I think the Rangers are hoping Clendening and/or Paliotta turn out to be their version of Murphy.
Not sure how the Rangers could even add in another defender without subtracting one or two.
McD, G, Staal, Klein, Holden, McIlrath, Clendening are all waiver eligible, and they have Skjei who is not waivers eligible, but should make the team.
If they added Murphy, another waiver eligible player, without removing some of that, two of Murphy, McIlrath, Clendening are not getting any playing time
Also Fast is a dime a dozen? only 191 forwards last year had 30 or more points. (30 teams, 180 top 6 forwards, puts him pretty much at the higher end of 3rd line production, albeit he spent a good amount of time in the the top 6, so likely more like slightly above average 3rd line production should he actually play on a 3rd line, aka top 9 forward)