Three potential buyout candidates the Rangers could sign on the cheap to help
The theme of the week, if you haven’t noticed, is buyouts. We have mostly focused on the Rangers buyout candidates and how they can get creative. Now we are going to flip the script and look at who may be bought out that Jeff Gorton can sign to a one year deal on the cheap.
David Backes, Anaheim Ducks (Center, 36 years-old)
The Rangers got bounced with very little push back, they need to add some more grizzle to their sizzle. If the Ducks opt to buyout David Backes, Jeff Gorton could likely sign him to a one year deal at around $1 million. If it doesn’t work out, he could get sent down to the AHL and the cap hit would be miniscule.
Signing him would be for nothing more than 4th line depth and his presence in the locker room. He could help a lot of the young players with his veteran leadership. That is of course if he can stay healthy, which is unlikely. Backes has only played in 22 games last season.
Kyle Turris, Nashville Predators (Center, 31 years-old)
If the Predators opt to buyout Kyle Turris, the Rangers could give him a look on a one or two year deal. Obviously, the salary has to be at or under $2 million to make it palatable. However, he is decent on face-offs, and has a career CF% of 51 (playing on some bad teams too). He’d make a nice third line center for a team looking to improve down the middle.
Turris notched 9 goals in and 31 points in 62 games last season. He has 50 point potential, and that could benefit young wingers like Vitali Kravtsov, Brendan Lemieux, or Julien Gauthier.
Olli Maatta, Chicago Blackhawks (Left Defense, 26 years-old)
The Hawks need to free up cap space badly. One possibility is they could buyout Olli Maatta. The left-handed defender would be an interesting bargain on the open market. Jeff Gorton and the Rangers would be foolish not to look at someone so young and talented.
Unfortunately, there could be way too many suitors. Even if it isn’t prohibitive to the cap, someone will give him more years than the Rangers would be willing to. Nonetheless, an interesting possibility.
New York Rangers Important Read
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