Gorton and JD look like they have their head up their ass right now. Letting him go for 2 million a season and signing a schmuck like Jack Johnson for a million.
Jesper didn't have a spot here. Worst case you could look at Johnson as an upgrade over Staal who might not crack the starting lineup.
I am fine with them not re-signing Fast for 2 mill per if it means we are focusing on a LD and/or adding a C. Plus 3 years is a bit long as well. Fast was a nice role player here, who did whatever was asked of him, but he will not make or break things, and if he does we have bigger issues. The Johnson signing is separate. On top of that they can bury virtually all of that money in the AHL if they want, 1.075 mill I believe, so that shouldn't stop anything else from happening. If they expect Johnson or Smith to pair with Trouba, yeah then I am not happy, but I still don't think we needed to give Fast 2 mill to play on the 4th line. We have plenty of kids to fill that role. But I want to see Gorton improve the D at the very least, otherwise as I mentioned earlier, he may just be punting on this upcoming season, and hoping for the best from Smith/Johnson, until he has more flexibility next offseason.
This is one I think I'll be in the minority on. Fast is a nice 4th line role player, and 2 mill certainly is crazy at all (even if I don't love 3 years), but at days end I don't think he moves the needle one way or the other. Bigger fish to fry IMO. If we do nothing else yeah I won't love it, but if that gives Gorton even a little more flexibility to handle other business I am totally fine with it.
I don't think they're going to add anyone else unless there's a trade, so cap space wouldn't have been any issue with Fast. Surprising he only got that, or simply wanted to go to an instant top 5 team in the league and leave a little on the table. I think the Rangers are banking that Miller will be ready at least halfway through the season.
I don't disagree that I expected he'd get more, I was thinking 2.5-3 per, but I won't lose sleep over him going. On top of the little extra flexibility, it also keeps a spot open for a kid, which I think is also a good thing, especially for 3 years. Agreed a trade is the most likely route to improve, if Gorton is looking to improve, but that doesn't mean cap space wouldn't come into play (doesn't have to be a trade for even AAV's). With that said, at days end I think we clearly could have afforded 2 mill per for Fast if we wanted to, but the extra flexibility, opening a spot for a kid, not loving 3 years, and he is a nice role player but certainly not a needle mover make this not a huge deal to me.
They should sign DiGiseuppe for 2y and play him just enough to expose him. I think he's a decent player for 1m.
With Fast gone now following Henrik and Staal out the door, we’re down to just 1 guy left from the Stanley Cup final roster. That’s pretty incredible.
If Johnson ends up as the 7th dman, I am fine with that on a 1-year deal for 1.15 mill (which almost fully can be buried in the minors if needed). If the plan is to pair him with Trouba, yeah then I have an issue (or put Smith with Trouba for that matter). Hopefully Gorton has something cooking.
Gorton on why it didn’t work out to bring Jesper Fast back. Gorton said “term was a big issue for us going forward.” Mentioned all the young wingers they have in the organization. Gorton also said they spoke to his agent “a number of times” to discuss options.
At least won't have to watch one of quinns toys fast playing on the 1st and 2nd lines instead of someone like kakko. Next quinn toy that needs to go is howden
Howden might take the 2 way player step like Dubinsky, Anisimov and Callahan did. Remember he never played in the AHL. He could make a jump