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As teams continue to address their RFA signings over the days to come, I can’t help but notice a few teams who have yet to sign some important players as they appear to be rather close to the salary cap. One of these teams just so happens to be the New York Rangers.

The Rangers currently have four RFA’s on their roster to be signed in addition to four players who hit the market as UFA’s themselves. With four RFA’s to sign and only $6.5M in available cap space, I would imagine the Rangers are going to need to address a few of their existing contracts in terms of possible trades given that they can no longer opt for a compliance buyout until next year.

With that being said, the team will need to look into possibly moving one of their RFA’s such as centre Derek Stepan or perhaps make a few phone calls about veteran Brad Richards who is eating up $6.6M until the 2019-2020 season. What does any of this have to do with the Calgary Flames? Well, as many of you should be more than aware, the Flames are in desperate need of a centerman and either of the abovementioned players would fit nicely in the Flames system – preferably the former.

While the Flames have cap space and could afford to bring in a guy like Richards, I strongly feel that Feaster would not entertain bringing in a 33 year old centre for another seven seasons given the current state of his franchise. Conversely, taking on Richards contract could be an easier transaction for Feaster than would be trying to acquire the rights to Derek Stepan, who is only 23 years old and has had a great year posting 44pts in 48 games played. Is it perhaps time for Stepan to step up for the Rangers and allow them to move Richards to a team like the Flames, or would the Rangers be more comfortable in keeping a proven commodity like Richards for the long haul?

Perhaps the Rangers would rather keep both guys and look at moving a guy like Brian Boyle instead who has one more year remaining at $1.7M? They seem to have some options and a team like Calgary who is in need of a centerman could provide them with an outlet.

What do you guys think? Might there be something the two teams could work out?

Thanks for reading!

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