Here are the latest rumblings around Rangerstown.

Vladislav Namestnikov

The Rangers didn’t make a lot of noise on the first day of NHL free agency, but they did re-sign C/W Vladislav Namestnikov to a two-year deal.

The Rangers are hoping that Namestnikov can regain the level of play he had while in Tampa. Granted that he was playing on the same line as Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov, but he does have the talent to last in the NHL.

Fredrik Claesson

The Rangers made one UFA acquisition yesterday, signing former Senators defenseman Fredrik Claesson to a one-year deal. Claesson is a stay at home blue-liner that saw time playing alongside all-star defenseman Erik Karlsson.

This is a low-risk move by Gorton with the Rangers blue-line uncertain coming into training camp. Aside from Kevin Shattenkirk, Brady Skjei, and Marc Staal, the opening night defense corps is up in the air. Will Neal Pionk, Tony DeAngelo, or John Gilmour be able to extend their stay on Broadway? Will Brendan Smith have a good camp and get back to MSG? Time will tell, but bringing Claesson aboard gives the Rangers another NHL-level defenseman.

Rangers Alumni On The Move

There was plenty of action yesterday involving former Rangers heading to a new club for the 2018-19 season.

Michael Grabner, who the Rangers traded to the Devils at the deadline, signed a three-year contract with the Coyotes. Former Rangers teammate, and now current teammate, Derek Stepan welcomed Grabner in the most hockey way possible; by chirping him.

https://twitter.com/DerekStepan21/status/1013510871409184768

Former Rangers blue-liner John Moore signed a five-year contract with the Boston Bruins. A mobile defenseman, Moore will give the Bruins another great skating defenseman who knows how and when to jump into the play.

Adam Clendening, who spent 31 games on the ice for the Blueshirts, was signed by the Columbus Blue Jackets. Clendening’s roster spot won’t be guaranteed for John Tortorella’s club, but he could crack the opening night lineup as the team’s sixth defenseman.

Paul Carey was signed by the Senators after spending last season with the Rangers. Carey was a solid fourth-liner last-year and will bring hard work and consistency to Ottawa, even if they thought he was a defenseman.

The Penguins are bringing back Matt Cullen who, once upon a time, spent a season with the Rangers.

Aside from signing John Tavares, the Maple Leafs signed two former Rangers in Josh Jooris and Adam Cracknell. Neither player spent much time with the Blueshirts, but as they say: “once a Ranger, always a Ranger.”

Finally, the Vegas Golden Knights signed defenseman Nick Holden to a two-year deal. Holden started off well with the Rangers back in 2016, but his play declined significantly and he became an asset that needed to be moved. Vegas also brought back Brandon Pirri on a one-year deal.

In non-NHL signings, David Desharnais has signed with KHL club Lokomotiv. There had been rumors that Desharnais was heading over to the KHL when the Rangers season ended, and now it is official.

NHL Free Agency is only a month away and this summer’s market seems to be a hot one, with players like John Tavares, John Carlson, James van Riemsdyk and James Neal, among others. There are a few former Rangers out there that can be potential candidates for a reunion to New York.

John Moore, Defenseman

This may be outrageous, but it may not be such a bad idea to bring back John Moore. One of the names that went underappreciated during his time here, Moore contributed to a stellar defensive corps that led the Rangers to the Stanley Cup Final in 2014. Paired with Kevin Klein, John Moore was solid in his third line pairing in his time here. Moore was shipped along with Anthony Duclair to Arizona for Keith Yandle.

Moore then signed with New Jersey and solidified himself as a stay at home, slick skating defenseman and contributed to last season’s Devils’ playoff appearance. Although he has stated he would prefer to stay in Jersey, Moore is 27 years old and would provide a stable presence in the back end for the influx of youth this team is incorporating, so if the deal is right, I’m sure he wouldn’t turn it down. Moore is an excellent skater and has vastly improved his defensive abilities, which make him a prime target for a reunion in blue.

