Should the Rangers Pursue the 27-Year-Old San Jose Defenseman?
With the 2026 NHL Draft still a month away, all eyes are now on the final four contenders in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. With their second first-round pick confirmed at 26th overall, the New York Rangers continue to make the best of this offseason after a nightmare lottery result. Though things played out in the worst-case scenario, the Blueshirts still have ways to shape a successful retool. Landing an impressive defensive prospect remains possible, but the Rangers may also explore options in free agency following July 1st. While the 2026 NHL free agent class isn't particularly exciting, one defenseman may still attract New York's attention.
Prior to the 25-26 season, the free agent class was loaded, with NHL superstars like Connor McDavid, Kirill Kaprizov, and Jack Eichel set to hit the market. However, a season later, that list thinned considerably as each star re-signed with his current team, a blow to many teams, though rebuilds are never meant to be easy. The free-agent pool still offers talents like Jason Robertson, Evgeni Malkin, and Vladimir Tarasenko, and the Blueshirts aim to learn from past mistakes to stay serious about their retool. With most top stars unavailable, San Jose defenseman Mario Ferraro is unlikely to re-sign. Should the Rangers pursue this opportunity?
Born in Canada, the left-handed defenseman was selected 49th overall in the second round of the 2017 NHL Draft. Spending two seasons with the UMass Minutemen, he set a team record for points as a freshman defender with 23 points in 39 games, then notched 14 points in 21 games as a sophomore. After his second season, the San Jose Sharks signed him to a contract. As his four-year deal, signed August 4th, 2022, comes to an end, Ferraro may not have been a big scorer, but he’s proved himself as a strong puck mover and dependable presence in his own end, traits the Rangers could greatly benefit from. Though five-foot-11, he never hesitated to throw his body around, leading all San Jose defensemen with 137 hits this season. The Ontario native combines physicality and puck movement, making him a potential stabilizing force for the Rangers' blue line.
Aside from the first pair of Adam Fox and Vladislav Gavrikov, the rest of the Rangers' defense has a long way to go. With Braden Schneider likely departing this offseason, a potential slot opens on the second pairing with Will Borgen. Like last offseason, when the Rangers slotted Gavrikov on the left of the first pair, Ferraro could be a major upgrade by offering much-needed defensive responsibility, reliable puck movement, and physicality to the second pair. While plenty of defensemen aim to hit free agency, most are right-handed, making the 49th overall pick stand out. If Ferraro can stay healthy, having played all 82 games last season and continuing his physical play, the Rangers may have found another warrior on the ice. Though San Jose still has time to extend the left-shot Shark, he is still a top free agent target for the Blueshirts. With more than a month until free agency, can the Rangers bring him to Broadway?
