The NHL’s buyout period came to a close at 5 p.m. Sunday, and the Rangers didn’t exercise their option to sever ties with anyone. That means defensemen Kevin Shattenkirk and Brendan Smith remain on the roster for the time being, with the NHL free-agent signing period set to open at noon Monday.
Shattenkirk and Smith, who both have two years remaining on their contracts, had been candidates to be bought out if Rangers general manager Jeff Gorton believed he needed to create room under the salary cap to accommodate any potential free-agent signings. The Rangers met with Blue Jackets winger Artemi Panarin during the free-agent recruiting period and are competing with the Islanders and Florida Panthers for his services, though they are generally thought not to be the favorites to land the 27-year-old Russian.