Rick Nash, Forward

I am not against a Rick Nash reunion by any means, but personally, I wouldn’t want him to return. Although, if the Rangers are looking for some veteran presence on a discount, I would not be upset if they signed Nash to fill out a bottom six line role. Nash still has a ton of talent to keep up with today’s game, but his age and current skill set has him suited for a more defensive, 2-way role. He can still score with the best of them, but is not the forward he used to be. If the Rangers end up bringing Nash back, he will most certainly be on a team friendly deal and as a vet presence to help the youth acclimate to the NHL.

Michael Grabner, Forward

First off, I want to thank the New Jersey Devils for overpaying on Michael Grabner, it’s even better that he was a non factor for New Jersey, which all but cheapens his value on the market and opens the door even wider for a Rangers return. Before he was dealt, Grabner was the leading scorer for New York and was a top penalty killer for this team. His arrival at the beginning of the previous campaign gave the Rangers the speedy player they sorely missed after losing Carl Hagelin.

Re-signing Grabner would almost certainly help this team in the short run, adding a veteran presence as well as top end speed in a penalty killing role and the eventual goal here and there solely based off his speed.

Dominic Moore, Center

Having done two terms with New York, and the second being his most successful, possibly tossing Dominic Moore a flyer for either a PTO or a one season contract may not be the worst idea. If the Rangers are looking for someone to take faceoffs or fill out a fourth line center role, or potentially a depth role, maybe a reunion wouldn’t be the worst idea. Lets not forget this team did sign Maxim Lapierre, Adam Cracknell, Andrew Desardins and Peter Holland to contracts, so if flyers were thrown to them, I wouldn’t see the hurt in possibly inviting Moore to camp to either fight for a spot, or use his signing to light a fire under a younger player to solidify a spot.

Benoit Pouliot, Forward

I know it seems like I’m going off a trend here, but this is pure coincidence that most of the players mentioned here were all part of the 2013-14 Rangers. The same can be said for Benoit Pouliot. Benny has bounced around from Edmonton to Buffalo after his stint with New York and a reunion wouldn’t be the worst idea.

Although he is older, he still possesses NHL level skill and has familiarity with Mats Zuccarello. The line of Brassard-Pouliot-Zuccarello was arguably one of the better lines the Rangers have boasted in some time, and possibly, by bringing back Benny on a short term deal or a PTO, could potentially spark some kind of fire on the Rangers depth chart. The Rangers are looking for veteran players and are also looking to be cost effective during this time of change.

Lee Stempniak, Forward

I always maintained the thought that Lee Stempniak got a raw deal as a New York Ranger. Signed after Pouliot went to Edmonton, Stempniak was brought in to fill the depth role as a bottom six scorer, but did not live up to that, primarily due to Alain Vigneault crushing on Tanner Glass and his intangibles. Stempniak was able to fill out roles with Winnipeg, Boston, New Jersey and Carolina as a bottom six, depth scorer.

Even if it’s a PTO or a one year deal, signing Stempniak would ensure the Rangers have options and a short term deal would not get in the way of any one young forward’s development, as a player like him would be expendable, but helpful, as you can never have too much depth.

Conclusion

The Rangers are dead set on a change, but they’ve maintained that this rebuild or retool won’t be just throwing the young kids into the pit and seeing what happens. The team wants to surround the youth with veteran leadership and many of the players above, who are former Rangers, can help assist with this development, alongside coach David Quinn. From having already played for New York, whether it was long term or short term, their experiences will almost certainly help out the budding youth this team is boasting. If anyone can help push these kids into becoming solid NHL players, why not?

In 2014-15, Klein’s first full season on Broadway, he set career marks in offensive production. His 9 goals & 26 points were season-highs (despite missing 17 games at the end of the season with a broken arm after blocking an Alex Ovechkin shot). Additionally, with the injury problems of Dan Boyle & Ryan McDonagh earlier in the season, Klein played considerably more minutes than his previous season. He played a lot on the 2nd pairing with Marc Staal, and even played mostly with Keith Yandle upon his acquisition from Arizona (for John Moore) before breaking his arm.

