The New York Rangers are winding down their season, mercifully bringing to an end one of the club’s most forgettable seasons.
Along the way, some interesting decisions have been a part of late-season management. One of the most puzzling decisions was scratching rookie defenseman Drew Fortescue.
By all measures, Fortescue has played well in his small sample size this season. He has appeared in seven games, notching two assists and racking up a +5 rating. The 20-year-old hasn’t been getting solid playing time. He’s averaged about 14 minutes a night, getting a season-high 17:53 against the Washington Capitals on April 5.
That said, the Rangers opted to scratch Fortescue last Saturday. The Blueshirts dropped a 2-0 decision to the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Arena with Fortescue in the press box.
It was a move that would have otherwise flown under the radar. But as The Athletic’s Vincent Mercogliano noted, the move was financially driven.
According to Fortescue’s contract, the former Boston College blueliner would have earned an $80K performance bonus for playing 10 games this season. By scratching him, Fortescue cannot play those 10 games this season. The most he could rack up was nine.
While it may seem like a petty reason for sitting Fortescue on Saturday night, there is an actual method to the madness for the Rangers. And the reasoning goes beyond the mere fact of having to cough up an extra $80K.
Rangers Protecting a Valuable Asset
So, does sitting Fortescue mean that the Rangers view him as expendable?
It’s actually quite the opposite. There was another motivation behind the move beyond saving a few bucks.
As Mercogliano noted, had Fortescue played 10 games, he would have burned the first year of his entry-level contract (ELC). But that wasn’t the issue. The issue was that, by preventing him from burning that first year, the Rangers would prevent Fortescue from becoming offer-sheet eligible.
That’s how much the Rangers value the former third-round pick from the 2023 NHL Draft. Per the current rules, when a player signs an ELC between 18 and 21 and has three years of NHL experience, he can become offer-sheet eligible.
By preventing the first year from kicking in, the Rangers prevent Fortescue from becoming offer-sheet eligible when his ELC expires.
It’s a savvy move that goes beyond $80K in savings.
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Fortescue Could Be in Blueshirts’ Long-Term Plans
As it stands, Fortescue could be in the Rangers’ long-term plans. He has gotten a solid look on the second pair with Braden Schneider. In fact, Fortescue hasn’t looked out of place. He’s been good despite his inexperience and youth.
Sullivan justified scratching Fortescue as a learning experience. Per Sullivan, facing the Dallas Stars would have been more educational from the press box than on the ice. Taking Sullivan’s comments at face value, they indicate that Fortescue is certainly a major part of the Rangers’ 200-foot view.
In that event, there’s no questioning why the club would want to protect him at this point. Exposing him to a potential offer sheet could create a complex situation that the club may come to regret.
It seems that the decision to scratch Fortescue, while it may have cost him $80K now, could open the door for a bigger payday on Broadway down the line.
Rangers Scratch Fortescue for Financial Reasons, Eye Future