Should the Rangers go after Dubois?

Now that the playoffs have concluded, with the Colorado Avalanche winning the Stanley Cup, the time for offseason rumors has arrived. No better example of this is from Wednesday, when a report surfaced from Francois Gagnon of RDS, who claimed the Rangers were interested in Winnipeg Jets forward Pierre-Luc Dubois. The 24-year-old center is a restricted free agent who recently expressed his desire to test unrestricted free agency in 2024.

The rumor has led people to believe a potential package going back to Winnipeg would center around Kaapo Kakko. However, the Rangers would need to clear cap space if they were to sign Dubois to an extension and still address their needs for next season. There aren't many candidates the Rangers can move that have significant salary and lack a no movement clause. Aside from Patrik Nemeth, who will most likely be moved at some point in this offseason, the Rangers have defenseman Ryan Lindgren's $3M cap hit, but he is a staple on the blueline.

Since the salary cap is so tight for the Rangers for both this season and next, and no viable way to clear salary, it might be a better option to wait until 2024 when Jacob Trouba's NMC expires and which is also when Dubois would theoretically hit unrestricted free agency. This would leave Filip Chytil as the remaining player, if Andrew Copp and Ryan Strome are not re-signed, to fill the second line center role next to Artemi Panarin. The Rangers could then attempt to go after 36-year-old center Paul Stastny in free agency to become the third line center. Signing Stastny would obviously improve the team's center depth, but he also is capable of winning faceoffs and he is a solid two-way player. Stastny would undoubtedly be signed only for one year at a reasonable price of between $3M and $4M.

Many fans do not feel that Chytil is ready to play the second line because he is not great at taking faceoffs but due to the cap restraints, he might be the team's best option. Going after Dubois now is risky, especially if Kakko has to go back the other way, because there's no guarantee he signs with the Rangers, although I believe Chris Drury wouldn't include Kakko in a potential Dubois trade unless a contract extension is in place. The Rangers also have to hand out contract extensions to Alexis Lafrenière, K'Andre Miller, and Filip Chytil next offseason, and it won't be cheap so the team has to be careful with how they use their remaining cap space for next offseason, as well as this one.

Dubois picture: Kirby Lee - USA Today Sports

Stastny picture: Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images

Joey DiMeglio - Ice Cold Takes/ Olde City Sports Network