During last summer, salary cap considerations sparked rumor of Klein’s possible departure from the organization, despite his monster year. In fact, I wrote that one of Klein or Carl Hagelin would probably be traded as to keep the team cap-compliant for the 2015-16 season. Of course, shortly after, Hagelin was traded to Anaheim for Emerson Etem & draft picks.

However, even as the 2015-16 season came closer to fruition, talk of Klein being trade fodder continued to ember. Why? Let’s look at the contracts:

Of the Top-6 defensemen, only Klen and Ryan McDonagh can be traded without worry of No-Trade nor No-Movement clauses, requiring the player to consent to a trade. And with McDonagh highly unlikely to be moved, being team captain, a tremendous defenseman with his best years ahead of him (he’s only 26!)… Klein became the de-facto defenseman to be moved, should a deal materialize.

Of course, one never did.

A weak pre-season game in September (paired with Staal) only exacerbated the idea of trading Klein. And yet, as we enter November, Klein has reaffirmed his positioning as one of the top-contributing defensemen for the club.

Consider the following:

Prior to this season, Klein had played 135 games as a NY Ranger. In only 3 of those 135 games did Klein log more minutes than any other Rangers blueliner. However, he’s accomplished this 3 times in only 11 games this season alone. Klein’s special team icetime has received a healthy dose this season, as he’s averaging 2:13/game in penalty killing time & 0:22/game in power play time. Compare that to Klein’s special teams icetime in his previous seasons:

Option 1:

The clock is ticking for Diaz to rejoin the Rangers, else he may depart to play in Europe, as he stated last month. Diaz has a cap hit that is $2.2 million less than that of Klein’s. So trading Klein and recalling Diaz is an option, if the Rangers are looking to free up more cap space for a future trade this season. Hoever, it seems unlikely that Diaz (or Dylan McIlrath, for that matter) can replace Klein’s immediate production & icetime.

Option 2:

Keep Klein as is, and if more cap space is needed, the Rangers move a forward in some other deal. Let Diaz defect to Europe if he chooses to, and maintain McIlrath & Brady Skjei as the 7th & 8th blueliners on the NYR depth chart.

Option 3:

Trade Klein for a similar defenseman (one who could staple a 3rd pair securely for a lesser cap hit than Klein’s $2.9 million) after an ultimate compilation of trade(s). While Klein’s trade value is perhaps the highest its ever been in his career, deals like this are still often easier imagined than executed.

My take:

I’ve consistently held this mindset regarding Klein… While he is the easiest of the top-6 defensemen to trade, I’ve maintained keeping him. Here’s why:

While Klein is (perhaps) an ideal 3rd pair rearguard, his cap hit is a bit steep for that role. However, unlike Diaz or McIlrath, Klein has demonstrated value in being able to play the 2nd pair in case of injury in the top-4. So with that context, $2.9 million seems like a reasonable price for Klein’s expected production.

Let’s look at Klein under PSAM, a wonderful salary-comparative tool developed by Josh Khalfin to sample a player’s cap hit versus others’ in terms of value, performance & bargain-rate. Klein’s data is in pink, accounting for 4.06% of the salary cap. Dark grey is data for those ranging from 3 to 3.99%, and light grey is the 4 to 4.99% range.

Conclusion:

Many Rangers fans were shrugging their shoulders when Klein was acquired, unsure of whether or not to be happy about the deal. He was solid for the 2014 Cup run, quietly proficient on the 3rd pair. Last season his elevated play in the face of other defensive injuries quickly made him a fan favorite, only to be put on the proverbial trade block over the summer for contractual reasons.

Yet he remains, finding himself playing tough minutes with McDonagh, contributing offensively and exceeding his already-economical bargain. He’s met expectations, and then some, and I wouldn’t speculate the Rangers are desperate to revamp the defense corps on his account.

