Multiple Rangers players predicted to depart this summer

There's no question about it, this is going to be an offseason of change for the New York Rangers. They've already announced one major departure from the team that blew a 2-0 series lead against the rival New Jersey Devils and lost in seven, moving on from head coach Gerard Gallant in what was described as a "mutual" parting of the ways. 

And if this list from The New York Postcolumnist Mollie Walker holds true, this list of four players will not be spending a second tour of duty with the Rangers when they reconvene for Training Camp in the fall. 

The list of players unlikely to return per Walker is as follows: 

1. Vladimir Tarasenko

The pending UFA was acquired by the Rangers as part of a blockbuster deal that saw Sammy Blais, Hunter Skinner, a conditional 2023 first-round pick and a conditional 2024 fourth-round pick sent back to St. Louis. Additionally, the Blues retained 50% of Tarasenko's cap hit. 

Upon his arrival with the Rangers, Tarasenko fit in well, scoring in his debut and ultimately scoring with goals with 13 assists in the 31 games he played. He also added three goals with an assist in New York's ill-fated postseason series. 

2. Patrick Kane

It looked as though Kane's potential acquisition by the Rangers was put off after they acquired Tarasenko, something that Kane openly admitted that he was upset about. However, Kane would eventually be making his way to the Big Apple from the Chicago Blackhawks in a trade that saw a conditional 2023 second-round pick and a 2023 fourth-round pick head back to the Windy City. 

Kane didn't exactly light it up with the Rangers, scoring only five goals with seven assists in 19 games played. He also added only a single goal but did register five assists during the postseason. 

3.Niko Mikkola

As a pending restricted free agent, Mikkola was signed to a one year deal by the St. Louis Blues last offseason, and he was included in the deal that sent Tarasenko to the Rangers. 

In 31 games played since the the trade to New York, Mikkola scored once while adding two assists. 

4. Jaroslav Halak

A journeyman at this point in his career, Halak has mostly served as a backup goaltender in his multiple stops in recent years. He was serviceable in his only season in New York, racking up a 10-9-5 record with a 2.72 goals against average and .903 save percentage.