Free agency day 2022 is here. The day, otherwise known to many as the start of the silly season, is upon us. At 12 noon eastern, players can join new squads. I always like seeing who signs first and how quickly, making the supposedly somewhat dead period after the Stanley Cup to noon today look even more foolish.
The Rangers may be in the fringes of the frenzy. The two big names on the offensive side of the ice are Nazem Kadri, who is expected to move on from Colorado, and Johnny Gaudreau after he turned down a big deal from Calgary rumored to be seven years and $80 million. Family first is a reason given why Gaudreau declined the offer, putting New York-New Jersey-Philly in the spotlight. Gaudreau is expected to chose one of the teams in that locale, save for the Rangers given their current cap situation.
New York’s biggest need is at center. Where the Rangers go today will provide a better sense as to their view of Filip Chytil. One word caution though is, if the team doesn’t add a center that doesn’t mean they are sold on Chytil, it could also be that they find a good match in terms of $ and years, which is why none was added. Larry Brooks has been the writer at the forefront of how Kadri might be added. To me, that is very much a long shot given the deal Kadri wants.
Former in-house options - Ryan Strome and Andrew Copp - are both expected not to return. Talks with Strome during and after the year went nowhere. Copp negotiations broken down earlier this week with the deadline acquisition likely to land in Detroit (Bob McKenzie stating he will land there) or Nashville. If neither sign through the first blush of free agency, which is unlikely, New York could look back to either. Evgeni Malkin re-signed last night with Pittsburgh, who is putting the band back together after also locking up Bryan Rust, Casey DeSmith, Kris Letang and Rickard Rakell.
Vincent Trocheck might be an option, though his contract demands might be in the Strome and Copp range. I was very high on Trocheck a few years ago when he was with Florida. But injuries hurt his production, and while he had a rebound year with Carolina, he would not be my first option. Trocheck, who Elliotte Friedman predicts will land with the Blueshirts, would bring a more physical presence and better faceoff option down the middle, which is a positive check mark on his ledger for consideration.
Claude Giroux didn’t want to come to New York at the deadline and pretty much can be written off as an option here. As of press time, Pierre LeBrun has Ottawa as the favorite to land him. Ryan Strome’s brother Dylan might be an option after the Blackhawks opted not to give him a qualifying offer. He will come cheaper than Ryan and can bounce between the second and third line. But he profiles as a possible 2c, pushing Chytil to the third line.
The trade route looks to be the likely path forward. JT Miller and Pierre-Luc Dubois have been mentioned repeatedly over the past several weeks. Whether a deal comes to fruition remains to be seen, also impacted by the specter of Kane possibly to New York.
Frank Vatrano is expected to sign elsewhere as well. My guess is either the $ or term wanted or both precluded New York from bringing him back. He would have been a nice retention for the third line. By not re-signing him, New York maintains cap space and allows room for either Brennan Othmann or Will Cuylle or both to get a realistic chance to make the team out of camp. Plus, Sammy Blais is due back and Vitali Kravtsov is under contract as well. Of course, that is as of now, since the situation could change in an eyeblink with an offer sheet to Kaako Kappo a possibility the longer he goes unsigned.
I am a bit surprised to say the least that Tyler Motte was not locked up during the exclusive negotiating period. He remains a perfect bottom six option who fit in well after coming to New York. This is one place where the $1.75 mil locked into Ryan Reaves is an unwise use of cap space. Unless Motte wants 4+ years and over $2 mil per, Motte should be re-signed.
At wing, David Perron is not returning to St. Louis, but he is probably out of the team’s price range. I would love him and his physical play but he is a long shot. Evander Kane, who was not an option, is back with Edmonton, as he inked a four-year deal with a $5.25 AAV overnight. Ondrej Palat, who killed the Rangers on the postseason, is not returning to Tampa Bay. He is a proven playoff performer and would be a great add to the wing. But signing him would take New York basically out of the Patrick Kane sweepstakes, unless some major cap gymnastics are performed.
Patrik Nemeth remains. GM Chris Drury opted not to buy him out yesterday. In addition, Nemeth is ineligible for the second buyout because his $2.5 million doesn’t hit the $4 mil minimum. If Drury had exercised that option, Nemeth would have saved $1.5 mil this season and the full $2.5 million next with $1 mil in dead space in 2024-25 and 25-26. The savings this year and next would have provided New York some cushion with the future dead space potentially absorbed by the expected future cap rise.
With Nemeth. It bought out, Drury can either him keep him (less palatable), trade him (with an asset, hopefully clearing the full salary) or bury him in the AHL (savings of only $1.125 million). If Nemeth is buried in the minors, he of course will need to be replaced with the replacement salary, let’s say at the minimum, leaving about $200k in true savings. My hope is that Drury is confident that a deal can be had because while Nemeth is passable as a seventh d-man, better options exist. With Justin Braun probably moving on, Zac Jones, Nils Lundkvist and Matthew Robertson, depending on if any are dealt and who remains, should be viable considerations for the sixth d-man spot opposite Braden Schneider.
Backup goalie is a position of need with Alexandar Georgiev traded to Colorado. Keith Kinkaid is also a free agent and may not return. Braden Holtby might have been an option, but he is recovering from an injury and may not play all season. Martin Jones and Jarolsav Halak are two names to keep in mind with Thomas Greiss and Charlie Lindgren possibly in the mix as well. DeSmith might have been a nice option but he is staying in Pittsburgh. Eric Comrie’s name has been mentioned several times as a consideration for the role. Whoever is added, Benoit Allaire will need to be the goalie whisperer again.