New York Rangers claim Tye Kartye off waivers as Canadiens pass on forward

While Tye Kartye’s name was circulating everywhere after he was placed on waivers Thursday, the New York Rangers wasted no time in officially claiming him.

We can agree that the Montreal Canadiens just let an opportunity slip to solidify their fourth line.

Tye Kartye is not Connor McDavid, but he is exactly the kind of hard worker teams like to have. The 24-year-old powerhouse comes with a very reasonable $1.25 million contract through 2027.

For Kent Hughes, he was a free asset worth grabbing to add some muscle.

Statistics do not tell the whole story, but Kartye brought a physical dimension that the Canadiens often lack. This season with the Seattle Kraken, he recorded 3 goals and 5 assists for 8 points in 40 games played. Most notably, he carried a -6 rating.

The Rangers add a young winger who has already proven his value in the playoffs in the past. Kartye delivered 98 hits this year before being sidelined by Lane Lambert. In New York, he could quickly reignite his offensive production.

Kent Hughes bets on stability in Montreal

With the recent returns of Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook, Montreal’s lineup is now full at center. The team even had to place Samuel Blais on waivers in February to comply with roster limits.

Still, we know that Zachary Bolduc was recently removed from the lineup by Martin St-Louis. An additional reinforcement would not have hurt, especially with the March 6 trade deadline just days away. One hopes management knows what it is doing.

Montreal’s record demands consistency if the organization wants to avoid general panic among the fan base.

We will see whether the Rangers made the right call, but for now, it is a lost battle for Kent Hughes in the free-asset market.