Rangers Turn Tye Kartye Into Steady Bottom-Six Piece
New York has leaned on the waiver claim, who has moved into the top six after a strong start this season.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Hockey
The Rangers claimed winger Tye Kartye off waivers from the Seattle Kraken, and he has since become a reliable contributor on the team's third line. Kartye has four goals and six assists in 14 games this season.
Why it matters
The move gives New York depth at winger while Igor Shesterkin is out for the season after an injury in an Oct. 9 loss to Washington. Kartye's production helps the Rangers replace goals and minutes lost in the lineup.
Kartye has four goals, six assists, five blocked shots and 38 hits in 14 games this season, making him the second-highest scoring Rangers winger behind Alexis Lafreniere. His 2025-26 Rangers totals were five goals and nine assists in 24 games, and he is on a $2.5 million contract in its final season.
The players
Tye Kartye
A 25-year-old undrafted winger who has developed from a Seattle depth player into a contributor for the New York Rangers.
New York Rangers
The New York-based NHL franchise that claimed Kartye off waivers and has relied on him as depth scoring this season.
Seattle Kraken
The Seattle-based NHL expansion club that waived Kartye in February after he played with the organization since 2023-24.
The details
New York claimed Kartye off waivers, and he went undrafted before breaking into the NHL with Seattle in 2023-24, when he posted 11 goals and nine assists in 77 games. The Rangers have used him on the third line and moved him into the top six as he has played with several different linemates this season.
Timeline
2023-24: Kartye breaks into the NHL with Seattle.
February 2026: Seattle waives Kartye.
2025-26 season: The Rangers claim Kartye and he plays 24 games for them.
Oct. 9, 2026: Igor Shesterkin suffers a season-ending injury in a 3-1 loss to Washington.
Oct. 26, 2026: Kartye scores a goal and adds an assist in a loss to Los Angeles.
Season Trajectory
Kartye's path from an undrafted Seattle depth player to a top-six Rangers winger reflects how NHL waiver claims can deliver useful depth beyond the draft. His emergence matters for New York's playoff push while Shesterkin is sidelined.
Kartye's six points in 14 games make him a worthwhile watch for fantasy managers looking for depth scoring among Rangers wingers. Shesterkin's season-ending injury also means New York's goaltending will be a key factor in how much the team can rely on its forward depth.
The takeaway
Kartye's rise shows that a waiver claim with a clear role can grow into meaningful production, and the coming weeks will test whether he can keep that consistency for New York.
Further reading
Read more New York Hockey coverage to follow how the Rangers are building depth around their goaltending situation.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Hockey Writers.
