UPDATE: Ott and Heatley Off The Board, Rangers’ Arbitration Dates Loom Large

Anthony Scultore Updated: Jul 10, 2014

Dany Heatley and Steve Ott are now off the board after Heatley signed a 1 year deal in Anaheim. The former 50 goal scorer inked a deal for just 1 million dollars. Meanwhile, the St. Louis Blues retained Ott’s services for 2 years. So, why weren’t the Rangers in on them? As of right now, no one knows that for sure.

In his press conference, Heatley did mention having played with “Getzy” (Ryan Getzlaf) before and looking forward to playing with him again. In addition, he cited that the knock on him is that he has lost his speed. If that’s the case, maybe that is why the Rangers didn’t look his way. Alain Vigneault’s system requires good foot speed, but at 1 year and 1 million it would have been a low risk move.

Follow the link for Heatley’s full Q&A session with reporters: https://t.co/JaQDTe1wAn

— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) July 9, 2014

Steve Ott, who may have fit on a 3rd or 4th line in NY opted to remain with the Blues. Yet, we didn’t hear if the Rangers were snooping around.

The Blues have re-signed Steve Ott (@OtterN9ne) to a two-year contract. >>> https://t.co/e4v8uqkvpX #stlblues pic.twitter.com/8v0brPaEWZ

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) July 10, 2014

The issue hampering the Rangers right now are three arbitration hearings hanging over their heads.

NYR arbitration sked: Derick Brassard – July 28, 2014 Chris Kreider – July 23, 2014 Mats Zuccarello – July 25, 2014

— Rangers Report (@rangersreport) July 9, 2014

$14,000,000 in cap space hangs in the balance and the Rangers are really handcuffed to offer anyone out there anything. Glen Sather simply can’t take the risk of being short on cash if Zuccarello, Brassard and Kreider win big cases.

The hope is that Rangers’ management and the camps of the RFA’s can hammer out deals quickly. Sather needs to know what money he has left to find one more veteran player to fill the hole left by Pouliot.

If the Rangers can’t get it done before the end of this month, anyone left on the list worth having will be gone.