Steve Zipay is reporting Klein is now being tried on the 2nd Power Play Unit in practice. Klein’s success in New York may have yet to peak, but even if he has hit his Broadway ceiling, it’s been unimpeachably well-deserved.

P.S.:

I would be remiss to leave out one particular anecdote about Klein during his tenure on Broadway in this article; on December 8th, 2014 Klein lost part of his ear during a game, had it partially re-attached, and returned to score the game-winning goal. Is it any wonder why fans have, for better or worse, come to love this guy?

It’s once again Trade Deadline time in the NHL, and that means New York Rangers General Manager Glen Sather has been busy.

Sather, who’s been notable throughout the league for his yearly moves at the deadline, did his part in shoring up the Blueshirts for another deep post-season run on Sunday, adding defenseman Keith Yandle from Arizona, and winger James Sheppard from San Jose.

In Yandle, the Rangers add an elite defenseman and champion on the power play, a move that cost New York a hefty preimum.  The Rangers sent highly touted forward prospect Anthony Duclair, defenseman John Moore, and 1st and 2nd round picks in 2016 and 2015 respectively to Arizona in exchange for Yandle and low-level defenseman Chris Summers.  Arizona will retain half of Yandle’s $5.25 million AAV salary, leaving the Rangers with a $2.625 million cap hit.

There’s no question that the Rangers are firmly in “win now” mode.  Their Stanley Cup window is open for this year and the next, and as a result, they’ve pushed all of their chips to the center of the table.  In trading Duclair, who was a third round pick in 2013 for the Rangers and a sure fire 20-25 goal scoring power forward, they’ve certainly mortgaged their future for the present.

A 28 year-old left-handed shot, Yandle is most certainly an offensive defenseman in every sense.  And while his defensive numbers aren’t staggering by any means, his addition addresses two glaring needs for the Rangers: an answer for the rotating door on defense between Matt Hunwick and John Moore, and a quarterback on the powerplay, as evidenced below.  For reference, Yandle is represented by the circular blue dot.

Yandle, who played a huge role on an Arizona powerplay unit that ranks 5th in the NHL (21.6%), will be a welcome addition to the 11th ranked Rangers powerplay (18.8%) that has historically struggled.  The Rangers managed a dreadful 12.6% powerplay last year, a number that contributed greatly to their five game demise against the Los Angeles Kings in last year’s Stanley Cup Final.

His 41 points this year are 10th amongst NHL defensemen, while his 26 powerplay points are highest in the league in that same category.  Yandle’s possession numbers are also encouraging, as he’s 2nd amongst defensemen with a 14.16 individual corsi/60 (min. 1000 minutes).  His 23:24 average time on ice should see a decrease, as he’ll more often than not be deployed on the Rangers second and third pairings.  Yandle primarily faced the opposition’s second tier in Arizona and that should remain the same in New York.

Yandle serves as more than just a rental for the Rangers, as he’s signed through 2016 on his current deal.  The fact that Sather was able to convince Arizona to retain half of his salary is nothing short of brilliance.  The move not only brought Yandle to New York, but also allowed the Rangers to re-sign impending UFA Mats Zuccarello late Sunday night.

Which means plenty more of this:

Much to the relief of Rangers fans everywhere.

In addition to Yandle, Sather was able to add a solid bottom six forward, acquiring winger James Sheppard from San Jose in exchange for a 2016 4th round pick.  Sheppard will most likely replace Lee Stempniak on the Rangers 4th line, as Stempniak was shipped off to Winnipeg on Sunday night.

Offensively, Sheppard is an albatross, registering only one point thus far in February.  His five goal total is certainly right in line with that of a 4th line grinder.  Defensively, however, it’s another story entirely.

