inside the rangers Eeli Tolvanen knows what his new Rangers teammates need from him: ‘Just try to bring energy’ By Mollie Walker Published Oct. 1, 2026, 7:00 a.m. ET Eeli Tolvanen (right) signed with the Rangers weeks before the team gathered for training camp. Getty Images Eeli Tolvanen was still unsigned as the summer began to wind down and NHLers in Finland started to head back to their workplaces.
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“It was totally different,” the 27-year-old forward told Sports+ of his offseason before his first game as a Ranger on Tuesday night in Boston. “A pretty long August before I signed. It was definitely different. You didn’t know where you’re going to end up. What are you going to do with your stuff? I had my stuff in Seattle. You’re waiting in Finland. You need a visa to get here and all that.
“It was a little stressing. Other than that, it’s part of the job. Sometimes, you have to wait for a little longer. I’m happy that I ended up here.”
The Rangers ultimately signed Tolvanen to a one-year, $1.5 million contract just 27 days before Opening Night, adding a fresh third-line option to the mix who is just two seasons removed from a career-high 23-goal campaign.
