TSN’s Darren Dreger reports that the New York Rangers have signed left winger to a professional tryout agreement for their training camp. Last season, Erne struggled to secure consistent playing time with the Edmonton Oilers and will now compete for a spot in the Rangers’ bottom forward lines.
Erne was initially projected as a mid-first-round pick in the 2013 NHL Draft but was ultimately selected 33rd overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second round. He made his NHL debut with Tampa Bay during the 2016-2017 season, scoring three goals in 29 games. Erne found much of his early professional success with the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch, where his physicality and goal-scoring ability made him a valuable NHL prospect.
Erne’s breakout season came in 2018-2019 when he recorded seven goals and 20 points in 65 games for the Lightning, contributing significantly to one of the best teams in NHL history. Following that season, he was traded to the Detroit Red Wings due to Tampa Bay’s salary cap constraints, in exchange for a fourth-round pick in 2020.
Erne enjoyed his most productive period with Detroit, earning more ice time on a rebuilding team and establishing himself in the middle-six. Over his tenure with the Red Wings, he appeared in 241 games, tallying 27 goals and 62 points, which led to a two-year, $4.2 million contract from 2021 to 2023.
Nearly a year ago, Erne signed a PTO with the Oilers and later secured a one-year, league-minimum deal. He played 24 games for Edmonton in the 2023-2024 season, scoring one goal and two points, while also spending time with their AHL affiliate in Bakersfield, where he added six goals and 12 points in 36 games.
As the Rangers prepare for the 2024-2025 season, their top three forward lines are largely set, but there is potential for competition on the fourth line. Erne will vie for a spot alongside players like Jimmy Vesey, Sam Carrick, and Matt Rempe, with about a month to prove his value to the team.
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