The Rangers claimed forward Tye Kartye off waivers from the Seattle Kraken on Friday, marking New York’s second waiver claim since announcing it was entering a retool period.
Kartye has three goals and eight points in 40 games this year and has averaged 10:42 of playing time per game. The left wing’s best NHL season came in 2023-24 when he had 11 goals and 20 points in 77 games. Kartye will join a glut of bottom-six forwards on the Rangers vying for playing time.
The 24-year-old is under contract through the 2026-27 season with a $1.25 million cap hit. New York has plenty of cap flexibility, giving the team options if Kartye doesn’t fit. Rangers president Chris Drury could put him on waivers again and, if he goes unclaimed, bury him in the AHL with little consequence.
The Kraken signed Kartye, who played in the Ontario Hockey League with the Soo Greyhounds, as an undrafted free agent in 2022. He made his NHL debut in the 2023 playoffs, scoring a goal in his first game and ultimately helping the Kraken upset Colorado in seven games. He had three goals and five points during that playoff run.
In late January, Drury claimed defenseman Vincent Iorio from San Jose just before the Olympic break.
With this Rangers’ season lost, Drury is taking low-risk chances on players like Kartye and Iorio, hoping they emerge as depth NHLers. At his best, the 5-foot-11, 200-pound Kartye is a physical fourth liner who can play on the penalty kill and provide energy for his team. He was a healthy scratch for Seattle at points of each of the past two seasons. The Rangers likely hope Kartye can get him back to his 2023-24 level of play.
Unlike some of the team’s prospects that coach Mike Sullivan hasn’t consistently kept in the lineup, Kartye has shown in the past that he can contribute in a bottom-six role. Additionally, Kartye brings 180 games of NHL experience.
To open a roster spot for Kartye, the Rangers sent Brennan Othmann to AHL Hartford. Othmann has one goal in 17 games this season.
New York’s bottom-six options now include Taylor Raddysh, Sam Carrick, Adam Edström, Brendan Brisson, Conor Sheary, Jonny Brodzinski and Noah Laba, as well as Matt Rempe, though he’s on injured reserve after thumb surgery. Othmann and Brett Berard are options currently at the AHL level.
Kartye’s addition could take away opportunity from some of the team’s prospects or newer NHLers, many of whom project as third- or fourth-liners. Still, the winger is only 24 himself, so he is in a similar position to the younger pros trying to seize consistent roles.