The Rangers head down I-95 to take on the Flyers on Saturday night. While the game is important join the playoff hunt and goal to have a higher seed, it's secondary at best to what's going on just before the trade deadline. News broke today that New York and Mats Zuccarello are at an impasse once again, which could pave the way for the Norwegian winger to get dealt before Monday at 3pm.
Larry Brooks reported the following:
It is believed the Rangers have offered Zuccarello a five- or six-year deal worth $4.5 Million per, while the winger is seeking well in excess of $5M per, perhaps up to $5.5M. Zuccarello may be able to clear the $5M bar as an unrestricted free agent — or may be able to get the equivalent from a team in a no-tax state, such as Florida — but it is clear he is not going to get that to remain in New York.Look, Zuccarello has not had a $5M season, not even close to it. He hasn’t scored a power-play goal all year, chipping in five assists, even as No. 36 has gotten the fifth most ice time on the man-advantage among club forwards.
But he fits, he fits well on the first line with Rick Nash and Derek Brassard, and he fits well within a room that has a special kind of chemistry going that can’t be measured on any analytics table.
My view on Zucc is well-known. To me, he is a heart-and-soul player whose contributions go beyond the score sheet. If as Brooks said, you look at what he has meant to that top line, you can see how effective they are with him there. New York could move Kevin Hayes up to the top line wing spot in place of Zucc. They then could acquire Antoine Vermette, a free agent after the year, or Tyler Bozak, signed for two more years at $4.2 mil per, but is that making the team better? Same if you acquire as suggested on the blog, Kris Versteeg or Andrew Shaw or someone of that ilk. The goal should be winning the Cup now, so if that truly is the case, keep Zucc, continue negotiating and worry about next year, next year.
We all knew that GM Glen Sather's penny pinching, bridge contract signing ways with RFAs would come back to eventually biting him. It will with Carl Hagelin and with Derek Stepan. Include Zucc on that list. When the ability seemed to be there for a longer-term deal at a higher price than a player is making now but one that was fiscally responsible for the future, Sather opted for the short term deal and squeezed every last cent from the player. Now, it comes back to haunt the Blueshirts.
You can argue that Dan Girardi at $5.5 mil is overpaid. Same with Marc Staal at $5.7 million. However. late in a key or playoff game, wouldn't you want each on the ice. In addition, the prevailing view for each is they left some money on the table. Granted, maybe not enough and maybe they are making more than many would like, but it's not as if - to me - at least, they are grossly overpaid.
To me, where Sather overpaid was Henrik Lundqvist. Please don't misconstrue what i am saying. Hank is an elite goalie and should be paid as such. However, Sather could have paid him $7.5 mil per year making him still the highest paid goalie in the year. But, by paying him $8.5 mil, you now have likely "overpaid," - term in quotes for a reason because it's a subjective view - him by about $1 mil per year that could have been used to re-sign several players, including Zucc.
Sather has squeezed Zucc twice, now Zucc wants to be paid. While he has not played like a $5 mil player, he still likely is worth that amount, given the intangibles he also brings. I know Duclair will be here next year, maybe Buchnevich as well, but the Nash-Brassard-Zucc line is truly a #1 line. Two-thirds of the line is getting paid. many felt Brassard may not be worth $5.5 million and look what he has done this year. Nash too is living up to his salary. Why is the belief that Zucc would not?
Maybe Sather is truly just using this as a scare tactic. Maybe he will up his offer so the sides are closer and a deal can be made. If not, he is playing a dangerous game, upsetting the chemistry for a second straight year. Last season, it worked out, but the two sides were playing a media driven battle, which caused some consternation throughout the year. This year, Zucc hasn't really said a word and he has the backing of his coach in terms of his place now and in the future.
Find a way to work out a deal. If not, keep Zucc here for now and worry about next year in next year. I will say if Zuccarello goes, I am not responsible for how poorly I handle it and my column about it may not be pretty.