Sounds to me like Pouliot, Boyle, and Stralman are gone for sure. Zucc, Kreider, J. Moore, Brassard will be back as RFA's. The question is D. Moore, and I hope he comes back at 1.3-1.5 for two years maybe. I would expect we add a dman like a Fayne, Boyle (I think he goes to TB), or Ehrhoff. Then comes 3rd or 4th liners on the cheap. And can we add a legit C to takes Richards' spot, and place Stepan and Brassard in their best roles.
The way things are shaping up, my guess is Dom Moore and Carcillo are only UFAs to come back. That's 2/3 of the 4th line. We sign Fayne to replace Stralman. I think AV really wants to go L-R on all pairs, so for that and the cheaper price tag he gets the nod over Ehrhoff. I think we sign 1 winger for the third line to replace Pouliot. Raymond is a possibility but don't sleep on Setoguchi. He'd fit here and like Pouliot will be looking to turn his career around. I don't think we get another C unless it's Stasny. After seeing what Kesler went for, I don't see us having the chips to get Thornton or Spezza. If we somehow find the money for Stasny, maybe we'll see Miller make the team as a winger over signing a Raymond type.
Good call, forgot about Carcillo. I think he will be back also, hopefully with Moore. Then we plug a kid in to complete the 4th line with them (maybe Fast or Lindberg). I like Carcillo when he plays under control. Issue is he too often cannot stay under control and hurts his team. I like Fayne and would be fine with him signed to replace Stralman. Hopefully around 3 or so per, which is a solid deal, and hopefully will leave us some money to sign a C or top 9 winger. Then decide between Fayne or Klein on the 2nd pair with the other on the 3rd pair with Moore. Keep McIlrath up as the 7th dman with a game here or there to start until he is comfortable. As for C I really hope we add someone. I just don't like Stepan/Brassard/Miller as the 1-3 at C. Seems awfully thin and short at huge position.
I wouldn't mind seeing Miller used as a wing, I don't know that he has the setup ability they need. If it's between Fayne and Ehrhoff for the same money I'd rather Ehrhoff who's better offensively. Sounds like they are still in the Stastny mix, or hopefully at least. If not maybe they look at Roy/Handzus for 1y to play behind Stepan/DB.
-On Paul Stastny, “They were contacting teams and telling them they were out. Winnipeg is out and now it comes down to fit and money and I think it comes down to three options, 1) re-sign in Colorado which is still what I think is the strongest move if the Avs raise their offer and I think they will in the next 24 hours. 2) St. Louis is very intriguing, he still has a home there, I think they will push hard and I don’t think they will offer him term but they will offer him top dollar on a shorter term deal, 3) is hitting the lottery and going for the longest term and most money.” Stastny will be a free agent as he and the Avs couldn’t come to terms on a deal. (Renaud Lavoie) -On Anton Stralman, “Stralman is not close with the Rangers and the Rangers are going to make one last push with him whether it’s Monday night or Tuesday morning. At the end of the day he has more term and more money, between $4.5 million to $5 million elsewhere.” -On Christian Ehroff, “he is a left shot who plays on the right side and he won’t be looking for as much money or term as Niskanen but probably in the five-year range at $5 million plus per year, he wants to play on a chance to win. He is looking at Anaheim, Tampa or Pitt or Detroit.”
That's the thing, I don't see Fayne and Ehrhoff as the same money. I think Ehrhoff gets over 4.2 for sure, and maybe 5 per. Meanwhile I think Fayne can be had at around 3 per. Plus Fayne is a righty and Ehrhoff is a lefty. I like Fayne better for over 1 mill per less. Stralman is GONE unless he says I will take 4 +/- from the Rangers and not go for the biggest deal, which will be 4.5 or a little more per. Same as with Ehrhoff, I rather have Fayne at over 1 mill per less. I think both Stralman and Ehrhoff will get deals of at least 1.2 mill per more than Fayne, and to me that makes it an easy choice. Stastny I think will be a Blue. But that could work out for us. With the Blues and Ducks out, maybe we can get back in on Spezza and that would open us up for Thornton if the Sharks do deal him. I think TB gets either Boyle or Niskanen. And to be honest, if Boyle goes for 5, or close to it, for two years I again rather have Fayne around 3 +/-. I say that assuming if we can get that dman around 3 mill +/- we can add a solid C as well.
Anton Stralman reportedly has a long-term contract offer worth between $4.5 million and $5 million coming from another team and that is why it’s “going to be hard for the Rangers to retain him.” (ESPN) PASS!!!
not surprised!!!! when girardi gets over 5 mill stralman should seek 10, cause he is twice the dman girardi is
Yeah, for some reason I was thinking Ehrhoff would be between 3-4 but it'll be between 4-5 most likely. The thing with Fayne that I don't like is for 3m we already have a strictly defensive type in Klein and mostly defensive guys in Girardi/Staal. IMO they need someone geared more offensively which is why I thought Gilbert for 2-3 would fit well. We'll see I guess, there's not much out there.
