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Rangers Working on Signing John Moore

August 26, 2014, 7:28 PM ET [182 Comments]
Jan Levine
New York Rangers Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The Rangers off-season work is basically done. Yes, there is that little matter known as a long-term extension for Mats Zuccarello. Plus, the need to re-sign Derek Stepan and Carl Hagelin before they become RFAs with arb rights next year. But based upon what we thought might happen this off-season, for the most part, New York got accomplished what they needed to remain competitive within the division and conference. When you factor in adding Kevin Hayes, who when the off-season started was not even a distant thought on the radar, despite the loss of B Boyle, Stralman and Pouliot, it's been a fairly decent offseason. The one remaining piece of the puzzle is to get John Moore in the fold.

Moore, who projects to be the team's sixth defensemen, is expected to sign a deal close to his 850k qualifying offer, yet oddly he remains unsigned. He is coming off his three-year entry deal, worth $3.075 million, and unlike Zucc, Brassard and Kreider, the Rangers three other RFAs who were signed, he has no leverage since he could not go to arbitration. Maybe he intends to hold out in the hopes of getting an offer sheet, though as we have seen, that's an unlikely occurrence. What likely will happen is that he will sign a one- and probably two-year deal in the $850-950k range. Doing so would still leave the Rangers under the cap, even if Kevin Hayes and JT Miller make the team with one as the extra forward, eating up around $300k in additional salary cap space compared to Chris Mueller making the team (see remaining cap below with Moore estimated at 900k based upon my roster projections).

Moore was solid not great for New York last year but appeared to play better once Kevin Klein and not Michael Del Zotto was his defensive partner. That move allowed him to play on his more natural left side, though there still were moments where his play left his scratching our heads asking what he was doing out on the ice and why his growth wasn't at the pace we all hoped. Moore had an okay playoffs, missing time with a concussion and suspension, following a retaliatory penalty against Montreal, showing his skill and speed but also his need to get a bit stronger and better in his own end. He clearly has upside and is a better option than Mike Kostka, Mike Hunwick or Mat Bodie to be the sixth defenseman, though he will need to up his level of play to hold off those three as well as possibly Dylan McIlrath.

The Rangers want Moore back, evidence by this quote from assistant GM Jeff Gorton: "We like John a lot, just trying to get him signed. I'm pretty sure we'll get him signed, and get him ready to go. He's a good player for us; he's been a good fit for us, he's a great kid, and we like his upside." Now that the other RFAs are signed, Hayes is in the fold, one of the junior eligibles can be sent down to create a spot within the alloted 50 contracts for a team, there is no real reason to wait on signing Moore. If Moore is expecting to break the bank, that won't happen here, and as noted above, an offer sheet is not forthcoming, so end the wait and just get a deal done.

Projected Lineup with Salaries and Remaining Cap Space:

Forwards:

Option one:

Kreider ($2.475) - Stepan ($3.075) - Nash ($7.8)
Zuccarello ($3.5) - Brassard ($5.0) - MSL ($5.625)
Hagelin ($2.25) - Miller ($894k) - Hayes ($900k)
Stempniak ($900k) - D. Moore ($1.5) - Lombardi ($800k)

Option two:

Kreider ($2.475) - Stepan ($3.075) - Nash ($7.8)
Zuccarello ($3.5) - Brassard ($5.0) - MSL ($5.625)
Hagelin ($2.25) - Miller ($894k) - Lombardi ($800k)
Stempniak ($900k) - D. Moore ($1.5) - Glass ($1.45)

Defensemen:

Girardi ($5.5) - McDonagh ($4.7)
Boyle ($4.5) - Staal ($3.975)
J. Moore ($900k) - Klein ($2.9)

Goalies:

Lundqvist ($8.5)
Talbot ($562,500)

Bench:

Option one: Glass ($1.45) and Kostka ($650k)
Option two: Mueller ($600k) and Kostka ($650k)

Total cap space: $69,000,000
Total cap space utilized $68,306,667 (fairly similar if option 1 or 2, 6k diff)
Total cap space remaining $ 693,333

As a reminder, please let me know if any topic you want me to cover in a blog. The two I have received to date are:

MDW7413: Curious to know who you think will have a good year, average year, and who might have a down year.

RANGFERDANGER94: Would be cool to see your own personal top 10 prospects list.
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