Sheppard has also shown the ability to create turnovers.  Here, he’s compared to the rest of the Rangers bottom-six in regards to takeaways, with the solid blue dot representing Sheppard:

Sheppard and his potential linemates Dom Moore and Jesper Fast could create one of the most formidable shut down lines in all of the NHL, and I believe this will end up being one of the better value trades down the stretch.  Sheppard will provide defensive stability in the bottom-six, and while his offensive numbers are nothing to write home about, his defensive contributions should keep him firmly entrenched in the lineup.

While these moves go a long way in solidifying an already successful Rangers team, questions still remain.  Will Henrik Lundqvist return at 100%?  Will Tanner Glass keep getting ice time?  Is the acquisition of Yandle the final piece of a championship winning puzzle?  It’s too early for most of us to tell, but Glen Sather seems to think so.  The Rangers have moved all-in on the 2015 season, and for the sake of sanity, lets hope the gamble pays off.

The details of the deal are now out and Dan Girardi is not involved. The deal per Nick Kypreos is John Moore, Anthony Duclair and multiple draft picks for Keith Yandle.

Apologies to Girardi. Told he is now not expected in the deal. It’s Moore , Duclair and mult’draft picks. #NHLtrade. #Rangers #Coyotes.

— Nick Kypreos (@RealKyper) March 1, 2015

This is a GO FOR THE CUP move by Slats. There is no ifs ands or buts about it. Declair will be a star, but a defense of Yandle, McDonagh, Staal, Girardi, Klein and Boyle is literally a game changer for the playoffs.

If the Rangers can re-sign Zuccarello and a depth forward this could be the biggest coup of the NHL trade deadline.

A recent report from the Toronto Sun’s Rob Longley states:

[su_quote cite=”Toronto Sun” url=”https://www.torontosun.com/2015/02/27/so-far-so-good-for-maple-leafs-gm-dave-nonis”]It will take a willing partner, of course, but as the deadline nears, whispers get louder that the Leafs are attracting interest in big names. The Rangers, we keep hearing, are poking around, wondering what it would take to secure centre Tyler Bozak. The Los Angeles Kings, as has been rumbling for a few weeks now, are keen on Dion Phaneuf.[/su_quote]

So why Bozak? It’s simple and we explained it here, but with the number of teams in on Antoine Vermette now and the likelihood they will get their asking price starting with a first round pick, the Rangers are probably out. Our money is on Vermette landing in Chicago which we are hearing a ton of noise from.

We have discussed plenty of targets and in the process mentioned some bargaining chips heading the other way. John Moore is simply one of the top 3 chips the Rangers have. Brett Crygalis confirmed it in bold print yesterday.

[su_quote cite=”NY POST” url=”https://nypost.com/2015/02/27/rangers-shopping-ultra-talented-but-frustrating-defenseman/”]John Moore said he’s not paying attention, because that’s what they all say. But the Rangers defenseman is keenly aware his name is being batted around in trade rumors as Monday’s 3 p.m. deadline approaches, and he has a pretty healthy perspective.[/su_quote]

At the young age of 24, Moore and his minuscule cap hit of $851,000 are extremely attractive, especially to teams looking to rebuild their blueline. He is a RFA at the end of the season, so retaining him won’t be that difficult. Toss in the fact that he’s already experienced a long playoff run to the Cup and I assure you, he is a sought after commodity.

We continue to monitor every medium out there to bring you the latest info we can find…so make sure to check back often.

This morning, Steve Zipay of Newsday was on NHL Network Radio’s Hockey This AM to talk about the Rangers.

Are the Rangers Better?

When asked if the Rangers were a better team than last year’s Cup finalist team, Zipay indicated that “record wise they are,” but continued with “there are still holes and flaws.”

Zipay discussed how as well as the defense was playing earlier in the year, since they’ve come out of the break “they’ve been a little disorganized and sloppy”. His feelings are that they will come around as each team goes through swings during a year.

The biggest issue with the team? According to Zipay, “they need help at center.” He discussed Kevin Hayes and explained how he and everyone “loves his game but he is not a center.” This a major topic I’ve been discussing for months and Zipay hit on almost all my points.

