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Zuccarello and Rangers Agree on One-Year, $3.5 Million Deal |
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While New York and Chris Kreider appear headed to arbitration Wednesday for a $700k annual difference and team negotiates with Derick Brassard before his Monday hearing, one key member has now been locked up. The Rangers and Mats Zuccarello reached an agreement on a one-year, $3.5 million deal that helps avoid arbitration, which was slated for Friday.
In terms of annual salary, this is a steal for New York, as it gives them cost certainty at a level below what most of us expected. However, with that comes uncertainty. By signing a one-year deal now, assuming the two signs cannot reach an accord on a long-term agreement by next off-season, Zuccarello will became a UFA. From all accounts, the two sides will continue to try and reach a long-term accord that cannot be signed until 1/1.
In my opinion, Zuccarello will be here long-term. He reportedly wanted $5 mil per, which due to the Rangers cap constraints, was an untenable amount for this season. However, with the cap expected to rise next year and beyond, coupled with how critical Zucc is and his $3.5 mil salary, that request is now not that outlandish. I had projected when I wrote my arbitration column last week that the Rangers would offer Zucc four years with a $4.2 mil AAV. Of course, that was based on the award starting this season. Now that he is locked up for '14-'15, sign him on January 1 or thereabouts to a deal close to $5 mil per for four years.
One key man in the fold, two to go. With Kreider asking $2.8 mil for each of the next two years and NY offering $1.9 mil and $2.2 mil, that means net the two sides are off about $1.5 mil or $750k annually. Meeting in the middle, which is where we hope at the worst case scenario the arbitrator will award makes too much sense. Give Kreider $2.25 mil and $2.75 mil for a net AAV of $2.5 mil and call it a day. Since Kreider filed for arb, NY can decide if they want a one- or two-year deal if they go to arbitration. Since this would give cost certainty and prevent another arb hearing next year, two years has to be the direction NY goes in if it reaches a hearing.
For Brassard, no figures have been exchanged, but like Zucc, he too will be a UFA after the season if a one year deal is reached. He had a $3.2 mil cap hit last year and is rumored to want $5.5 mil on a LT deal. I would expect NY to come in around $-$4.2 mil, giving some wiggle room to reach a deal. If a long-term deal does not occur, look for the two sides to reach an accord on a one year deal and then negotiate a longer term one, as Zuccarello and team will try and do.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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