Larry Brooks went through several impacts to the Rangers in his column in the NY Post. Several of which we have discussed already but I will weigh in again with my view. As we sit on the verge of the Conference Finals, with Game 7 of Colorado-San Jose tonight, needless to say this is a huge off-season upcoming for the Blueshirts.
1. JD: It has long been believed Davidson’s contract with Columbus includes a clause that allows him to leave if offered the Rangers’ presidency. The official request is expected in short order following the Blue Jackets’ second-round elimination on Monday. Barring a dramatic, unforeseen development, it should not be long before one of the most popular individuals in recent franchise history returns to New York at the top of the directory.
Davidson will establish the vision for the operation, though in this case that presumably means reinforcing the organization’s commitment to the building program that was adopted 15 months ago and is now in full swing, if not yet full bloom. But the question is whether (and to what degree) to attempt to accelerate the process via free agency and trades.
All along, JD looked to be the favorite. Other names were mentioned, but Steve Yzerman went back to Detroit and Keith McCrimmon is staying in Las Vegas. Either one might have been interesting, but Davidson has the organizational connection along with history of running a franchise, as seen in Columbus. With the second overall pick, addition of Adam Fox, Winnipeg’s pick and a pair of second rounders, New York is set up to accelerate the rebuild. Included within, as seen below, is the possible signing of an elite winger, remediating a major weakness from last season, especially post-trade deadline.
2. To that end, no one will be able to give general manager Jeff Gorton and the Rangers a better read than Davidson on pending unrestricted free agent Artemi Panarin, who had 87 points (28 goals, 59 assists) for Columbus. Of course, the Blueshirts will be in on the 27-year-old elite offensive talent, but at what price and for how long in an expected bidding war with the no-state tax Panthers and perhaps the Islanders and Blackhawks? The front office will at least be as educated as possible in making those determinations.
Love how Brooks adds in the lack of state tax in Florida, which impacts the landscape. The Panthers are expected to pursue Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky. While the betting odds are on the Rangers to sign Panarin, it’s not a foregone conclusion. The islanders have plenty of cap room and a major need for scoring. How the lack of one arena, until the Elmont project is started and completed, impacts their pursuit is unclear, though that uncertainty won’t help. New York has to go full-bore to sign him and hopefully the addition of JD helps that pursuit.
3. Gorton last week told The Post the Rangers would wait until the hiring of a president to succeed Glen Sather to begin their search for a head coach and staff for the AHL Wolf Pack following the dismissal of Keith McCambridge and his assistants. Bolstering the operation in Hartford, where the club has missed the playoffs the last four seasons, will be a major priority for the organization.
One name proposed to me on twitter for the role is Dave Hakstoll, the former Flyers’ coach. He is a teacher, coached in college and to me would be a great add. Go young and augment with talent, which also has been lacking.
4. The three most critical decisions regarding current roster players are whether to extend Chris Kreider’s contract or trade him before the clock starts ticking on the final year of his contract; and what to do about Kevin Shattenkirk and Brendan Smith, both of whom could face buyouts if the Blueshirts are unable to deal the defensemen.
A new contract for Kreider would likely cost in the $37 million to $42 million range over six years. If the Rangers opt to deal their third-most senior player (behind Henrik Lundqvist and Marc Staal), the acquiring team would have to be prepared to sign him to the extension in order for the Blueshirts to maximize their return.
Obtaining Kreider as a rental is not an especially enticing proposition. That’s why teams like Edmonton and Winnipeg, who might otherwise have interest in the winger, won’t be in the mix if the Blueshirts decide against an extension that would kick in at age 29.
All the numbers and history of similar contacts point against re-signing Kreider. As such, trading him now might be the prudent course of action, though the team could wait until the deadline and try and extract the type of return received for Rick Nash etc. My view, which hasn’t changed despite his second half slump, partially due to his leg injury, is still to sign him long-term and make him the team’s captain. Brooks’ point directly below also impacts the feasibility of this. Meaning that if contracts are moved to free up cap space, the greater the likelihood that Kreider returns.
5. As currently constituted, and assuming it would cost approximately $12 million to keep pending restricted free agents Pavel Buchnevich, Brendan Lemieux, Tony DeAngelo, Neal Pionk and Fredrik Claesson, the Rangers would have maybe $10 million of space with which to work entering July, not including the additional summer allowance.
That obviously represents an untenable situation for an organization that ideally would add a significant piece up-front and another one on the right side of the blue line. Hence, Gorton will have to make significant subtractions before jumping into the pool in search of noteworthy additions.
Vladislav Namestnikov and Jimmy Vesey thus join Shattenkirk, Smith and Kreider, and perhaps Pionk and Buchnevich, as endangered species, understanding that the Blueshirts will have to yield something of value in order to acquire a top-pair righty or top-six winger of physical substance. .
Broad list of names. Nam is clearly one that could go but the Rangers may have to eat salary to do. Gorton got lucky to get Ryan Strome for Ryan Spooner, but had to pick up $900k of Spooner’s salary in the deal. With Nam, more might have to be eaten. Vesey has some value, but if moving him, the goal may solely to clear cap room, making the return mildly less important. Though I do believe he still can and is better suited to be a third line winger. With Shattenkirk and Smith, we have hit the ‘boy that cried wolf stage,’ as this possibility has been rumored so often, you wonder if it’s just lip service or will a buyout actually happen. One is probable to go, but I wouldn’t be shocked if both are back. After seeing what Buchnevich did the last month-plus of the season, I would be very reluctant to move him. New York could still bridge deal him, despite that path possibly costing more money down the road, while dealing may not bring enough back to warrant giving up on his potential.
6. A Dallas victory in Tuesday’s Game 7 in St. Louis would have sent the Stars’ first-rounder to the Rangers and brought the Blueshirts’ total to three, including their own at second-overall and Winnipeg’s that now sits between 18th and 20th. Instead, to complete the Mats Zuccarello deal, the Rangers will get the Stars’ upcoming second-round pick. The Rangers will also get the Stars’ 2020 third-round pick, which would convert to a first-rounder if Zuccarello, a pending free agent, re-signs with Dallas.
Zucc fit perfectly In Dallas. A win last night would have been the topper, moving from #48 to #28 in the draft. But maybe the Stars retaining that first round pick this year makes it more likely they will not blanch at re-signing Zucc despite the impact of losing a 2020 first rounder. As jimbo pointed out, Colorado wins tonight, New York picks 19th, San Jose wins, Rangers pick 20th to go along with the second overall pick and selection acquired from Winnipeg.
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