The New York Rangers are finally within the limits of the salary cap, but are still dangerously close to the maximum. They have a little over $1 million in cap space and two restricted free agents left to sign. A rival General Manager with cap space could really hurt the Blueshirts by poaching Anthony DeAngelo or Brendan Lemieux with an offer sheet.
As RFA’s without arbitration rights, both DeAngelo and Lemieux have little to no leverage in their negotiations with the Rangers. It’s likely that the team will offer them the minimum qualifying offer of $874,125 and they will have to take it.