Zipay believes that Hayes made a name for himself as a winger in college and that is where he will end up. He noted Hayes’ inability to win draws and how that is impacting the Rangers possession numbers.

READ: RANGERS MUST MOVE KEVIN HAYES TO WING

Are the Rangers Going to Deal?

“They don’t have a lot of cap space,” Zipay told host Mike Ross. Zipay estimated a window of about $1.5 – 2M and believes they will “wait at least a couple of weeks before making a move.”

Zipay also mentioned that Don Maloney was in the building last night and acknowledged something is very likely to happen there. He discussed Antoine Vermette as a possibility but thinks his price will be too high.

“Martin Hanzal is a guy I like.” Zipay cited his size and ability to win draws at a rate of 55% as reasons why. Zipay feels that Hanzal makes more sense since he is signed through 2017 and a package including either “JT Miller or John Moore” could get it done. He finished his thought by saying Hanzal would be a “perfect fit on the 3rd line.”

Steve did not mention Mats Zuccarello or Martin St. Louis’ in any trade talks.

Note: Rangers have placed Ryan Malone on unconditional waivers, for more head to FTHN.

Rangers place Ryan Malone on unconditional waivers, are they preparing to make a move? – https://t.co/htIRrkWY14 pic.twitter.com/fu0iEo12KI

— FT Hockey Network (@TheFTHNetwork) February 3, 2015

We are almost a month away from the NHL’s version of Christmas in March, as the Trade Deadline is fast approaching. As more teams realize they will be sellers and not buyers, the action has begun to heat up.

The Rangers are obvious buyers at the deadline and with trade chips to play with it could be a wild ride come March 2nd.

Blueshirt Trade Chip, John Moore

John Moore has gone from promising young defender to platoon mate with Matt Hunwick. Larry Brooks believes that he may be showcased in February to land a rental defenseman for the playoffs. Ottawa’s Marc Methot, Carolina’s Andrej Sekera or Colorado’s Jan Hejda are three names Brooks stated the Rangers are looking at.

Lyle Richardson of SPECTOR’S HOCKEY noted that Hejda is off the table now that Erik Johnsson will miss several weeks with a knee injury. It should also be noted that Andrej Sekera camp and the Canes have not met yet to discuss staying, further fueling the fire that he will be traded.

The Kings, Red Wings, Penguins and Ducks have already asked about Sekera.

Looking For a Middle Man

Per TSN’s Bob McKenzie, Coyotes Antoine Vermette is one of the hottest commodities out there with top contenders knocking on Don Maloney’s door. The Rangers have been linked to his name for several weeks now. Of course, other contenders like the Ducks, Blackhawks, Avalanche, Canadiens and Blues are vying for his services as well.

The Arizona Republic has recently reported that GM, Don Maloney is not looking for a rebuild but more of a retooling. He also stated everyone is available except Shane Doan. Now before anyone cries for Sather to acquire Oliver Ekman-Larsson, just realize the ransom an NHL team would have to give for a 23 year old future Norris winner would be insane.

As for Vermette’s asking price? TSN’s Darren Dreger said on radio that Maloney is seeking a 1st round pick, a prospect and/ or a current NHL ready player. We believe the Rangers have those bargaining chips in Mats Zuccarello and/or JT Miller.

Of course, trading JT Miller for a 32 year old center looking for a 5 million plus deal come July is a hell of a price to pay for a possible rental.

Another and far cheaper option is Toronto Maple Leafs, Mike Santorelli. Darren Dreger said about the Rangers, “they’re looking for a center-man and there might be a Leaf connection here.” This is the point where he brings up Mike Santorelli and the fact that the Blueshirts tried to sign him in the offseason. NY would lose out to Toronto who obtained his services for $1.5M thanks to the Rangers having limited cap space left.

If the Rangers miss out on Vermette, expect Santorelli to be plan B.

