Rangers Agree to Terms with Free Agent Defenseman Patrik Nemeth
NEW YORK, July 28, 2021 – New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury announced today that the team has agreed to terms with free agent defenseman Patrik Nemeth on a three-year contract.
Nemeth, 29, split this past season between the Detroit Red Wings and Colorado Avalanche, registering three goals and seven assists for 10 points, along with a plus-five rating and 20 penalty minutes. His three goals in 2020-21 were tied for the most he registered in one season in his NHL career, and his 87 hits during the season were the second-most he recorded in one season in his NHL career. Nemeth posted a 50.0% shot attempts percentage at 5-on-5 this past season, and he had an on-ice save percentage of 93.5% at 5-on-5 (his team’s goaltenders posted a .935 SV% while he was on the ice at 5-on-5), which was tied for the 10th-best among the 98 NHL defensemen who played at least 50 games in 2020-21. He also skated in 10 games with Colorado during the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and he tied for second on the Avalanche in blocked shots (14) and ranked third in hits (20) in the playoffs.
The 6-3, 228-pounder has skated in 366 career NHL games over parts of eight seasons (2013-14 – 2020-21) with Dallas, Colorado, and Detroit, registering eight goals and 50 assists for 58 points, along with a plus-19 rating and 182 penalty minutes. Nemeth has posted a plus/minus rating of even or better in three of the last four seasons, and he established career-highs in several categories in 2017-18 with Colorado, including goals (three), assists (12), points (15), plus/minus rating (plus-27), and blocked shots (185). He ranked fifth in the NHL in blocked shots in 2017-18, and in 2018-19, he was one of 14 NHL players who registered 130 or more hits and 130 or more blocked shots during the season. Nemeth has logged at least 100:00 of shorthanded ice time in each of the last four seasons, and he ranks fourth in the NHL in shorthanded ice time over the span (800:10). He has also skated in 28 Stanley Cup Playoff games in his NHL career.
The Stockholm, Sweden native was originally selected by Dallas in the second round, 41st overall, of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.
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