The New York Rangers are still looking for another significant offensive addition as they prepare for the 2026-27 NHL season, with a top-six forward remaining one of the biggest priorities for general manager Chris Drury.
After a disappointing 2025-26 campaign in which New York finished last in the Eastern Conference, the Rangers have spent much of the offseason reshaping their roster. The organization is hoping the changes can help produce a dramatic turnaround, but there is still an obvious weakness at the top of the forward group.
Rangers Need More Firepower Up Front
The biggest concern surrounding the Rangers is their offense. The team has lost significant production since Artemi Panarin was traded to the Los Angeles Kings during last season, while Vincent Trocheck departed for the Utah Mammoth this summer.
Those departures have left New York without enough proven scoring depth among its top forwards. Rangers reporter Vincent Mercogliano recently emphasized that the club recognizes the issue and would ideally like to add another top-six forward with enough offensive ability to make an immediate impact.
The Rangers have already addressed part of the problem by acquiring Pavel Dorofeyev from the Vegas Golden Knights. Dorofeyev is coming off an impressive season in which he scored 37 goals during the regular season and added 12 more during the postseason.
His offensive production should give New York an important scoring option, particularly on the power play. However, the Rangers still believe another significant offensive weapon could be necessary if they want to compete for a playoff position.
What Could the Rangers’ Top Six Look Like?
According to Daily Faceoff’s projected lineup, New York’s top six could feature Gabriel Perreault, Mika Zibanejad and Dorofeyev on the first line, with Oliver Bjorkstrand, J.T. Miller and Alexis Lafrenière potentially forming the second unit.
On paper, the group has talent, but it lacks some of the star power and proven scoring production that the Rangers have had in recent seasons.
The Rangers are also counting on internal improvement.
Perreault is entering his sophomore season and could be given a considerably larger role after spending significant portions of his rookie campaign lower in the lineup. The organization will be hoping the young forward can make a major leap and become a consistent offensive contributor.
Lafrenière is another important piece. The former No. 1 overall pick has yet to completely reach the level many expected when New York selected him in 2020. With Panarin gone and the Rangers needing additional scoring, the upcoming season could provide Lafrenière with one of his biggest opportunities to establish himself as a genuine top-six offensive threat.
Dorofeyev’s arrival certainly improves the situation. His goal-scoring ability gives the Rangers another legitimate offensive weapon and could help take some pressure off their established stars.
Still, adding one more high-end forward would give New York considerably more flexibility.
A deeper top six would allow the Rangers to spread their scoring across multiple lines rather than relying heavily on a small number of players. It could also make the team’s power play more dangerous and create better matchups against opposing teams’ top defensive units.
The Trade Market May Be the Rangers’ Best Option
The problem is that finding such a player at this stage of the offseason will not be easy.
The free-agent market no longer offers many obvious top-six options, meaning the Rangers may have to explore the trade market if they want to make another major addition.
That presents its own challenge.
New York is not the only team searching for offensive upgrades, and high-end forwards are extremely expensive to acquire. A team willing to move a legitimate top-six scorer would likely demand a significant package of draft picks, prospects or established NHL talent in return.
The Rangers have already made several major moves this offseason, so Drury must also balance the desire to improve immediately with the need to protect the organization’s long-term future.
Rangers Could Wait Until the Season
Because the offseason market is becoming increasingly limited, the Rangers may ultimately decide that patience is the best approach.
Rather than overpaying for a player simply to fill the hole before opening night, New York could begin the season with its current forward group and continue monitoring the market.
Once the regular season begins, circumstances could change quickly. Injuries, struggling teams, contract situations and unexpected trade availability could create opportunities that do not currently exist.
The Rangers could then revisit the market and potentially find a more suitable top-six forward without forcing a deal.
For now, the message from around the organization is clear: New York believes its forward group still needs more firepower.
The additions of Dorofeyev and other offseason moves have changed the look of the team, but the Rangers are not necessarily finished. With a bounce-back season the goal, finding another top-six scorer could be the move that determines whether the revamped roster merely improves or actually returns to playoff contention.
The Rangers have already made major changes. Now, they may be waiting for the right forward to become available before making one more big swing.
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