Islanders Head Home

It is now official, the New York Islanders will play this season’s playoffs and all of next season at the Old Barn. It look’s like the days of the offside scoreboard in Brooklyn have ended.

Two Big UFA D-Men

Alex Pietrangelo (STL) and Torey Krug (BOS) were not traded at the deadline which is always a risk that they can walk away for nothing. Should their respective teams fail to sign them by the draft, expect their rights to be moved for picks.

LeBrun expects whatever offers Pietrangelo and Krug receive from their respective teams will be less than what they can get on the open market on July 1. He thinks the Blues could offer Pietrangelo something comparable to the eight-year, $64-million contract John Carlson signed with the Washington Capitals. The Bruins, meanwhile, could be reluctant to pay Krug more than teammates David Pastrnak ($6.6 million AAV) and Patrice Bergeron ($6.875 million).

Spector’s Hockey

Top 3 UFA’s

We will be talking about Free Agency a lot going forward as well as the draft. Here are 3 UFA’s that will be the prizes of the summer:

• Taylor Hall – this C/LW will be the top prize of Free Agent Frenzy if he gets there. During the trade deadline Pierre Lebrun mentioned that the Coyotes were working hard on a new deal and it is likely to get done. Well, until it is signed he will be at the top of the list. Now who can afford the expected $10-11M price tag?
• Tyson Barrie – His name popped up late during the trade deadline and it looks like Toronto is going to move on from what could be an $8M asking price. Defensive issues aside he can score 50 points with his eyes closed. Right-handed defensemen are always at a premium.
• Mike Hoffman – is an interesting forward who has a bit of a bad reputation (fair or unfair) dating back to his time in Ottawa. The guy can score goals and I assure you someone will give up a decent pick to get his rights early to negotiate for their goal starved club. I can totally see the Islanders in on Hoffman.

Mike Hoffman on Insider Trading

On TSN’s latest Insider Trading, Pierre Lebrun brought up Florida’s Mike Hoffman as possible trade bait. Apparently the Panthers asked for his no trade list in December and teams are asking for him. The 30 year old forward has 19 goals and 42 points in 52 games this season. Hoffman is a rental being a UFA this summer, and if the Panthers do decide to trade him, it could impact the return for the Rangers on Chris Kreider.

Leafs and Rangers

Yesterday, I wrote how a deal between the Leafs and Rangers for Georgiev just makes too much sense. Well last night Toronto’s AHL affiliate scratched Jeremy Bracco, a LI native rumored to be part of a deal for Georgiev.

So is a deal in the works? Georgiev is not playing tonight unless he is…for Toronto. The deal could come today or after the game.

Changes in Buffalo

Something has got to give for Jack Eichel and the Sabres. They came into this season thinking they would contend for the playoffs and are out of it again. With 6 UFA’s they probably will be selling off as rentals for prospects and picks. I’m just not sure how that is going to change things fast enough unless they make some hockey trades. They could be the most interesting players at the deadline.

Moving in Montreal

Max Domi is a name I didn’t expect to hear this season in trade rumors but still persists. At 24 years old and with 36 points in 55 games, I just don’t see the Habs trading him because he will be an RFA. Honestly, Montreal is the rumor capital of the NHL so I just don’t buy it.

Mark this date on your calendar New York Rangers fans: July 1, 2020. The start of free agency in the NHL…AFTER next season.

Why bring it up? Well, we know the likes of Vitali Kravtsov and Igor Shestyorkin could be with the big club next season but we can’t be sure Artemi Panarin will sign as a UFA. So if the Rangers do miss in 2019, who should Jeff Gorton and company have their eyes on?

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

The now-25-year-old has somewhat flown under the radar these last couple years in Edmonton, as any player would if they played with Connor McDavid. The versatile forward is on pace to have a career year across the board this season, which is impressive considering the dumpster fire surrounding the Oilers organization.

This potential pickup by the Rangers would have an immediate impact, as he can play center or the wing and will surely be apart of the power play unit. His 2019-20 cap hit is a firm $6 million, as you could expect a longer-term contract in the summer of 2020 with a small raise in order. At just 27 by the time he becomes a free agent and his play consistently getting better year in and year out, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is an option the Rangers should take a look at come the 2020 offseason.

Mike Hoffman

The consistent winger had a decent amount of success in Ottawa, averaging 58 points per season over the course of four years. After some interesting developments that led to his departure from the Senators organization (no need to go into detail), Hoffman is on pace to set career highs in all categories across the board in his first year with the Florida Panthers.

The top-line forward and power play threat had his name thrown around in some trade rumors this year, but nothing fully developed, which makes you wonder if there’s a character problem surrounding Hoffman. One way or another, the man is an offensive weapon.

The speedster has a taste for the back of the net, as he’s scored over 20 goals in each season since 2014, and will surpass 30 this year. Hoffman has a cap hit a shade over $5 million in 2019-20, and will get a raise when this contract is up, but he’s certainly someone the Rangers could look at to fill a top-six spot in their lineup.

