parting or buyout could save future money and open a top-six spot.
- Shedding a defenseman like Jacob Trouba ($8M)
- Trouba’s physical play is valued, but his salary doesn’t match his current impact.
- If moved, it would likely require salary retention or a sweetener, but it opens room.
Retaining Core Players
Crucially, adding Guentzel would not affect the Rangers’ ability to retain Igor Shesterkin, Adam Fox, and Artemi Panarin, as their deals are already locked in. The concern would be future flexibility for extensions to younger players like Braden Schneider and Brennan Othmann.
Where Would Guentzel Fit?
If the Rangers pull off this move, here’s how their top six could look:
Projected 2025–26 Top Six (with Guentzel)
- LW: Jake Guentzel
- C: Mika Zibanejad
- RW: Artemi Panarin
- LW: Alexis Lafrenière
- C: Vincent Trocheck
- RW: Brennan Othmann
That is a cup-contending top six. It blends veteran scoring with youthful upside, all structured around Mike Sullivan’s system of speed, creativity, and defensive responsibility.
Guentzel’s addition also brings lineup flexibility. He can play either wing, allowing Sullivan to mix-and-match based on matchups, health, or chemistry.
What’s the Mike Sullivan Factor?
Don’t underestimate Sullivan’s influence here. He’s not just any head coach — he’s someone with two Stanley Cups and deep playoff experience. He values players who understand structure, play at both ends, and excel in the playoffs.
Guentzel checks every one of those boxes.
In Pittsburgh, Sullivan leaned heavily on Guentzel in critical moments. He trusted him to play in high-leverage situations, both on the power play and defensively. That trust could help sell Guentzel on the idea of New York — even at a slight discount.
Sullivan’s hire alone was a clear signal from GM Chris Drury: the Rangers are in win-now mode. Guentzel could be the crown jewel of that plan.
The Risks: What Could Go Wrong?
No major move is without its risks. Here’s what could make this splash backfire:
1. Age and Contract Length
Guentzel will be 31 when next season begins. A seven-year deal takes him to age 38. Will his skating and finishing ability hold up? And would the final years become cap anchors?
2. Injury History
He missed chunks of multiple seasons due to upper-body injuries. He’s not brittle, but he’s not indestructible either. At a $9M+ cap hit, every missed game hurts.
3. Blocking Youth Development
If the Rangers invest heavily in Guentzel, they must ensure it doesn’t halt the growth of younger players like Gabe Perreault, Brennan Othmann, or Will Cuylle. Development needs room — and ice time.
What If It’s Not Guentzel?
Let’s entertain other $65 million possibilities, just in case Guentzel stays in Carolina or another team outbids New York.
Martin Necas (RFA – Carolina Hurricanes)
Necas is a 25-year-old speedster who posted 67 points in 2022–23 and 53 points in 2023–24. As an RFA with arbitration rights, his next contract could approach $8–$9 million annually over seven or eight years.
The Hurricanes may not be able to afford him — and the Rangers could offer a trade package involving Kakko, a pick, and a prospect. It would be a bold move, but Necas fits Sullivan’s style to a tee.
Elias Lindholm (UFA – Vancouver Canucks)
Lindholm had a disappointing stint in Vancouver but remains a two-way center with a 40-goal season on his résumé. If the Rangers want to shore up their second line, Lindholm could be a fallback if Guentzel stays put.
He’d command $7–8 million per year — and could replace Vincent Trocheck if the Rangers decide to move him later.
What the Experts Are Saying
Elliotte Friedman (Sportsnet):
“New York is watching Guentzel’s situation closely. The Sullivan connection is real, and there’s mutual respect there.”
Arthur Staple (The Athletic):
“Don’t rule out a big swing. Drury knows he’s on the clock. If Guentzel wants to reunite with Sullivan, the Rangers will find a way to make it happen.”
Emily Kaplan (ESPN):
“Rangers know they’re close. They’ve been sniffing around all the top-tier free agents and have quietly made calls about Necas too.”
What This Means for the Rangers’ Identity
The Rangers have long straddled two timelines: win-now with veterans like Kreider, Zibanejad, and Panarin — and the future, with Lafrenière, Schneider, and Othmann.
Acquiring a player like Guentzel cements their commitment to the former. It says: the rebuild is over. The window is now.
It also means the pressure will rise — on Sullivan, on Drury, and on a core group that has yet to make it past the Eastern Conference Final in this era.
The Rangers being predicted to land a $65 million superstar like Jake Guentzel isn’t just idle speculation — it’s a reflection of where this franchise stands in 2025. On the edge. On the brink. Just a few tweaks away from greatness, but still haunted by inconsistency and underperformance when it matters most.
If the Rangers pull it off, the addition of Guentzel could be the final push they need to reach the Stanley Cup Final — and maybe win their first championship since 1994.
But if they swing and miss, or if the big contract becomes an albatross? The criticism will be loud, swift, and unforgiving.
One way or another, this offseason will define the next era of Rangers hockey.