The Rangers had an excellent 2014. It began by gelling as a team in January to winning 9 out of their final 10 games in December. In the middle of that was the trading of captain Ryan Callahan for Marty St. Louis and an incredible run to the Stanley Cup Final.

Now we turn the page on the calendar and realize that there is still a lot of work to do in the next few months. In the heat of making a run for the playoffs the Rangers need to solidify their lineup. Who stays, who goes and what will it all mean for this season and the future? Let’s dive head in and see what’s going on.

Marc Staal’s and Mats Zuccarello’s Contracts are like Deja Vu all over again

Just like the situations last year with Dan Girardi and Ryan Callahan, Marc Staal and Mats Zuccarello are both going to be UFA’s come July. We’ve learned that as Sather has gotten older, he’s become distinctly more stingy when it comes to contracts. He’s also really stubborn about the not losing certain valuable players for nothing.

Last year, Ryan Callahan was demanding nearly 7 million a season at one point. By the time Callahan lowered his demands, Marty St. Louis was already on his way to NY. Fortuantely, Dan Girardi signed before the deadline and avoided a potential trade to the Anaheim Ducks who made some serious inquiries about his availability.

Now, Marc Staal is feeling the pressure and wants to avoid the same stresses his friends experienced last year. He’s just 11 days from his 28th birthday and has been clear about his desire to remain a Ranger. “I’m sure both sides don’t want it to get to that point,” Staal was quoted in the NYDN. “So hopefully it happens sooner rather than later.”

As for Mats Zuccarello, his game has come on of late and is now the leading NHL scorer in Norwegian history. Zucc passed Espen Knutsen when he recorded his 112th point but he has to be thinking about his future in Rangers Blue.

Zuccarello’s agent, Craig Oster has stated that nothing new is imminent as recently as this past Tuesday. However, Mats doesn’t seem to be worried. “It hasn’t been bugging me,” Zuccarello told the NYDN. Following the script that most in his situation do he said, “it’s out of my control.”

Decisions, Decisions

So what happens now? Your guess is as good as mine, but you have to wonder if Sather can afford to pay both. There are other Rangers that are also up for new contracts, starting with Marty St. Louis.

You have to figure MSL is going to be willing to take a more incentive laden contract in order to keep the cap hit down for the Rangers. Still, if the cap ceiling doesn’t reach the last expected number of $71-$73 million, NY could be in a ton of trouble.

What will the Rangers do with Anthony Duclair? He will be returning next week after the World Junior’s are over. This will certainly drive some nuts, but sending him back to the QMJHL seems like the logical choice at his age of 19.

Right now, Duclair’s contract is not being counted against the cap. That means someone will have to go down if they decide to keep him here. So who will that be? Your choices are likely JT Miller and Jesper Fast. Neither of them should be sent down and fit their 3rd and 4th line roles perfectly.

If you recall, AV said if Duclair couldn’t crack the top 9 he wouldn’t be here. The writing is on the wall this year, but next season Duclair will be penned into the roster and never leave.

Time to Pay the Piper

The Rangers are less than $500k from the $69 million ceiling. If it only raises by 2 million, you can expect a large chunk of that going to RFA to be, Derek Stepan. At this rate, a salary of close to 6-7 million is almost a given.

Carl Hagelin will also be up for a new contract as an RFA. He currently makes an AAV on the cap of 2.250 million, that number is sure to reach 3.5 or more. Just to make things more interesting and difficult, JT Miller, Jesper Fast and John Moore are RFA’s.

You would think that John Moore is playing himself off Broadway, but you can never be sure. Matt Hunwick who has replaced him at times is a UFA come July and may have played himself to much more than the 600K he makes today.

The Rangers need to find out if they can re-sign him now before they make a decision on J. Moore’s future.

Last Days on Broadway

The previously mentioned John Moore is certainly a possibility to either be on the move at the trade deadline, but another Ranger is almost definitely a goner. Lee Stempniak is slowly but surely being pushed out of the lineup. He will be a UFA come July as well and it is apparent the Rangers will not be keeping him past this season.