Justin Faulk

A guy who has been linked to the Rangers in the past, the now 26-year-old may be on his way out of Carolina due to the log jam on the back end. Between Justin Faulk, Brett Pesce, Dougie Hamilton, Jacob Slavin, and Calvin de Haan, the Carolina Hurricanes are spending over a quarter of the team entire cap on these five guys.

That might force the hand of the newly-nicknamed “Jerks” to potentially trade or let some of their guys walk. Faulk has solidified himself as a strong defenseman with a decent amount of offensive power, as he’s scored over 30 points in each season since 2013 and one point away from 50 in 2014-15. Faulk is just the type of guy you can see in a Rangers jersey, and he shouldn’t carry an enormous cap hit, either.

Tyson Barrie

The dynamic top-tier defenseman’s contract is up in 2020, but this one will carry more weight. With a current cap hit of $5.5 million, Barrie has only impressed year after year. He’s tallied over 50 points twice in his career and is on pace to do so a third time this year. With his best year coming last season, as he scored 14 goals with 43 assists in 68 games. Although it may be difficult to persuade a guy like Barrie away from the only team he’s played for since coming into the league in 2011, it’s nice to think how Barrie would look on the back end in New York.

Whether any of these guys coming to the Rangers could be a reality, we’ll have to wait and see. But all of these game-changers are consistent players I can see the Rangers taking a look at a year from now.

In speaking with Magnus Nyström of Expressen, Fredrik Claesson reflected on his time in Ottawa, signing with the Blueshirts and more.

As has been well publicized around the NHL, the Ottawa Senators had some locker room issues this past season. Now that he is with the Rangers, Claesson opened up about the effects it had on the Senators locker room. “It touched everyone on the team. It was very unpleasant.” When asked further about the setting in Ottawa, “It was a very weird season. I’ve never been [involved in] anything like that.”

Shifting gears to New York, Claesson said that coming to the Rangers was not a very hard decision. “I think everyone in the league wants to play in New York sometime. I have been there many times, but it will be different to live there. It’s sick.” Claesson went on to say that he is excited to join the Rangers. “The team feels exciting with new coaches and several new players, so everyone starts at zero in training camp, it’s good for me. Then there are several Swedes there, and I and Mika Zibanejad have played together in Djurgården.” Finally, the 25-year-old Swede expressed his excitement about calling MSG his new home. “It’s a cool feeling to play there, it’s like playing at a big theater. So to have it like home, it feels very fun.”

Claesson’s spot in David Quinn’s lineup is not guaranteed with the Rangers already having a solid foundation on their blue line. With Brady Skjei, Marc Staal, and Kevin Shattenkirk already locked in on the Rangers back-end, the Rangers have three spots for a handful of players including Neal Pionk, John Gilmour, Brendan Smith, Anthony DeAngelo, Libor Hajek, Steven Kampfer, and more. If Claesson can prove himself in training camp, he would be a nice piece in David Quinn’s arsenal.

Editor’s Note: All quotes from Expressen translated with Google Translate and Interglot. To read the original article, click here.

Here are some of the latest rumblings in Rangerstown.

Mike Hoffman To NYC?

According to reports from the Ottawa Citizen, Senators forward Mike Hoffman appears to be available at the draft. According to the author, the Rangers could pick up the forward with just one of their late first-round picks that the team acquired at the trade deadline. If that’s really all it will take for Jeff Gorton to bring in one of the better young snipers in the NHL, he should do it ASAP. Hoffman has been a very consistent player for the Senators, putting up four straight years of 20+ goals and 20+ assists. Adding his talents to this young team would really bolster the Rangers along the wings, and give them an additional scoring threat.

UPDATE:

TRADE:

To #Sharks:
F Mike Hoffman
D Cody Donaghey
5th RD pick 2020

To #Sens:
F Mikkel Boedker
D Julius Bergman
6th RD pick 2020https://t.co/pOmLyOX15A

— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) June 19, 2018

UPDATE #2:

Brendan Smith Working Towards Roster Spot Next Season

After what can only be described as a horrendous season for Brendan Smith on Broadway, reports from Larry Brooks of the NY Post are that Smith is getting himself in shape for next season. With Smith coming into camp on the second-year of his four-year, $17.4 million contract, the Rangers are certainly hoping that this summer will help Smith get back on track.

Back in May, Brooks spoke with Smith’s agent Anton Thun who told the Post; “Last season was like a perfect storm that blew not only him but the Rangers backward. Brendan has only one goal in mind and that is to getting back to being the guy he was his first year with them after the trade. “He will be training and working all summer. He is determined and confident that he can be not only that Brendan Smith again, but a better Brendan Smith.”

Let’s all hope that Smith can “turn back the clock” to the spring of 2017 when he earned himself his current contract.

Former Rangers Forward To Become Head Coach In Minors

Though his time with the Rangers was short-lived, former Blueshirts forward Ryane Clowe is set to become the first head coach of the Newfoundland Growlers of the ECHL, according to reports in The Telegram.

For those who may not remember, Clowe was a hard-nosed forward who was never afraid to do the dirty work. Though that style of play may be going the way of the dodo bird, Clowe’s “never say die attitude” is something that’s always needed, regardless of hockey era.