The Rangers may have found something in Tye Kartye.
Over his first 12 games with the Blueshirts, Kartye has racked up three goals and five assists for eight points since the organization plucked him off the waiver wire from the Kraken toward the end of February.
The game-tying goal he scored 41 seconds into the second period of Sunday’s 3-2 shootout loss to the Jets counted as the 22nd of his career.
Kartye has already matched his production through his first 40 games of the season with the Kraken.
“Just his speed,” captain J.T. Miller said of what’s impressed him the most since teaming up with Kartye on a line. “I like playing with guys like that, that are relentless and a very good forechecker. Backs the D off, even if he doesn’t have the puck, he’s backing him off because he’s slashing out or whatever. It’s a simple game. I like playing with him and [Conor Sheary].
“Like when we get chances, try to play below the hash marks and grind the game down. Don’t make it too difficult on ourselves. Tye had a big game today. He was a big part of the success we had.”
He’s primarily skated in the middle six since coming to New York, but has skated on the wing of Miller and Sheary in the past couple of games.
Head coach Mike Sullivan has also worked him into the penalty-killing rotation, in which he has averaged 1:20 of short-handed ice time per game.
The PK ultimately fended off three of four power-play opportunities Sunday.
“I think Tye’s played great for us,” Sullivan said of the undrafted forward, who has 48 points in 191 career NHL games. “He’s a great kid, first and foremost. He brings great energy to the rink. He loves hockey. He loves to be on the ice. He loves to practice. He’s enthusiastic, and I think that energy is contagious. He can really skate. The one thing that jumps out to me is his puck-pursuit game, the offensive zone, just hunting pucks and hunting down defensemen and taking their time and space away. I think he creates opportunity for him and his linemates when he does it. And he’s a pretty conscientious guy defensively. He has a good stick. He’s willing to block shots…I think he’s been a welcomed addition to our lineup.”
The day after signing his three-year entry level contract, Drew Fortescue watched the Rangers take on the Jets from the MSG press box Sunday afternoon.
Considering the Rangers play another game against the Senators on Monday night, the expectation is Fortescue will get at least one practice with the team before making his NHL debut. The Rangers are scheduled to be off Tuesday following the back-to-back slate, so Fortescue’s first practice likely won’t be until after the team plays the Maple Leafs in Toronto on Wednesday.
His NHL debut could be Friday against the Blackhawks.
“I would envision him playing some games here moving forward and we’re excited to work with him,” Sullivan said after the loss Sunday.
The Rangers were pleased with how it worked out with Gabe Perreault last season, when the organization signed the young wing right after his season at Boston College ended and had him report to New York.
So much so that they wanted to do the same with Fortescue, who will also burn a year of his ELC by coming straight to Manhattan.
Had the Rangers not signed him this season, Fortescue would’ve only been eligible for a two-year deal after next season.
By signing him now, the Rangers get Fortescue into the system sooner and set him up to be a restricted free agent in the summer of 2028.
The Rangers are back in game action Monday night, when they welcome the Ottawa Senators to Madison Square Garden.
