Larry Brooks in his Sunday Slap Shots column brought up several topics that have a Rangers bent to them. Several of these have likely been discussed in one form or other - blog or comment - but wanted to add in my two cents as well. Would love to hear your views as well.
Slap Shots has learned the Blues (with assistant general manager Martin Brodeur), Maple Leafs (with general manager Lou Lamoriello) and Sharks (with coach Pete DeBoer and assistant Johan Hedberg) are among more than a half-dozen clubs who have expressed interest in Ilya Kovalchuk.
And yes, indeed, the Rangers are one of the those teams, though there are obstacles to work around in order to get the potential game-changer into a Blueshirt.
Let’s understand that Ray Shero has the upper hand at this moment, and the Devils general manager would need to get more back from the Rangers in a trade than, say, from the Blues or Sharks. Obviously the Devils would prefer to see Kovalchuk scoring goals out west than just across the Hudson. That is the reality as Shero deals with the perception of his fan base, if not his ownership.
But Shero can’t overplay his hand, either, because he essentially will only hold Kovalchuk’s NHL rights through July 1. If the Devils don’t deal Kovalchuk by then, he likely would return to Russia for a final season before becoming an unrestricted free agent next July 1, unencumbered at that point by his current status on the voluntary retired list.
So under this scenario, what could be considered fair value from the Rangers?
The young A- and B-listers — including Brady Skjei, Chris Kreider, J.T. Miller, Kevin Hayes, Jimmy Vesey and Pavel Buchnevich — are off the table. Derek Stepan is not going to be traded for a 34-year-old winger, and Rick Nash doesn’t make any sense from New Jersey’s perspective, though the Rangers almost certainly would need to move No. 61’s $7.8 million cap hit in order to accommodate what could be a $5 million-$5.5 million hit for Kovalchuk.
Then how about 25-year-old Oscar Lindberg, a legitimate candidate for a top-six role in New Jersey, if, of course, the Blueshirts’ putative fourth-line center is not selected by Las Vegas in the expansion draft?
Would the Rangers do it? It should be a no-brainer for general manager Jeff Gorton considering Kovalchuk’s game-breaking ability and forte as a power-play quarterback from the point. And if it would take tossing Nick Holden into mix, then by all means.
The Devils might be able to squeeze more from another team, but Kovalchuk could reject the trade and bide his time in Russia for one more year before signing with the Rangers as a free agent next year with New Jersey getting zero in return.
Let me state up front that I am a huge Kovy fan, have been since he entered the league. His skill set, at least years ago, would have tremendously helped the Rangers. Now that he is 34, he likely still has some of the foot speed he had years ago, but most likely has slowed to at least some extent.
In addition, if the rumors of the type of deal he wants are true - 2-3 years at $6 mil a season - then he all but prices himself out of the reasonable range for New York even if a deal could be reached. Now maybe NJ does a sign-and-trade, as has been suggested, and eats some of the salary to facilitate a trade but that would mean more would have to come back to the Devils. If that is the case, Shero will most probably look to break the bank.
If Kovy is smart, he stays in the KHL and comes back as a UFA. But let's say he really wants to play again in the NHL and his sights are set are on the Rangers, rather than the Isles or Blue Jackets or Panthers. What are you willing to pay? Lindberg isn't a game-breaker but he proved, especially in the playoffs, that he can be an effective center in this league. Maybe not a 1 or 2 but definitely a 3 with upside. if he somehow got past Las Vegas, would you deal him for Kovy? Would you make that deal if Holden could be part of it before the expansion draft, though that would necessitate losing someone else NY might want to protect.
Plus, and this may be the most important part, how are you creating cap room? Even if NJ ate some salary, who is going to free up at least $2.5-3 million, let alone $5-6 million? Do you want Kovy on the Rangers and what do you think he has left? Are we looking at an Alexander Radulov type season or one like the second half Jaromir Jagr had last season or somewhere in-between?
Slap Shots has learned several clubs have inquired about the availability of Rangers goalie Antti Raanta, who will be vulnerable to claim by Vegas.
But moving Raanta, who is one year away from free agency, would guarantee that the Rangers would lose someone else — likely Lindberg, Jesper Fast or Michael Grabner — in the expansion draft.
So Gorton would have to get value in return for the 28-year-old Finn that would compensate for the loss of the goaltender
and the player who would go to the Golden Knights.
If Raanta is not selected by Vegas, the dynamic changes.
With Henrik Lundqvist nursing an injury, but expected back well before training camp starts, Raanta's value has changed slightly. This wrinkle coupled with his play the last two years has made him an even more valuable part of the roster. But many of us believe he is firmly on Vegas' draft list. What it then comes down to is as Brooks asked, are you willing to preemptively move him to get an asset back to keep him from the expansion draft list knowing that it will cost you another player? Now also consider the possibility of giving an incentive for the Golden Knights to take Holden, does that change your view on moving Raanta? Another aspect to factor in is the presence of goaltending coach Benoit Allaire and the confidence he can turn another goalie into a solid #2 behind Hank, does that change your view?
Rangers have not told either Dan Girardi or Marc Staal to expect a buyout prior to the expansion draft, nor has management asked either veteran defenseman to waive his no-move clause, sources said. But that does not mean either possibility has been ruled out, because there essentially is no chance both will remain on the roster when training camp commences.
Just because it hasn't been done yet, doesn't mean it won't happen. To not ask seems shortsighted, but there is still 10 days or so to make that request. Because if neither one is asked, then players we all want to keep will have to be exposed in the draft. after the draft, there is 10 days or so before free agency starts. Buyouts could occur then, with a second buyout occurring if an RFA is to go to arbitration, even if a deal is signed before that hearing occurs. So this saga is far from solved.
As posted and commented in my prior blog, Richter stopped Bure penalty shot and changed the momentum of Game 4, 23 years ago today.
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