The Rangers have claimed forward Matt Puempel off of waivers from the Ottawa Senators, the team has announced.
Puempel, 23, was a first-round pick of the Senators in 2011. A speedy winger with a quick shot and notable passing ability, Puempel produced decent numbers in junior hockey and the AHL but has struggled to really turn his talents into productivity at the NHL level. In 54 career games he has just four goals and two assists.
The Rangers' exact plan for Puempel isn't clear yet. A generic, reasonable assumption for now is that, with Zibanejad out long-term and Buchnevich's immediate future unclear, the Rangers wanted to add a skilled player to fill out the depth chart.