Won't miss Anton at all, his agent must be King Midas himself. I was pissed Glen offered him 3 years/$3 mil. Let some other group of fans become accustomed to Stralmaning, Anton's version of the Tebow where you go down on one knee to effectively screen your goalie and render yourself powerless to offer any help defensively.
The Rangers believe that the deal Stralman will get will be out of their price range. (NY Post) Moore is seeking a three-year deal worth $1.7 million per season while the Rangers are offering two-years at slightly less money. (NY Post) Fayne is believed to be seeking $3 million per season in a new contract. (NY Post) B. Boyle has not been offered a contract from the Rangers and that his agents asked for a deal that he can get elsewhere but that is out of the Rangers price range. (NY Post) The Rangers are trying to determine how far they can/will go to try to get Boyle. The Rangers would have “loved” to get Boyle on a one-year, bonus heavy deal but he is seeking two-years around $5 million and is “sure” to get it. (NY Post)
My comments on the above: Goodbye Stralman, and I am 100% fine with that. If I could get D. Moore at 3 years 1.5 per I would do it. So I would take what he wants and say okay I will give you a 3rd year, but you need to come down to 1.5 per from 1.7 per. Reason I would do it is a I trust Moore. He is a hard worker and I don't see him getting lazy on a 3 year deal. And with a pretty small cap hit of 1.5 per I would take the small risk on him. He is also good to mentor the kids as a 4th line gritty guy who will win FO's and do the dirty work. I would do that. I would give Fayne 3 per for 3 seasons. I think he is a solid dman and a good guy to add to the mix. I will let J. Moore and McDonagh create the O. Then have solid guys like Staal, Girardi, Fayne, and Klein round out the top 6. And also have McIlrath and Allen there to round it off. McIlrath would be in a good spot to be here and play without having the 100% pressure to be a lock top 6 guy. He can be a 7th guy for a year. And we don't know what will happen with Staal. This will give us the ability to maybe flip him mid-season if McIlrath proves to be ready. Plus getting Fayne at 3 mill per should leave some extra money to PLEASE add a solid C that we need badly. Better than Stralman, Ehrhoff, and Boyle all at 4.5 +. Goodbye Boyle, and I am fine with that. No way do I sign D. Boyle for 5 per, or close to it, over two seasons. I think that is too much for him at this stage. I see him in TB.
And BTW...if someone says they want a dman more offensive than Fayne, I am cool with that and let's find him, but I do NOT think signing Stralman, Boyle, or Ehrhoff all for 1.5 mill or more per than Fayne is a smart move. At those pricies I rather have Fayne no doubt. And I again say that assuming it gives us the ability to add a legit C to the mix with Stepan and Brassard.
Chuck, agree with pretty much everything except big mac. If he doesn't make the team out of camp as one of the third pair it will be because team thinks he needs a touch more seasoning which they will get for him down below playing top pairs minutes as opposed to playing once in a while as a 7th d-man. Boy, is the team going to be pissed that signs strahlman to that contract and discovers they have spiderman crawling around the ice, someone that sucks on the boards and provides no offense.
Tom Gilbert..Tom Gilbert.....Tom......and please stay away from Tanner Glass, just re-sign DC or pickup a Moss/Ryan Jones. Glass is worse than Dorsett.
Here is the thing mel, I think he needs to play at the NHL level now to complete the process so to speak. So being up here, traveling with the team, being with the guys, playing every couple of games I think could potentially do more for him then being in Hartford would do. The only comments I will add are this. IF they deem him totally not ready he should be down. And if they decide that they will never play him, and playing one in a total blue moon would hurt him, he should be down. How I envision it is if we get a guy like Fayne to complete the top 6, McIlrath can play 1/2 the games up here give or take, and to me that is better than the AHL. Maybe he starts down below but comes up not long after to have some role with the guys and team. I just don't think the Rangers are ready to turn over the # 6 dman spot to him and not sign anyone. We'll see though.
I would be fine with Gilbert also. Not really that much more offensive than Fayne, but either way I would be okay. Also a righty. He is a little smaller, and 4.5 years older as well. All depends on cap hit. I like adding a guy for around 3 mill per only. If Gilbert can be had for that also, I am cool either way.
Gilbert wouldn't be bad, but I'm of the opinion we need to be more physical on the back end and Gilbert is not that kind of player. My guess is he'll be cheaper than Fayne but considering how small we are up front I'd rather have a guy who knows how to use his size. But if going Gilbert over Fayne gives us more room to get a C, sign me up.
Agreed Prod, that is why I like Fayne. I have always thought the big dman was more important than the one with more O for us. I feel even more strongly about that because I truly believe McDonagh will score 15 goals and 50 points next season, and Moore will grow on O as well.
Right, and I could be wrong but I dont think Gilbert has been a big PK guy in his career. Someone has to take Stralman's PK minutes.
