The guy that slid from 1C to 4C on a roster that couldn't keep up with ours based on skill? No thanks.
- Tonybere

People really need to decide whether Stepan sucks or whether he is something better. Because if you want to trade Stepan, you aren't getting back the sun, the moon and the stars for him. If you want a younger player for Stepan, it's going to be a younger player with talent, but with some issues as well.

well the college free agent assault they make helps, but I do like the idea of a Brassard type deal where they add a second, that kind of thing

I still think the Brendan Smith trade was a good one though
- jimbro83

He needs to be resigned. DET hated him by the end. I am hoping the fact he played well here gets him signed in the $3.1-3.4M range (what DET was offering)

The guy that slid from 1C to 4C on a roster that couldn't keep up with ours based on skill? No thanks.
- Tonybere

He looks like a good target since he may just need a change of scenery. Who knows though. Maybe Stepan will leave, fix his skating and kill the Rangers down the road in the playoffs.

As a player, not much. But he will be a huge distraction and who know's how he will fare returning to the NHL at 34.
- JRR1285

I think the shock of having him back will wear off relatively quickly and I'm convinced he's got plenty left in the tank. 78pts in 60gp in the KHL (an inferior, but also lower scoring) league leads me to believe that he's still got it. Maybe not a 90pt player in the NHL anymore but I don't think a 30g-30a-60pt season is out of the question for him. He'd be a massive boost to any team with an anemic PP, which is both of our teams.

He needs to be resigned. DET hated him by the end. I am hoping the fact he played well here gets him signed in the $3.1-3.4M range (what DET was offering)
- mrhattrick27

they should re-sign him, they just have to obviously wait until after expansion draft so they don't have to protect him

His back, he Russian and a softie.
- tomburton99

Rangers are so close they really do need that one guy that can lead them. Isle have that in jt but not much of a supporting cast. If he were a ranger you might have a cup. Nash was supposed to be that guy but he just disappears, he's like a rod.

Edit any top player not just jt, used him cause isles are the opposite of rangers

People really need to decide whether Stepan sucks or whether he is something better. Because if you want to trade Stepan, you aren't getting back the sun, the moon and the stars for him. If you want a younger player for Stepan, it's going to be a younger player with talent, but with some issues as well.
- Pete V

The real issue is the NTC than anything else. I did not realize that did not kick in until July 1. Makes the matter urgent. Hell, the Canadiens dealt Subban when they did because of when his NTC was kicking in and they got scared.

Just saw this after I wrote my reply to you about looking for Stepan to go to MTL....This is exactly what I was thinking.
- mrhattrick27

Stepans hit isn't really that outrageous though. Centers are expensive. Stepan, RNH, Zajac, Dubinsky, Backes, Kesler, these guys all play a defensive game and are all paid around that 6 million mark.

Pretty much agreed with the above. It isn't doom and gloom overall. But man the $13M tied up in Staal Girardi and Klein is really hamstringing us. if Gorton pulls a rabbit out of his ass we can be ok. As many complaints I hear about the offense, they weren't, and aren't a problem if you look big picture.

Trading Step in a Brassard-Zib type deal is exactly what we should look for. Teams are desperate to find centers that can play defensive hockey. As much anger as this board has for him right now, I think contending teams would make serious offers for him. MTL comes to mind immediately.
- mrhattrick27

The biggest problem with Step is his salary and impending NTC. If it weren't for the NTC I wouldn't mind keeping him on the team unless the right trade comes up.

I think the shock of having him back will wear off relatively quickly and I'm convinced he's got plenty left in the tank. 78pts in 60gp in the KHL (an inferior, but also lower scoring) league leads me to believe that he's still got it. Maybe not a 90pt player in the NHL anymore but I don't think a 30g-30a-60pt season is out of the question for him. He'd be a massive boost to any team with an anemic PP, which is both of our teams.
- eichiefs9

All valid points. I'm just leery of these types of situations because aging free agent signings by the Rangers typically end poorly.

For the right price it's a no-brainer, but who know's what that number is going to be?

The biggest problem with Step is his salary and impending NTC. If it weren't for the NTC I wouldn't mind keeping him on the team unless the right trade comes up.
- Fenrir

someone mentioned Arizona for Staal, Arizona for Stepan isn't a bad thought either.

They have loads of young guys and Step's a leader

Stepans hit isn't really that outrageous though. Centers are expensive. Stepan, RNH, Zajac, Dubinsky, Backes, Kesler, these guys all play a defensive game and are all paid around that 6 million mark.
- smellmyfinger

Those guys don't skate like they are in quick sand and aren't afraid of the phyiscal aspect of the game

I 100% believe the Winning the cup with Lundqvist will just NOT HAPPEN. It's sad to say!

