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NYR prospect camp Day 3, Meskanen, Lindqvist, Grabner, Tavares & taxes |
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Day 3 of the Rangers prospect development camp came and went Wednesday. One of the team’s European free agent signees stood out early in the session. During the day, two possible free agent targets for New York went off the board. Last, Larry Brooks notes that the Rangers would be willing to take on a bad contract from a team that signs John Tavares, further evidencing that the Blueshirts are in a longer term rebuild, where future assets are the key.
Brooks wrote that free-agent signee Ville Meskanen had an impressive morning in the prospect camp scrimmage, sniping a pair before getting one in the shootout. The 22-year-old Finn, who recorded 44 points (24-20) in 48 games for Ilves of the Finnish Elite League, is a candidate to earn a spot with a Rangers team that seems to be shy of scorers on the wing. Last season, he led all players 22 years old and younger in goals and points during the season, and had 13 multi-point games.
As I wrote when he was signed: Meskanen steadily moved up the ladder in the Finnish League, playing for Ilves under-16, -18 and -20 teams before joining the main club. He is another shoot-first forward, an area lacking in this team. Meskanen, who shoots right, adding another missing dimension to the organization. I still think he is likely to start the season at Hartford, as he adapts to North American ice and style of play. But a strong camp, depending on what New York does in free agency, could earn him a spot.
“The way he can spin around in the slot and snipe it, that’s not easy to do,” said Gordie Clark, Rangers director of player personnel. “He’s got a lot of talent. It’s the same thing, with him though. His body has to catch up.”
Another name to keep an eye on given the lack of depth at forward is Michael Lindqvist, who like Meskanen, signed with New York this off-season. I noted in the blog at the time of the signing that Lindqvist, who along with Lundqvist and Lundkvist will drive Sam Rosen and your spell-check crazy, is 23 years old, 5-11 and 176 pounds, scored 20 goals with 14 assists in 33 games this season for Farjestad BK of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). He drew interest from several NHL clubs this season, but opened to sign with New York, swayed by the Swedish connections on the team. Of the 20 goals he scored, 10 came on the power-play goals, second-most in the SHL.
Lindqvist's 1.03 points per game ranked sixth in the league, and second among players 24 or younger. Among players his age, Lindqvist also ranked third in goals and fourth in points. Lindqvist had two goals and one assist in two playoff games for Farjestad, which he joined this season after seven years in the AIK organization at the youth and professional levels. His role this year is probably at Hartford. But he might get a chance to break camp with the team or earn a call up during the season. Lindqvist projects to be a third-line winger who could potentially notch 35-40 points in the future.
Brooks added “the Rangers have interest in a reunion with impending free agent Michael Grabner , but won’t get into a bidding war to sign No. 40.” Craig Custance reported that the two sides haven't talked. Doesn't mean it won't happen but nothing there right now. Lots of interest in the speedy winger - ten teams in the mix. I am sure New York is one of the teams in the mix and if Grabner wants to come back, he is doing so because he liked playing for the Rangers not that they will offer him the most money.
Wednesday, Devante Smith-Pelley, who wasn’t qualified by the Capitals, re-signed with Washington. Turning down bigger offers from two teams, DSP inked a one-year, $1 million deal. He might have been an nice fourth line, veteran winger, but likely would have signed with a way closer to winning (very scary typing that). Similar with Riley Sheahan, who re-upped for a year at $2.1 million to stay in Pittsburgh.
Brooks added “GM Jeff Gorton is an interested third-party to the John Tavares sweeps, with the Blueshirts having ample cap space with which to help Tampa Bay, Toronto and Dallas if one of those clubs is able to convince the captain to depart the Island.”
Keep this in mind when looking at the contract Tavares receives:
TSN.ca has a similar exercise in the Tavares calculator
https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/tavares-calculator
The variance in taxes by state may be a big component in the decision. Not that it will be the driving factor but it is one that can’t be ignored. With the focus on the lack of state tax in Texas and Florida, whispers have started again that perhaps the salary cap should be modified or fluid to adjust to the variance and level the playing level. By doing so, what you make for example in Dallas or Tampa would equal what you would make in NY and LA. The actual salary cap for those states then would be higher than for the Stars or Lightning or Panthers or Toronto. This however opens a Pandora’s box, because do we then need to adjust for the exchange rate difference between the US and Canada? In theory, this is a good idea. In practice, I can foresee both the NHLPA and NHL having material issues.
Toronto has cap space of $24,679,167 but will need to sign Austin Matthews, William Nylander and Mitch Marner to long-term deals in the near-term. The contracts of Nathan Horton, two years at $5.3 mil, but will go on LTIR, and Matt Martin, two years at $2.5 million, are the ones that will be moved to free up room. In return, a player or prospect would need to come back to New York.
The Lightning have cap space of $10,561,220 after re-signing J.T. Miller to a big contract, Contracts that could be moved are Tyler Johnson (six years, $5 mil), Ryan Callahan (two years, $5.8 mil), Ondrej Palat (four years, $4.3 mil), Alex Killorn (five years, $4.45 mil) or Brandon Coburn (one year, $3.7 mil). I would love Yanni Gourde back, but that’s a pipe dream. New York has Tampa’s second round pick this year that could become a first rounder, so figuring out a deal might be a bit more challenging. But the Rangers know the Lightning's system, which might help facilitate a deal.
Stars have cap space of $19,820,001, so they may not need to shed salary with only Mattias Janmark and Devin Shore to sign now. After this season, Tyler Seguin is a UFA and should expect a salary in the range of Tavares. But with their cap room and Jason Spezza's $7.5 mil off the books next year, cap space shouldn't be a real worry for Dallas.
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