Rangers Add Scoring Depth with Reported Tolvanen Signing

The New York Rangers are nearing an agreement with free-agent forward Eeli Tolvanen on a one-year contract with a $1.5 million salary cap hit, as multiple reports indicate. The deal, which was reported by The Athletic's Peter Baugh, citing a league source who spoke anonymously to discuss negotiations that were not yet public, was also confirmed by the New York Post and carried by TSN.

Tolvanen, 27, is a Finnish winger who spent the past three-and-a-half seasons with the Seattle Kraken. He was originally drafted by the Nashville Predators with the 30th overall pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft and began his NHL career in 2018. After playing 135 games with Nashville, he was claimed on waivers by Seattle in December 2022, midway through the 2022-23 season.

Career Numbers and Recent Production

Tolvanen's career has been marked by consistent offensive output. He posted 35 or more points in each of the past three seasons with the Kraken, including a career-high 23 goals in 2024-25. In the most recent season, he recorded 12 goals and 36 points in 78 games.

Over his career, Tolvanen has appeared in 423 NHL games, registering 92 goals and 190 points. He has contributed four goals and five assists in 21 career playoff games. He also scored the franchise's first postseason goal for Seattle in their first Stanley Cup Playoff appearance, a series they won in seven games against the Colorado Avalanche.

Tolvanen has represented Finland internationally, including at the 2026 Olympics, where he scored a goal and recorded three points in five games.

Role with Rangers

Tolvanen can play both wings but has spent most of his career on the right side. He is expected to compete for a spot in the Rangers' middle six, and his power-play experience could bolster a second unit that has struggled in recent years. Last season, he registered the fourth-most power-play points (14) on the Kraken while skating primarily with their second unit.

Beyond his offensive contributions, Tolvanen has developed a physical game. Since joining the Kraken, he has led the team in hits with 703 and recorded 256 blocks over the past three seasons. He also saw increased penalty-killing responsibilities, finishing last season with the seventh-most shorthanded minutes on the team at 80:53.

Offseason Context

The signing comes amid a busy offseason for the Rangers, who have already made several roster changes. The team traded Vincent Trocheck to the Utah Mammoth and acquired and extended Pavel Dorofeyev. The Rangers have missed the playoffs in each of the last two seasons after reaching the 2024 Eastern Conference Final, and the addition of Tolvanen is seen as part of an effort to strengthen the roster for a playoff push. Training camp is scheduled to begin in a few weeks.