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NYR prospect development camp concludes and free agency updates

June 29, 2018, 7:30 PM ET [111 Comments]
Jan Levine
New York Rangers Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The Rangers wrapped up their prospect development camp Friday. In the scrimmage, Jesse Pajuniemi wrapped up a solid week of camp while Filip Chytil, Ty Ronning and Gabriel Fontaine had another standout effort. Now, the focus fully shifts to unrestricted free agency and the signing/trading of restricted free agents until training camp.




Behind the scenes at the draft:



Lias Andersson spoke about his experience from last year as a rookie to this year. Pay attention to the bolded below. It's what stands out to me.

"I don't think so," he said when asked if he felt pressure. "It's fun that [Gorton] believes in us and the organization believes in us. We were drafted high last year because they like us and they think we can be part of the future.

"[I] just try to relax and do [my] thing and learn as much as I can from the guys around me and do my own thing."

That experience down the stretch in New York - and in Denmark at the Worlds - no doubt left Andersson with a different level of confidence heading into what can only be described as an important offseason as he prepares for what he hopes will be his first season in the NHL.

"I learned a lot," Andersson said of his stint with the Rangers. "Playing those seven games was huge for me. There's a lot of good players out there on Tampa and Washington. They were good teams. I learned a lot. When you play those games, you realize you've got to keep working to become a superstar in this league. Gotta keep working and one day hopefully I can go out there and dominate.


"Working to be a superstar. Not just making the league or earning a roster spot but superstar. That's what you want to hear from all players, but especially a first draft pick. Lofty goals should be the aim, but still nice to hear.

Free agency sure looks like it will be a dud on July 1. Ryan Reaves was supposedly a target, but per the below, he won't be coming to New York (and rumor per Elliotte Friedman is that he may be heading back to Vegas). The same for Jay Beagle. I know the argument has been that the $ and years were beyond what the Rangers should pay for him. But in a market where everyone is overpriced, the terms in both $ and years weren't far from the realm of reasonableness. Factor in pending expansion and the need to expose signed veterans and having someone like Beagle signed in 2020 also made a ton of sense.

Reaves:



Beagle:



Where does New York go now? Names I have heard are Tobias Rieder (see below from Craig Custance) and Antoine Vermette. I wouldn't mind Rieder, as he is 25 and viewed by some as maybe Grabner-lite. if you can get him at Matt Cave's projection of $1.9 mil AAV for the next two seasons, it's a solid deal. Michael Grabner might also still be in the mix and Antoine Roussel certainly looks like a target, possiblt Matt Calvert as well. But New York will have competition on the latter two, as Friedman tweeted "couple other guys to keep an eye on: hearing COL with interest in Calvert and VAN with Roussel." Darren Dreger projects that Calvert will sign with the Avalanche. On defense, Greg Paterryn will draw some interest, maybe Calvin de Haan, though de Haan is a longshot, seeing who else New York has on defense and the likely contract he receives.




With Drew Doughty signing an eight-year extension that kicks in next season at $11 mil per year, how much does Erik Karlsson get? I would think Ottawa has to move him and attaching Bobby Ryan's contract to that trade looks more likely daily. The Sens have to strike now because he will be gone after the season and the team clearly wants to get out of Ryan's remaining deal. New York, with tons of cap room and desire to get EK65 for the future, should be all over these discussions, despite the goal to build for the future and not move assets now. But making a trade like this only occurs if they get an extension. If none, walk away.

Kings have $3.1 mil in cap room this year with Doughty at 7 mil. Next year, Nate Thompson & Peter Budaj are the only UFA. I am unsure how they create room to fill their roster even with minimum salaries, unless they find a taker for Trevor Lewis' $2 mil salary of Kyle Clifford's $1.65 mil. New York should try and get into discussions on grabbing one of their blue liners to go with Lewis.

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