Report: Rangers supporting pieces Stralman, Pouliot, Boyle expected to hit free agency

It appears that a host of key supporting pieces who helped the New York Rangers make a run to the 2014 Stanley Cup Final have played their final game in Rangers colors. 

According to a report from Larry Brooks of the New York Post, Rangers fourth liner Brian Boyle, second pairing defender Anton Stralman, and third-line forward Benoit Pouliot are on their way to free agency and will not re-sign with the blue shirts.

Boyle was used in a rather unique way this past season and was deployed by Alain Vigneault as something of a defensive zone-start specialist. Only Chicago's Marcus Krueger filled a similar role. Boyle apparently wants to play a top-nine role on a new club and will have no shortage of offers this offseason.

Stralman is an excellent puck possession player, who positively influences the offense despite racking up meager point totals. A former tryout player, Stralman is likely to demand a high salary after his standout performance in the 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs. 

Pouliot is one of the league's single best play-driving forwards, but a reputation for taking lazy penalties (deserved) and being ineffective (undeserved) has resulted in him taking a long-string of one-year contracts over the past several seasons. Everywhere he goes though, he improves his teams third-line enormously. He should finally get some term this summer, and according to Brooks, the Pittsburgh Penguins are very interested.