The Rangers elected to not extend qualifying offes to at least three players, including defenseman Fredrik Claesson. The 27 year old blueliner signed as a UFA last Summer and served as a fill-in defender for 37 games, registering 2 goals, 4 assists, 9 penalty minutes and a +3 rating.
A serviceable 6th/7th defenseman who could come off stints in street clothes, Claesson likely became a victim of the numbers game, with Jacob Trouba and Adam Fox added in recent weeks, and the expected progression from the likes of Libor Hajek and Ryan Lindgren, who both enter their second professional seasons.
In addition to Claesson, the Rangers will not be bringing back goaltender Brandon Halverson and defenseman Chris Bigras.
Halverson was drafted by the Rangers back in 2014 – 2nd round, 59th overall – and made a cameo appearance two years ago with 13 minutes in relief of Henrik Lundqvist. Over three pro-seasons, he split time between the AHL and ECHL, failing to establish himself as a legitimate starter ifor Hartford, let alone as a legitimate option for the NHL.
Defenseman Chris Bigras failed to appear in a single game for the Rangers in just over a year with the club. Acquired from Colorado in exchange for Ryan Graves, Bigras played 70 games for the Wolfpack, picking up five goals and 30 assists to go along with a +2 rating and 44 penalty minutes.
NYR
CAR
NYI
WSH
NJD
PHI
PIT
CBJ