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Rangers' Free Agency Days 1 and 2: Shopping at the Dollar Store |
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The expectation coming into he first day of free agency was that the Rangers would be shopping at the dollar store. Little did we know that it would be at the back of the store in the damaged, discounted can aisle. The one positive that you can say about today is that GM Jeff Gorton didn't dole out any stupid contracts, but with so little cap space, that would have been difficult to accomplish. In addition, he likely improved the bottom six, but there were others for similar roles and for the top-six that were fairly cheap that were passed up by Gorton.
Darren Helm, a target, never even got to free agency, signing a five-year deal with a $3.85 mil AAV; numbers that were beyond the team's price range. The initial wave (Lucic, Backes, Okposo, Ladd, Eriksson, Nielsen) came and went and since they were bigger names for big $, we know none would be options. Viktor Stalberg, who was rumored to want to come back, signed with Carolina for one-year at $1.5 million after failing to reach an accord with the team. He brought a physical presence and some speed, but was allowed to go for maybe a $400k difference. Shortly thereafter, a rumored target in Michael Grabner was signed for $1.6 mil for each of the next two seasons. that second year makes Grabner eligible to be exposed in the expansion draft, a key aspect to the signing. Grabner is Roberto Duran, meaning he has hands of stone, save for that one big year with the Isles, but brings a lacking commodity in speed and improvement to what was a horrific PK last year. He likely will play on the third line, but could see time on the fourth line as well.
As I wrote Friday, the second tier had some intriguing names though not without flaws in Jamie McGinn, Thomas Vanek, Jiri Hudler, David Perron, Radim Vrbata, Mikkel Boedker, Troy Brouwer, PA Parenteau, Joe Colborne, Matt Martin, Brandon Pirri, Jason Chimera, Michael Latta, Dale Weise, Erik Gryba, Brian Campbell, Jason Demers and James Wisniewski. But since the Rangers may have a beer budget and champagne tastes, we knew not to expect much. As a few of the names came off the list, we found out it was a C not even a B class beer.
McGinn, who you know I wanted as last year's deadline, went for a more than reasonable three-year, $10 million deal to Colorado. Vanek, another possible target but only if cheap, joined Frans Nielsen in Detroit on a one-year, $2.6 million deal. Perron returned to St. Louis on a two-year, $7.5 million contract, putting him way outside NY's price range. Mikkel Boedker would have been a great fit but he went to SJ on a solid four-year, $16 million deal. Brouwer landed in Calgary for four years and $18 million, putting him way outside what NY could afford. Parenteau waited till Saturday to return to the Isles, inking for one-year, $1.25 million; a good deal for a winger who can go between the second and third line. Colborne joined McGinn in Colorado for two years, $5 mil and while his shooting percentage will fall, it's a pretty good signing for the Avalanche. Martin may have wanted to sign to stay in the NY area, but instead, heads to Toronto for four years and $10 to protect Matthews, Marner etc. The player I really wanted, Chimera, got a very reasonable two years and $4.5 mil where his speed gives the Isles a dimension they lacked in replacing Martin. Latta got 600k for one year in LA while the Rangers will see a lot of Weise, as he opted for four years and $9.4 million with Philly. One name I didn't mention as I figured he wouldn't return after how he believed he was treated was Lee Stempniak, who signed for for two years, $5 mil while Teddy Purcell may have signed for a below market $1.6 mil and he would have been a great fit in NY. Campbell returned to Chicago for a year at $1.5 mil and Demers landed today in Florida for five years, $22.5 mil. You look at what the Panthers have done adding Yandle, Pysyk and Demers and that D has had a nice uplift. Demers would have fit nicely next to Ryan McDonagh but that would have necessitated moving G or Staal as NY would have been over the cap figure by signing him. In addition, Patrick Wiercicoch, who would have been a nice signee, went for a very low $800k for one year to Colorado.
From the names above Hudler, Vrbata, Pirri, Gryba and Wisniewski remain available. Hudler and Vrbata are coming off horrific seasons while Pirri's value is way down. Maybe no one signs them and then end up getting make-good PTOs like Stempniak did last year. Another option is to target one and grab him now on a very reasonable hoping for a bounce back. I could see taking a flier on any of the three, given the possible upside. In addition, Ek mentioned Sam Gagner and I have heard that name in a few places. He might be an interesting low cost, upside move, depending on the contract.
In addition to Grabner, NY improved their team speed by grabbing Nathan Gerbe for 600k. He could be part of a revamped fourth line with Grabner, though might also end up in the minors. With Oscar Lindberg out to start the season, he has a pretty good shot at breaking camp with the team. The Rangers also added right-handed d-man Adam Clendening on a one-year, two way deal where he makes $600,000 in the NHL, and $300,000 in the AHL. New York provided more depth in Hartford, signing Westport, Ct. native and another right-handed shooting d-man Michael Paliotta.
The best things can be said about the first two days of free agency are that the Rangers improved their team speed and that Gorton didn't make any stupid, overpriced signings. In addition, the biggest move probably was hiring Jeff Beukeboom to be an assistant coach under AV, replacing Ulf Samuelsson. Beuk will liklely handle the D and possibly also oversee the PK. His presence should help Brady Skjei develop and also may be a boom for Dylan McIlrath as well as Ryan Graves, if he gets a look.
The net roster change from the prior year as of right now is: Out - E Staal, Yandle, Moore and Stalberg; In - Grabner, Gerbe and Holden. You can also pencil in Buchnevich to the In column but we all need to be careful not to expect too much from him as he adapts to the US, a smaller ice surface and more physical play. Plus Skjei will be a full time player, after seeing sporadic duty until the playoffs.
On paper, this team is clearly not better than a year ago. The defensive issues that existed last year have really not been remediated yet. As of now, the top seven are: McDonagh/Skjei/Staal/Klein/Girardi/McIlrath/Holden. That group needs an uplift but with most of the better names off the market and Yandle allowed to leave, even if G or Staal are dealt, I am not sure if much would come back that could help the blue line. The potential issues there, even if G and/or Staal rebound to a certain extent, as expecting a full turnaround would be foolish, likely will be the team's downfall.
Up front, there is more speed, though their are till holes to be filled. Maybe Jimmy Vesey does sign with the team after August 15, but it's hard to rely solely on that happening. Adam Tambellini could excel in camp and force his way on to the team. Malte Stromwall, who meshed well with Robin Kovacs, opened some eyes and will get a long look. But NY could use one of the three wingers I mentioned earlier, presuming no trades occur, and focus on re-signing their RFAs.
One aspect of all the big signing to keep an eye is the use of signing bonuses. Steven Stamkos received $60 of his $68 million as a bonus while Andrew Ladd ($31 of $38.5 mil) and Kyle Okposo ($20 of $28 mil his first four years) will receive substantial portions of their contracts as signing bonuses. Those deals are basically buyout and lockout proof, meaning that loophole will be closed in the next CBA.
We figured that New York's free agency would start with minimal action. Little did we know how right we would be and how much we probably underestimated what would be done. While the Isles may not have fully replaced who they lost, it's close, and New Jersey is much better than they were. So making the playoffs, at least as of July 3, has gotten much harder.
(Also, if anyone is interested in attending the Mets game Sunday against the Cubs, let me know, looks like I have an extra ticket)
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