[text_output]It’s the silly season. Unrestricted free agents are taking meetings, terms are being discussed and we’re getting a better understanding of individual team needs.

For the Rangers, the early focus on the free agent market has been on depth forwards who can provide a boost to the locker room and help nurture the young talent that will be occupying a hefty majority of the line-up this year.

The names we’ve heard the most over the last 24 hours – former Maple Leafs forward Leo Komarov and Golden Knights forward Ryan Reaves.

Naturally, the reactions to signing either player came in hot and heavy right out of the gate, so let’s sift through the noise and think about how the signings will impact the Rangers moving forward.[/text_output][image type=”circle” float=”none” src=”2697″ alt=”” href=”” title=”” info_content=”” lightbox_caption=”” id=”” class=”aligncenter” style=””][text_output]First, there’s Komarov, who’s potential signing with the Rangers has already been fairly poo-pooed.

Komarov became a Mike Babcock favorite, playing heavy minutes the last few years for the Leafs despite a lag in overall performance. However, in another system playing for another coach, there’s definitely value in Komarov’s game.

For starters, he’s a guy who can slot in at either center or wing, providing flexibility on a team’s roster that not all players are capable of. Also remember, someone has to play fourth line center for the Rangers this year. It’s not going to be one of Mika Zibanejad or Kevin Hayes, since if both are here, both deserve focal roles on this team. It’s not going to be one of Filip Chytil, Lias Andersson or Brett Howden, who need to be playing with higher quality players and receiving substantial ice time in order to grow their games at the next level.

It could, however, be someone like Boo Nieves. But Nieves, like Komarov, can also slot on a wing on a fourth line and provide limited upside in that role. While Boo’s number’s are of the extreme small sample, let’s look at how he’s compared to Komarov since his debut:[/text_output][image type=”none” src=”2698″ alt=”” href=”” title=”” info_content=”” lightbox_caption=”” id=”” class=”aligncenter” style=””][text_output]None of these numbers should come as a shock. Komarov has played with high-quality teammates, while Boo (when playing in New York) has largely been anchored to the fourth line.

However, Nieves has generally been one of the better players on the ice when he’s out there. Of course, Komarov has generally been deployed against opposing team’s top lines, and has a lot more minutes to decipher his performance with, so I don’t think we can draw any conclusion that Nieves is, indeed, better than Komarov.

What we can see, however, is that the two would pair well together on a fourth line with one on the wing. Komarov’s extensive penalty kill experience, plus his ability to handle his own in defensive zone starts would be a huge boon to a young Rangers team that doesn’t want to overexpose the kids to situations they’re not ready for.

For a better understanding, let’s look at the guy the Rangers signed last year to serve in this role (only to then be misused by a certain French-Canadian who is no longer with the organization):[/text_output][image type=”none” float=”none” src=”2699″ alt=”” href=”” title=”” info_content=”” lightbox_caption=”” id=”” class=”aligncenter” style=””][text_output]Desharnais physically put more pucks in the net than Komarov, and is a much better chance creator, but that’s about it. Komarov offers much more that you would expect to get from a fourth line forward, especially defensively.

The real difference between the two – the type of contract they either got or are expected to get.

The Rangers picked Desharnais essentially off the scrap heap last year for a cool $1M on a one-year deal. Meanwhile, Matt Cane’s projected contract for Komarov this off-season comes in at $2.85M annually over the life of a three-year deal.

The cap hit is completely meaningless for the Rangers this year and next year. If the purpose of having Komarov here is to eat bottom six minutes while providing a guiding voice to the kids in the locker room, it’s completely fine. Plus, on a two-year deal, you can find a team that will want to trade for Komarov at the deadline when his contract is expiring.

The hiccup, to me, would be the third year. The only inherent benefit to having Komarov on that long a deal would be expansion draft related for when Seattle formally enters the league. Otherwise, it just doesn’t make sense. Not only is Komarov’s game slipping from where it was in his prime, I’m of the opinion that you should never be giving bottom six forwards term deals longer than two years. Again, while I think Komarov provides more than someone like Boo Nieves in the right now, the difference isn’t significant enough to occupy that long of a commitment.

Which brings us to Ryan Reaves.

Reaves has the reputation of being a bruiser, which is both somewhat warranted and a little unfair. Yes, Reaves will step up and pick a fight when a fight is needed. And yes, he definitely serves as a deterrent for some on-ice behavior.

But what he’s not is Tanner Glass.[/text_output][image type=”none” float=”none” src=”2700″ alt=”” href=”” title=”” info_content=”” lightbox_caption=”” id=”” class=”aligncenter” style=””][text_output]Reaves can actually play defense, and his coaches have been smart enough to limit his time on ice to keep him from being overexposed. He’s not a shutdown defensive forward or anything like that, and he’s not a guy you should be putting on the ice against the McDavids, Crosbys and Ovechkins of the world. But when he’s on the ice, he’s providing a positive impact in the defensive zone.

Glass, he just doesn’t do anything but fight. That’s the difference here. Glass is a bruiser whose main purpose is to pick a fight. Reaves is a defensive forward who has the ability to pick a fight as well.

More importantly, take a peak out Komarov v. Reaves, since those are the two guys we’re really talking about here:[/text_output][image type=”none” float=”none” src=”2701″ alt=”” href=”” title=”” info_content=”” lightbox_caption=”” id=”” class=”aligncenter” style=””][text_output]It’s not a one-for-one comparison, obviously. Komarov does a little more offensively, Reaves does more defensively. But it’s a lot closer than you would think given Cane is projecting a 2-year, $1.3M AAV for Reaves, less than half of what Komarov is expected to command on the open market.

Larry Brooks says the interest in Reaves is more serious, and the Rangers are expected to make a significant run at him, and I’m here to officially say I’m all about that.

Reaves on a two-year deal to occupy a wing position on the fourth line is nearly perfect, even if the AAV comes over the projected $1.3 million. Line him up next to Boo Nieves and shelter his minutes, all while he provides a veteran voice for the kids to listen to.

More importantly, Reaves has twice proven to be of value on the trade market.

Two years ago, the Penguins believed they needed a presence like Reaves in their line-up, and moved a first round pick and Oskar Sundqvist to make sure they got Reaves from the Blues (along with a second rounder).

Just last year, Reaves and a fourth round pick was sent to the Golden Knights as part of the complicated Derick Brassard deal, and provided sustained value to Vegas as they made their improbable playoff run.

Putting Reaves on an affordable, two-year contract means any team in the playoff race who feels they need to add some toughness to their line-up would not just be able to fit Reaves in, but be happy to do so. Komarov might be able to do the same on a two-year deal, but we have more of a guarantee that Reaves definitely can.

At the end of the day, either Reaves or Komarov on a two-year deal makes perfect sense to me. Someone needs to play fourth line minutes, and you don’t want to be punting those minutes even in a rebuilding year.

However, if choosing between the two, Reaves makes a ton more sense for what the Rangers want to accomplish. He’s a veteran presence who can help grow the kids while not eating up significant minutes, and he’s a guy who has proven to be of value on the trade market.

If that’s not everything Jeff Gorton is looking for, I don’t know what is.

And again, this conversation changes if either player gets introduced to a third year of team control. That post won’t be as rosy as this one.[/text_output]