New York Rangers Add Daunting Size to Defensive Core

It's out with the old, and in with the massive, for the New York Rangers.

In a continuation of Chris Drury's mission to revamp a Rangers' team that wasn't "tough enough" to win in the playoffs, the New York general manager acquired a duo of bruisers, inking defensemen Jarred Tinordi and Patrik Nemeth to contracts on the inaugural day of free agency. Both players are 29 years of age, and come with nearly a decade of professional hockey experience.

Also, Nemeth is 6'3" and 230 pounds, while Tinordi is 6'6" and 225 pounds. They'll make you pay if you're not careful, and that's exactly the mindset that the Rangers are trying to embrace.

Get our free mobile app

Nemeth made his NHL debut in 2013, and has been a mainstay in the league since 2017. He concluded his season with the Colorado Avalanche after a two-year stint with the Detroit Red Wings this season. He spent the previous two seasons back in Colorado, and his first four with the Dallas Stars. He's never scored more than 15 points, or 3 goals, in an NHL season. What he lacks in offense, however, he will make-up for in defensive play, and will pair nicely with offensive-minded defenders like Adam Fox and Zac Jones.

Tinordi, meanwhile, is more of the journeyman type of professional, but has found a bit of a resurgence the last two seasons. Out of the NHL from 2016 to 2019, he resurfaced with the Nashville Predators in 2020, and made a mark with the Boston Bruins this past season. He may not be a member of the lineup every single day, as the Rangers have a TON of exciting young players in that position. He will, however, be a fantastic presence in the locker room and in practice, and will be able to fill-in for an injured player when needed. Rangers' front office executives are probably hoping he'll be able to impart his wisdom on the new generation of Rangers' stars, instilling the sense of toughness and pride that a large part of the team lacks.