Time to trade Girardi is now.

Hank from all reports wants 8 years, 85 million. Some of the clowns at OTG say he's not worth that or the Rangers can't do that. Moronic and incompetent thinking. He's worth every penny of that. This team sucks without him and he's the only reason they have ever made the playoffs since he's been in net.

The reality is that Girardi makes 3.4 and is in the last year of his contract. He's going to get at least 5 million from another team. The Rangers can replace him. They traded for Moore who I love already. McIlrath is about ready. They signed this kid Allen who is very promising and Skjei is in the wings. With the best goalie on the planet, you can add vet defenseman and Lundqvist will make them look great.

Girardi can bring back a big time forward or top young prospect. I would package Girardi with Boyle, sign Stepan and give Lundqvist the money. I would look to obtain a forward with a good contract. I would take a deal with the Ducks. Girardi and Boyle for Etem and a 1st round pick.


I believe the Ducks would absolutely do this. They have cap room. They can clear up some cap room next year with some forwards they will lose. Their defenseman stink for the most part and they need size at center. Rangers get a very good, goal scoring prospect on the wing. Something the organization needs badly right now. He's close to being NHL ready. He played in the NHL last year but I don't think he was ready. His AHL team was pathetic and he didn't have big numbers there. However, he has very good offensive skills.

 

8 years 85 million. Good lord. That would give him the highest cap hit in the league by OVER A MILLION DOLLARS. Yeah we would probably pay it and yes this team is absolutely worthless without him. But if that's the contract he's really asking for, then in my mind he doesnt give two fukkks about winning a cup and just wants to get paid.

I really can't see him asking for that kind of money. Like McDonagh said after his deal, he wanted to make sure the deal was fair for both sides and the team still had some flexibility. If this is what Hank wants, he doesnt care about flexibility. He'll get it, but I wouldnt hold him in the high regard I do now if he pulls something like that, knowing we'll pay whatever he asks.

And I get that the cap is going up and that contract values gradually rise over time, but that's a ton of money when you factor in who else need raises next year

 

Considering the guy has carried this franchise forever now and has never complained about the incompetent offense in front of him, he deserves that money. The organization has to find some cheaper talent to off-set the cost. You can start by dealing Girardi. There is no way they are going to re-sign Girardi. He will easily get 5+ million from another team on the FA market. In my opinion, a team will give him 6 y, 36 million. Teams throw insane money at defenseman who aren't even close to being as good as Girardi. There is no way this organization can lose this guy for nothing. It's a tough spot with him. On one hand, you want to win a cup now. You won't have Hank at the top the league forever. On the other hand, they can't take the hit of losing this guy for nothing. I would go for a forward in return because I really believe McIlrath, Allen and Skjei are going to fill in on the defense nicely. The Rangers can draft or trade for defenseman better than anybody. That is their strength.

 

I love Girardi as a player. Guy has played his heart out for us. The only way you can keep him is if you trade Staal instead. I don't know what the deal with Staal's eye is. However, Staal when he's close to 100% is better than Girardi. There is no point in trading MDZ because he's played with an offensively dumb coach his entire career. We don't know what he can do or Moore for that fact.

I see no reason why this team can't move Pyatt and Boyle sooner than later. They don't fit this team any longer and there are younger, more talented prospects ready to make the team.

 

I don't disagree, but maybe another move to consider would be moving Staal at the deadline instead. Not sure how much truth there is to him 'wanting' to go play in Carolina, but if its true, maybe move him in order to keep Girardi. I'd hate to move Girardi, then lose Staal the following season....

The cap is going way up next year, and Richards is definitely coming off too, so it may be possible to pay everyone, including Girardi....

 

I have no problem with trading Girardi for a winger, as much of a warrior as this guy has been for us. I'm confident with the depth on D and winger is a clear need right now. Staal is much more valuable and signed for the next two years. We'll need him for both of those.

