Slats going to st.louis for shattenkirk for a package that miller is one of the pieces of which would be good for us if it happened depending of course what the other asset or assets are going back with miller. Also, this would def eliminate strahlman here. We'll see.
We'll see if we can actually do anything. Only a 1-1.5 mill difference, but the cap did us no favors. Maybe we were thinking 71 mill, which is 2 mill more. Who knows. I think most people were thinking low 70's like 70.4 or so. It always seemed strange to me that we'd have a lockout just to have the cap blow up again after 1 season. The Rangers seem “resigned” to the fact that Anton Stralman, Benoit Pouliot and and Brian Boyle will get better offers than what the Rangers can give them. (NY Post) HRR set the cap to be $66 million, the NHLPA pushed it to $68 million with their 5% escalator and adding in the TV money would have brought it to $70.1 million but would have increased escrow. (Larry Brooks) Nick Kypreos says that the Rangers are in trouble with the salary cap and that “Moore, Pouliot, Stralman and Boyle are likely gone.” Dominic Moore’s future with the Rangers seems “iffy” (NY Post)
Love how all during the year we were in great shape with the cap...and now there sounds like a mass exodus out the door
I don't see why St.Louis would deal a key young defensive piece for Miller and other top prospects we don't really have. They're going for a SC in the next 3-4 yrs. I get he's from NY state but this seems a little unlikely. I could see them trading Berglund if they go after Spezza but not a 25ish dman with AS ability. Its not even a cap issue they have lots of space.
I agree with you Al. Seems weird to me that we are now in this cap hell. Although I will say some experts said we would be during the season, and I didn't believe them, but I guess we are. Everything you read now says we are. Cap went up only 4.7 mill from 64.3 to 69 mill (and it would have been 66 mill if the NHLPA didn't exercise their 5% kicker). All we heard was 71 mill early on, and then low to mid 70's, and now we are down at 69 mill, not good. Even with Richards' 6.67 mill gone we are right up against it. I think we have no choice but to let some/all of Stralman, Boyle, Pouliot, Moore go if we want to add anybody who can provide any impact. I figure if we let all of those guys go, we should be able to add one impact player....I HOPE. I am concerned right now, but let's see how we look in 10-12 days or so and then we can discuss it.
This REALLY puts extra focus on Nash to get his shit together this summer and truly earn his 7.8 mill. Stepan to take another step and score 65 or so points. Brassard to score 50-55 points. Kreider to score 20 +, if not 25 +. And some kids like McIlrath, Fast, Lindberg, and Miller to actually be ready to play and not be a liability. And BTW...the more you look at it, the more you realize that Nash contract is a bad one. You would love to have a C who gets paid 7.8 mill per. Having a winger at that amount doesn't work unless the winger truly is a stud and dominates, and that cleary has not been Nash here. He really is the key right now with the cap issues we have. He MUST be a stud next season, and in the playoffs if we make it, otherwise his contract is a disaster. And while everyone wanted Richards gone, including me, if we don't add a C of any real impact, that is a big loss for us. The guy scored 20 goals and 51 points this past season. If he is gone and we add no one of real impact at C it won't be good. We will feel Richards' loss.
My own opinion is Stralman and Boyle are gone, and we'll see on Pouliot and D. Moore. But here's the deal, I am not sure that is good enough. We need to improve off last season, not bring everyone back and think we are right there to win. To me that is faulty thinking. 1. We lost Richards. Now I get many have no regard for his game anymore, and he 100% had to go we all agree there, but he was a leader, and he did score 20 goals last season, and played well until the SCF. We are kidding ourselves if we don't think he is a loss if not replaced at all. 2. We finished a distant 2nd in our division, and would have been 6th in the East if it was the old format, which shows we were not a top team in the East as is. 3. We could have lost to Philly in round 1. Could have lost to Pitt in round 2. Could have maybe lost to the Habs in Price was healthy in the ECF. Lost 4-1 in the SCF. So AWESOME run, but let's not act as if we were a big time team that cruised to the SCF. We need to improve. 4. Boyle will be gone. Dorsett is gone. D. Moore may be gone. Stralman may be gone. That is our very important 4th line maybe all gone (personally I think only Moore has a real shot to be back), and our # 4 dman gone as well. That is a lot of good solid depth to lose, depth that really helped us this past season, and that doesn't even factor in maybe losing Pouliot as well. 5. YES we will bring a few kids up. I am sure Miller will get a shot. I am sure maybe a Lindberg or Fast will get a shot. Maybe a McIlrath will get a shot. I can see 2 or 3 of those guys getting a chance, but those guys are all question marks. They may work out, or they may be young, and not be able to compare to the guys we are losing next season. This is the reality of things right now. It is potentially concerning. Now I say potentially because we do not know what will happen in the next 10-12 days, but if we are sitting here in 10 days and all these things play out, I will be concerned. This is 100% a win now team with some of our older players in their primes, Hank 32, and not having a 1st rounder for a few years straight. Bringing back our guys, outside of Richards and Boyle and Stralman, and not adding anyone of any real impact won't be enough IMO. We cannot be blinded by this great run we had and act as if we were this dominant team that just needs to bring the main guys back and we'll be right there again next season...no. I believe we need to improve if we want to be near the top of the East again next May/June.
Lindberg should definately be ready to stick by now, and probably will put up more offense than Boyle, so I don't think that's a huge tradeoff. I saw today Oduya might be on the trade block, they should try and swing something there. They probably will have to add another cheap 4th line guy.
