With the New York Rangers entering what they are calling a “retooling” period, fans might have to get used to seeing some random players on a nightly basis as the team works through this tough time. It happened the last time the Rangers entered their rebuild. As players were shipped out, they had to fill in the gaps with players who might have never gotten a shot with the team otherwise. With the team currently on its Olympic break, this seemed like the best time to look back at five forgotten Rangers who played during the rebuilding years of 2017 through 2021.
Cody McLeod: 2017-2019
Before players like Ryan Reaves and Matt Rempe were on the team, the Rangers wanted to add a tough guy to the roster as a way to protect the younger players. They claimed Cody McLeod off waivers from the Nashville Predators in January 2018. He played 25 games for the team the rest of the season, recording two assists, and got into 31 games the next season, scoring one goal. He was traded back to the Predators in February 2019 in exchange for a 2020 seventh-round pick.
Rob O’Gara: 2017-2018
In one of the first trades made of the rebuild, the Rangers traded Nick Holden to the Boston Bruins in exchange for a 2018 third-round pick and defensive prospect, Rob O’Gara. With the team having no one else to play for them, O’Gara was able to get into games immediately and played in 25 games to end the season, recording three assists. He spent the next season in the American Hockey League (AHL) playing for the Hartford Wolf Pack. He never played another game for the Rangers or in the NHL and spent the next three seasons on three different AHL teams before retiring from professional hockey following the 2020-21 season.
Kevin Shattenkirk: 2017-2019
While Kevin Shattenkirk isn’t an unknown name around the NHL, some might not remember that he played for the Rangers for two seasons. He was the big free agent signing for the team heading into the 2017-18 season. He wanted to be a Ranger as he was from New York, and it was seen as a big move to try to help keep the Stanley Cup window alive. He played in only 46 games his first season and was kept out the rest of the year due to an injury he suffered.
Related: Liam Greentree: Everything to Know About Rangers’ New Acquisition
Shattenkirk was kept around to be a veteran presence the following season, but it was clear that the new head coach, David Quinn, did not trust this player, and his role was diminished as the season went along, and he was even a healthy scratch. Following the 2018-19 season, the team needed to create some cap space and bought out the final two years of Shattenkirk’s contract. He went on to sign a one-year deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning and helped them win their first of two Stanley Cups.
Adam McQuaid: 2018-2019
Prior to the start of the 2018-19 season, the Rangers made a trade with the Boston Bruins to acquire defenseman Adam McQuaid in exchange for Steven Kampfer (another forgotten Ranger), a 2019 fourth-round pick, and a 2019 seventh-round pick. He fell out of favor in Boston, and the Rangers saw him as a veteran leader who could help teach some of their younger defensemen. He played in only 36 games for the team that season, scoring two goals and recording five points. He was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets at the trade deadline in exchange for Julius Bergman, a 2019 fourth-round pick, and a 2019 seventh-round pick.
Jack Johnson: 2020-2021
After being bought out of his contract by the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Rangers signed Jack Johnson to a one-year deal in free agency. Fans were confused by this move as it was clear Johnson was on the decline, and he would be taking a spot from a younger player who could use the ice time. Well, his time on Broadway didn’t last very long, as he played in only 13 games before getting injured, and he was out for the rest of the season. His one goal as a Ranger did come against the Penguins, so that must have felt good for him. He went on to win the Stanley Cup the following season as a member of the Colorado Avalanche.
Jack Johnson, Colorado Avalanche (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)
Right now, it seems like the Rangers are not going to be a good team for the foreseeable future. This means fans might have to get used to seeing some unfamiliar names playing on a nightly basis, just like what happened over the course of the rebuild. Whether it’s young players who aren’t NHL-ready or veterans trying to prove they can still play, the Rangers might become a team filled with forgotten players very soon.