I thought this at the time and think this again. Henrik chose money over a cup once he signed that contract. you cant have a goalie make that much and win a cup. We have too many over paid players and too little players that out play their contracts. on top of that having a coach that is clearly out coached at times is no recipe to succeed.

Only bright spot to me is that we do have a few young gems in Skjei and Zib.

Players i would like to see go due to being over paid:
Staal
Stepan
klein
to a lesser extent Henrik
Nash will probably get moved next year as well.

He looks like a good target since he may just need a change of scenery. Who knows though. Maybe Stepan will leave, fix his skating and kill the Rangers down the road in the playoffs.
- JRR1285

Stepan is a good darn hockey player, that had a poop year. The clubs that trade guys after bad periods when there value is down are usually the ones that aren't successful. But, there are some circumstances with Stepan and the teams current makeup that might make sense to deal him if they get the right value back. They do need a center in return, however, because remember Hayes didn't light it up either. The organization is too thin at that position.

All valid points. I'm just leery of these types of situations because aging free agent signings by the Rangers typically end poorly.

For the right price it's a no-brainer, but who know's what that number is going to be?
- JRR1285

Bob McKenzie tweeted out that a team would first need to agree to what the devil's want, then see what kovalchuk wants and have the devil's sign him to that deal and term and then trade him. A lot of moving parts and what would the asking price of the devil's be?

someone mentioned Arizona for Staal, Arizona for Stepan isn't a bad thought either.

They have loads of young guys and Step's a leader
- jimbro83

The salary though, Step gets 6.5 million in real dollars every year, Staals salary falls further and further behind his cap hit each year from here until the end.

All valid points. I'm just leery of these types of situations because aging free agent signings by the Rangers typically end poorly.

For the right price it's a no-brainer, but who know's what that number is going to be?
- JRR1285

I think he knows that he's probably going to have to sign a 1-year prove it deal. Friedman was on the radio yesterday talking Kovy and had a good point. He's 34, if he signs a multi-year deal it will carry him over 35 and become a 35+ contract with potential major cap recapture penalties if he retires before the contract is up.

My guess is he signs a 1 year deal somewhere to re-establish himself in the league and then takes it from there. Something in the ~$5M range isn't unreasonable, considering what Shipachyov got from LV.

Those guys don't skate like they are in quick sand and aren't afraid of the phyiscal aspect of the game
- tomburton99

He beat out an icing last night!!! Might have been the only time I laughed all night.

someone mentioned Arizona for Staal, Arizona for Stepan isn't a bad thought either.

They have loads of young guys and Step's a leader
- jimbro83

Step would be a great fit in the desert. They have tons of cap space and would take over for Doan when he likely retires next year.
Get it done, Gorton!

I think he knows that he's probably going to have to sign a 1-year prove it deal. Friedman was on the radio yesterday talking Kovy and had a good point. He's 34, if he signs a multi-year deal it will carry him over 35 and become a 35+ contract with potential major cap recapture penalties if he retires before the contract is up.

My guess is he signs a 1 year deal somewhere to re-establish himself in the league and then takes it from there. Something in the ~$5M range isn't unreasonable, considering what Shipachyov got from LV.
- eichiefs9

I believe he can also wait one more year and be a ufa at 35

Bob McKenzie tweeted out that a team would first need to agree to what the devil's want, then see what kovalchuk wants and have the devil's sign him to that deal and term and then trade him. A lot of moving parts and what would the asking price of the devil's be?
- Upstate_isles

Still bothers the hell out of me that the Devils have any rights to Kovalchuk. If you were able to void that ridiculous contract, shouldn't have the rights to profit from him when he comes back. The Devils not only got a get out of jail free card, but now they get to profit from that BS cap circumventing contract as well.

Bob McKenzie tweeted out that a team would first need to agree to what the devil's want, then see what kovalchuk wants and have the devil's sign him to that deal and term and then trade him. A lot of moving parts and what would the asking price of the devil's be?
- Upstate_isles

I would think the Devils are hoping for a 2018 1st round pick from a competitive team. Doubt they get more, if the offers suck for Kovy I would think he may start in NJ, prove he can play then get moved.

I believe he can also wait one more year and be a ufa at 35
- Upstate_isles

Yeah but it certainly doesn't seem like he's going that route.

Stepans hit isn't really that outrageous though. Centers are expensive. Stepan, RNH, Zajac, Dubinsky, Backes, Kesler, these guys all play a defensive game and are all paid around that 6 million mark.
- smellmyfinger

outside of backes, i would rather have any one of them over stepan.