The emergence of Jesper Fast and the resurgence of JT Miller have made Stempniak expendable. Tanner Glass‘ contract is undesirable to any other team, and Alain Vigneault likes the “toughness” factor he brings against certain teams. So don’t count on Glass going anywhere, not even Hartford.

Of course, we come back to the big two names that started this conversation – Marc Staal and Mats Zuccarello. Staal’s hit is 3.975 and Zuccarello makes 3.5 AAV to the cap. If Derek Stepan gets another 3 and if Staal and Zucc combine for an additional 4, where are the Rangers finding this additional 7 million in cap space if the ceiling only raises by 2-4 million?

Change is Coming

It’s hard to predict what Glen Sather and company can or will do but as Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet recently said, “team is tight to cap, with several important decisions to make.” A quick look at the Rangers depth chart on defense shows, aside from maybe Conor Allen in Hartford, no one is ready to take on Staal’s role on the 2nd pairing.

Kevin Klein could possibly move up, but a 3rd pairing of say Hunwick and Allen is far from desirable if you want to win a Cup. Which really puts the onus on what to do with Mats Zuccarello and to a lesser extent, Carl Hagelin.

Can the Rangers keep them all? Yes, but at who’s expense? The numbers simply aren’t adding up and it’s starting to look like one of those two fan favorites won’t be here at the deadline or next season.

The NHL rumor mill is all abuzz with Oilers LW, Taylor Hall’s name on the trade block. Apparently, in an effort to clean house and change culture in Edmonton – they are looking to move the 23 year winger because he is “un-coachable”.

As per Puck Daddy blog:

Darren Dreger offered this informed speculation on TSN Radio in Toronto on Monday, hours after Edmonton Oilers coach Dallas Eakins was relieved of his duties. In speaking about the Oilers’ culture, he said:

“It’s not one player. It’s the collection of players that make up the sagging work ethic and lack of culture. But if you had to put a face on it, or a name to it, that name would be Taylor Hall.

“Taylor Hall, at least from a culture standpoint, in the room not on the ice, hasn’t been what they hoped he would be. So when [GM Craig] MacTavish looks into his crystal ball and sees what’s coming his way through trades, he’s gotta be looking at the trade deadline and then beyond that looking at the draft floor.

So let’s get down to brass tacks here. Taylor Hall is 23 years old, weighs in at 6’1″ and over 200 pounds. He has size, speed and skill to the the tune of 80 points in 75 games last season. Taylor is also in the 2nd year of a 7 year contract that will pay him 6 million a season. Looking down the road, that contract is a bargain.

Should the Rangers go after him? Does the sun rise in the east and set in the west? Is water wet and fire hot? You get my point – the answer is YES.

Of course, the Rangers aren’t the only one looking, but they may have the piece the Oilers are looking for. Unrestricted free agent to be, Marc Staal. The big defenseman is exactly the type of player on defense the Oilers want. The fact that he will be a UFA would not deter them either. If Staal really is looking for 6 million plus, the Oilers will gladly give it to him. However, the Oilers we need some assurance that he would sign and that’s where it would get muddy.

Another possibility is a package deal. Say Mats Zuccarello and John Moore, who add up to approximately 5 million in salary. Zuccarello is also a UFA to be, and is the type of heart and  soul player the Oilers would be looking for. Plus, Zucc would not only get his money from Edmonton, he’d get top line minutes too. Also, don’t discount Benoit Pouliot giving his opinion on said Rangers players, ala Ryan Callahan. The question is, would that even register for Oilers management?

Regardless, the Rangers would likely need to create more wiggle room to accommodate Hall’s 6 million in cap hit for both deals, but an opportunity like this only comes ever so often. The point is, if he really is out there – Glen Sather needs to leave no stone unturned.

Note: There are a ton of rumors and proposals out there. Some are legitimate offers from teams (none of them NYR). Bottom line, Taylor Hall is an incredible young talent and one that the Oilers will want a boatload for.

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