New York Rangers 2023 Free Agency Class

July 1st was a busy one for the New York Rangers, who signed nine players as NHL Free Agency opened on Saturday afternoon.

Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury inked forwards Alex Belzile, Nick Bonino, Riley Nash, Tyler Pitlick and Blake Wheeler, defensemen Erik Gustafsson, Mac Hollowell, Connor Mackey and Nikolas Brouillard and goaltender Jonathan Quick to respective contracts for the upcoming 2023-24 campaign.

Of the Rangers' 2023 free agency class, adding the savvy of veteran experience into the organization's composition was an emphasis.

"Veteran leadership is such a big thing on any team," Drury said on Saturday afternoon. "Any time you can add a player like Blake, Quickie or Bonino who have been around the league a long time and can certainly import a lot of wisdom to our group, and not just to our younger group - to guys that haven't won a [Stanley Cup]. Those guys all have tons of experience. We're looking forward to seeing them all at MSG."

Get to know more about the nine players that made up the Rangers' 2023 free agent class:

ALEX BELZILE

Belzile joins the Rangers after representing the Montreal Canadiens - last season, posting 14 points (6G, 8A) in 31 games.

The 31-year-old right winger stands 6 foot, 196 pounds.

NICK BONINO

The Rangers looked to bolster their organizational center depth with the addition of veteran Nick Bonino, a product of Hartford, Conn.

The 35-year-old left shot has previously played for the Anaheim Ducks, Vancouver Canucks, Nashville Predators, Minnesota Wild, San Jose Sharks and most recently, the Pittsburgh Penguins - where he also was a part of back-to-back Stanley Cup victories in 2016 and 2017.

Bonino has appeared in 823 career NHL games, where he's totaled 353 points (158G, 195A). In 105 postseason games, he has tallied 48 points (19G, 29A) and six game-winning goals.

"We think the world of Nick," Drury said. "He's a veteran player. He does just about everything that you can ask your fourth-line center to do. He plays [penalty kill], he certainly has a winning pedigree and is an extremely smart player that I think will pass on a lot of good wisdom to all of our young players and players that haven't won Cups yet."

RILEY NASH

Nash presents another veteran addition to the organization, playing in 627-career games between the Carolina Hurricanes, Boston Bruins, Columbus Blue Jackets, Winnipeg Jets, Tampa Bay Lightning and Arizona Coyotes.

Nash is a right-shot centerman from Consort, Alberta, who spent last season in the AHL with the Charlotte Checkers, where he notched 59 points (24G, 35A) in 66 games.

TYLER PITLICK

Pitlick joins the Rangers after spending last season in St. Louis, where he posted 16 points (7G, 9A) in 61 games. The 31-year-old right-shot centerman has also previously played for the Edmonton Oilers, Dallas Stars, Philadelphia Flyers, Arizona Coyotes, Calgary Flames and Montreal Canadiens.

Pitlick, who hails from Minneapolis, Minn., has dressed in 22 playoff games.

"We liked what he was able to do in St. Louis," Drury said. "His experience, his age, his size, he's a true right winger, and doesn't mind throwing his body around and using his speed. He's chipped in a little offensively too. We're excited about him."

BLAKE WHEELER

Wheeler heads to Broadway with a wealth of experience and leadership. The former captain of the Winnipeg Jets - and former teammate of current Rangers captain Jacob Trouba - has dressed in 1,118 regular season NHL games, totaling 922 points (312G and 610A) in that span. Wheeler - who hails from Plymouth, Minn. - has compiled 45 points (10G, 35A) in 65 career playoff contests.

The 36-year-old right-shot right winger skated in his 15th NHL season last year and produced 55 points (16G, 39A) through 72 games. Wheeler, at 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, will also add some size to the lineup.

"There's lots to like about Blake Wheeler," Drury said. "He certainly has experience, his leadership, his size - he does a lot of everything out there for a big veteran winger. We think he can move up and down our lineup. He's certainly someone we're excited that wants to be here and believes in what we're doing. We're happy he's on board."

ERIK GUSTAFSSON

The Rangers added 31-year-old blueliner Gustafsson to the organization on Saturday evening.

The Nynashamn, Sweden native split last season between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Washington Capitals, where he tallied 42 points (7G, 35A) and a plus-nine rating through 70 games.

Over his seven-year NHL career, the left-shot has compiled 191 points (39G, 152A) through 379 career NHL games between the Chicago Blackhawks, Calgary Flames, Philadelphia Flyers, Montreal Canadiens, Capitals and Maple Leafs.

MAC HOLLOWELL

The Rangers added Hollowell to their organization on Sunday morning.

The 24-year-old blueliner spent the majority of the 2022-23 season with the Toronto Marlies, the AHL affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs. The right shot recorded 13 assists through 18 games. The Niagra Falls, Ontario native also dressed in six games with the Maple Leafs and made his NHL debut on November 23 at New Jersey, notching two assists and a plus-3 rating.

Through five seasons in the AHL, Hollowell has amassed 10 goals and 51 assists for 61 points in 124 games.

CONNOR MACKEY

Mackey, a 26-year-old defenseman from Tower Lake, Illinois, has previously played for the Calgary Flames and Arizona Coyotes, where he's registered 11 points (4G, 7A) in 39 career games.

The left-shot dressed in 20 games for the Coyotes last season, where he produced four points (1G, 3A).

NIKOLAS BROUILLARD

Brouillard has not yet played in an NHL contest. The 28-year-old left-shot blueliner spent last season with the San Diego Gulls, the AHL affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks, where he totaled 39 points (6G, 33A) in 72 games.

The St. Hilaire, Quebec native has notched 92 points (22G, 70) in 168 career AHL contests.

JONATHAN QUICK

The Rangers look to round out their goaltending tandem with the addition of a three-time Stanley Cup Champion in Quick.

Quick won the Stanley Cup twice with the Los Angeles Kings, where he spent the entirety of his 16-year NHL career prior to being dealt at last year's NHL Trade Deadline, first to Columbus and then to eventual Cup Champion Vegas. The Milford, Conn. native owns a 375-277-84 all-time record through 740 starts and 753 games played for a .911 SV% and a 2.47 GAA.

"I think it will be seamless," Drury said of adding Quick. "He's excited to be a Ranger. He's a Connecticut kid that wanted to come here, play here and be a Ranger. He obviously knows all about [Igor Shesterkin] and his accomplishments. I think he's ready to take on a role of mentor, similar to what he did in Vegas. We're excited to have him."