 

As much as I like Hank all I can say if 10.5 mill per year is the actual number is gulp!!!! Thats an obscene ammount of money to pay 1 person. As much magic as sather has done with trades I wonder if there is some team that has an up and coming goalie plus forwards and a high pick or 2 that he could fleece for hank. As for girardi I agree with dump and if boyle can be packaged with him why not go to vancouver and give torts back 2 of his favorite players for some offense back. If hes ok I don't want to see staal go anywhere. However, that being said after next season with 1 to go on his contract we need to either sign him or trade so we don't lose him to carolina if thtas where he really wants to be for nothing

 

I don't worry about paying Hank that kind of money because he always produces on an elite level. I have more concerns when Sather pays imbeciles like Boyle, Asham and Pyatt 1.5+. Those guys add up and they produce very little.

 

I think Hank will still be elite at 35-36. He's a guy that has not turned into a fat ass like Brodeur did. He's always been very lean. He's basically been injury free his entire career up until this point.

 

He actually played much lighter this past year than he has in the past.

Like I've been saying all along, yes he will get that money if he wants it I'm just hoping he ends up being happy with 9 per.

 

I'm not sure you'd get Etem and a 1st for those 2 but maybe a 2nd plus a solid prospect and an expiring roster player for the stretch run. Maybe EDM would deal Hemsky, Musil and a 2nd or 3rd for them.

 

You are selling Girardi's value way short troj. He is one of the most respected defenseman in the game. I don't think they have any problem getting Etem provided he will do a sign and trade. There are players every year traded at the deadline for 1st round picks and a top prospect that aren't half as good as Girardi.

 

hank, girardi and any other rangers player who have played together for the last 5 years or so R expendable, they've won nothing! and N 8 year contract for any ranger player is dumasstic!

 

The fact you think Hank is expendable speaks volumes about your lack of hockey knowledge.

 

thank you to the assholes in Boston for over stating the value (in terms of salary cap) of Raask. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury I give you prime example A of why the lockout was a fucking disgrace and fans should NEVER AND I MEAN NEVER side with a owner again.

 

Yep. Now Ottawa is giving this moron Cowen an 8 year deal when he hasn't even played one full NHL season and they still have control over the kid for another 4 years. Wasn't the moron Boston owner in the meetings with Bettdope while Dolan wasn't allowed in? The small market owners like Ottawa's are killing the game. Stupid Boston took a young goalie who has barely proved anything and paid him a ton of money they didn't have to.

 

If anyone thinks it is good for this team to give Hank a 10 mill cap hit or more, they are nuts. Plain and simple.

There is a reason no goalie has even an 8 mill per cap hit, it is stupid to build a team that has a goalie with that huge of a cap hit.

And don't give me the BS that he has carried this team. Or the team is done without him. Or he is "worth" that much money. We ALL know that is all clearly true. BUT that still doesn't mean it is good business for the team moving forward to have Hank at that huge of a cap hit.

This team is Hank. The only reason we have made it where we have the past few seasons is due to Hank...we ALL know that. But that would be very bad for business as we move forward. Having a 10 mill per goalie is not smart cap management.

I agree with prod 1000%. We have no choice but to keep Hank. We would have no real choice but to give him what he wants. But if he wants to break the bank and ask for 10 mill per, then I don't want to EVER, and I mean EVER, hear Hank say all he wants to do is win...BS.

If that is all he wanted to do he'd sign for 8 years at around 8 mill per for a cap hit, and we'd move on. Still the highest paid goalie by a good bit, and would leave us room to complete a team that can win around him. And let's not forget he makes a ton of money off the ice. The guy is a total celeb. We all know it. Here and in Sweden. So money is not an issue. Taking 64 mill over 8 years I think will have him set up for a pretty good life...LOL.

It is actually comical if he forces the Rangers hand to give him 10 mill per, or close to it. I want to win. I am tired of having no scoring around me. I want to win a cup badly. Oh BTW...give me 10 mill per for a cap hit. Yeah, that shows how much he really wants to win above all else.

I don't take this stuff seriously, it is all posturing and negotiating until a deal is actually signed, but if it comes down and he makes 10 mill per +/-, that is bad business IMO.

 

I agree chuck. All of it.

If he wanted to win, he'd pull a McDonagh, and take less so the Rangers' would have more to sign better players around him. Can't do that without cap space.