The New York Rangers have signed defenseman Erik Gustafsson to a one-year deal worth $825,000.

The Rangers get: a one-dimensional puck-moving defenseman who runs hot and cold.

Fantasy Players Impacted: Look at this signing the way you looked at it last year when the Capitals signed him. Gustafsson had two points in nine games. Then John Carlson got hurt and Gustafsson's ice time jumped from around 15 minutes per game and one minute of PP time, to 21 minutes per game and four or five minutes of PP time. He had 10 points in the first 28 games before catching on and adapting to the system and the style of the players around him. He then had 28 points in 31 games.

After being traded to Toronto, he only got into nine games, not able to crack that lineup on a regular basis.

The Rangers have Adam Fox. Gustafsson isn't honing in on that. And since the Rangers also have Jacob Trouba, K'Andre Miller, Zac Jones and Braden Schneider – it's going to take a lot of injuries before Gustafsson becomes relevant. It wasn't the greatest organization for Gustafsson to sign with, as he's on a contract that is easily (and fully) buried in the minors. The one thing going for him is that he shoots left on a defense corps in which the skilled puck-movers mostly shoot right (Miller being the exception). Do not consider Gustafsson in any format, unless Fox suffers a long-term injury – and even then, it's still a lottery ticket.

Fantasy Players this helps, in order:

1. None. Strictly depth protection.

Fantasy Players this hurts, in order:

1. Gustavsson