1) As mentioned in the last blog, throwing it out to you to see if there is anything specific you want covered in the blogs moving forward until training camp. Is it report cards (which wasn't a fave years ago when done, but happy to do so again)? Look back at teams or players? I have one more on the offense and maybe one of the goalies, though that may have been beaten to death, and will weigh in on topics that arise, but if there is anything you want covered, let me know.
2) Larry Brooks today
projected Mike Zibanejad at $4.8 mil in his next deal, using the deals signed by Tyler Johnson (seven years, $5 mil per) and Ondrej Palat (five years, $5.3 mil AAV) as the basis for deriving that number. He added:
Palat (74 goals, 144 assists and 218 points in 307 career games) averages .24 goals, .47 assists and .71 points per game. Johnson (89-122-211 in 308 games) averages .29 goals, .39 assists and .68 points per game. Zibanejad (78-110-188 in 337 games) averages .23 goals, .33 assists and .56 points per game.
In addition, Zibanejad’s postseason numbers don’t approach those posted by two of Tampa Bay’s Triplets. Johnson has recorded 42 points (21-21) in 47 postseason games, Palat 29 (14-15) in 46 games and Zibanejad 17 (4-13) in 28 playoff contests including his two-goal, seven-assist, nine-point effort in 12 games for the Rangers this past tournament.
I covered my Zib projection
here, including the Johnson deal, while the Palat contract was not yet signed when the blog was posted. To me, as Brooks wrote, the bigger key is years, not dollars. I think we all believe the $4.5-$5.5 mil range is within reason. In addition, the contract signed cannot be for just two years, as that would make Zib a UFA after the deal expires. The risk though is if Zib does seek a one-year deal, betting on himself to stay healthy and fully fill the role as the team's 1C, forcing a higher payday next season, especially if the cap rises again, even slightly.
3) Whither Tyler Bozak. On the one hand, Bozak conversations are becoming like the Rick Nash one several years ago. Many believe that a deal is inevitable, but it will take a while for it to occur. However, that may not be the case. Earlier in the week, the Toronto Star's
Kevin McGran wrote the Leafs have little interest in Nick Holden, presumably who the Rangers would offer in a trade for Bozak. That is the case despite Holden's ability to move to the right side, which is the Toronto wants and the $2.6 mil difference in salaries would give them room to re-sign Connor Brown. Pittsburgh is interest in Bozak to reunite him with Phil Kessel and might offer Olli Maatta. But Maatta's cap hit of $4,083,333 would not offer the Leafs much extra room to sign Brown. The Leafs may be interested in Andrei Markov, as noted by Eklund, though I am unsure how they fit that cap hit in and take on another contract. Toronto is rumored to be interested in Noah Hanifin or Brett Peace, thinking one may be available now that Jaccob Slavin signed for seven years at $5.3 mil per and Jake Bean plus Hayden Fleury are looming. But, if Carolina was to deal Hanifin or Pesce, each would cost way more than Bozak, whose contract expires after the seasn.
As McGran added, the Leafs have $421,602 in available summer cap space, as the cap for the summer is $82.5 mil, 10% above the regular cap. That available space includes $715,000 set aside for Brown based on the qualifying offer issued by the Leafs. Toronto could wait until the first day of the season and sign Brown, as then they could place Nathan Horton or Joffrrey Lupul, if Lupul will be eligible to do so, on LTIR. But, as of now, they cannot match an offer sheet of more than $1.15 million, which is why a trade to free up cap room and also remove a contract, since Toronto is at 49 signed contracts right now, one below the NHL limit (as noted by jimbo), seems likely.
For New York, despite all the hope or hype that Lias Andersson can fill the the 3C role and/or David Desharnais will be a fine 3C/4C, there is little room for mistake. The lack of depth there, which I have written about before, applies even if J.T. Miller is moved to center. Because if that happens, with Jesper Fast possibly out all of October and maybe part of November following hip surgery, the bottom-six wingers have little depth behind who is on the current roster.
Offer sheets have become the scourge of the and one of the rarities on earth and GM Jeff Gorton might not want to anger Lou Lamoriello, Brendan Shanahan and the rest of his front office brethren, but if you want to be a gambler, force Toronto's hand. Sign or indicate to the Maple Leafs that you will sign Brown to a contract at least a million above what Toronto can match and then see if that spurs trade talk. Brown would be a perfect third line winger and signed for a reasonable amount. As of now, if Fast is out and Andersson is in, your 12th forward is Matt Puempel. If Fast is out and Andersson or Puempel isn't up to the task or another injury arises, then what? Where is your depth? That's why Gorton needs to add some additional forwards or two-way deals or be bold and make a gutsy signing or trade.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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