Salary Cap: 2014/2015 New York Rangers roster & salary cap

[Ail]

The Rangers have been trending upwards as a possession team now for two years. All of the consistently best teams in the league are predominantly in the top 5 of cf% and ff% every season since it has been tracked. The Rangers need to keep building on that and that might mean making decisions on players that would seem otherwise unconventional.

Keeping Stralman and moving Staal? Who would have ever thought that might be advantageous the Rangers? At this point I feel they need to find a way to keep Stralman however they can. Richards leaving is obvious. Continue drafting and grooming big, mobile defensemen. Keep the focus on speedy wingers who can skate and win puck battles, guys like Zucc, Hagelin and Kreider. The bigger the better.

 

[I Eat Crow]

There are going to be a lot of decisions to make in the next two offseasons.

Hopefully Sather retires, having gotten this far this year. Hire Gorton or get on your knees and beg JD to leave Columbus and come home.

Move #1 should absolutely be to buy out Richards. Guy ran out of gas in the conference finals. Simply too much money for him at too long of a term. I don't think anyone thought he would deteriorate this quickly. I didn't.

JT Miller should take his spot. Let him play his natural position. Deal with the growing pains. In fact, I would look to move away from our "Quebecois" 3rd line and have it be more speedy and in your face on the forecheck. Which leads me to my next point...

I've changed my mind on Pouliot. Let him go. He'll cost too much and too much term. He takes too many boneheaded penalties. His at times good inconsistent play does not make up for it.

We're stuck with Nash at least one more year. Next summer, I'd look at trade options for him. I'd even retain 2-3 million on his cap hit to get a better package back for him. Complete offensive non factor for two playoffs in a row. Addition by subtraction.

At all costs, I'd keep Stralman (who's outplayed Girardi these playoffs), Zuccarello, D. Moore, Boyle, Brassard, Kreider, and Stepan.

Trade Dorsett for a pick at the draft. Bring Carcillo back to be the 13th forward.

Deal with Staal this summer. Trade him or extend him. None of this *****footing until the trade deadline. Would prefer to do a hockey trade, as 2nd pair LHD would be a huge hole. Guys like Yandle, Edler, and J. Faulk come to mind. We need puck movers to play with Girardi and Stralman.

For 2014-2015, roll with something like:

Hagelin-Stepan-Nash
Kreider-Miller-MSL
FA/Trade/Duclair/Kristo-Brassard-Zuccarello
Boyle-Moore-Fast
Carcillo

McDonagh-Girardi
Staal/Trade-Stralman
Moore-Klein
Falk/Allen/whoever

McIlrath, Lindberg, and Kristo are the first call ups.

 

[NCRanger]

It's very simple. I've said it for years - this team has been lacking a true PMD and a true #1 center. McD appears to have evolved into one of the best all-around dmen in the league, which most certainly puts a dent in that first problem, although if we could add an offensive force (perfectly willing to sacrifice some defensive acumen) on the right side as well, that would be a godsend.

Most important, however, is to find a guy to play the middle who can dictate play. Win faceoffs, be close to a PPG (doesn't have to exceed or even equal in this day and age, but you need a guy who at least flirts with 75 points annually), win physical battles, win speed battles, carve up the defense.

Stepan is a below par #1/above par #2, who has the brains and the hands, but is lacking the physical and is held back by his lack of footspeed. Brassard IMO has evolved into a par #2 who has the speed and the hands, but is also lacking the physical and doesn't have Stepan's hockey IQ. Richards at this point is a below par #3 in my book - he has the brains, but is just simply shot.

If Miller can evolve into a Mike Richards, that would certainly be helpful, but that still doesn't quite do it. What we truly desperately need is an up-and-coming Barkov/Galchenyuk/Johansen/Schiefele.

For your first point about a PMD. Would you trade Rick Nash for Mike Green?

 

[Doctyl]

I'm not comfortable with JTM between MSL and hags or kreids

 

[Fitzy]

I'm sticking with the

Buy out Richards

Re-sign everyone else to long term deals- Brassard, Zuccarello, Staal, Stralman, Kreider, Boyle, Moore narrative. Don't sign any big name free agents.

If we do have to slide Lindberg or Miller into a top 9 role to make the cap work for keeping everyone else, it will be worth it.

One guy I'm souring on is Pouliot. Depends on his demands.

 

[AHB*]

If it at the end of the day we paid Girardi and traded Staal, I won't be a happy camper.

Girardi is the one we should have traded. His contract stinks and he's only going to get worse.

I will fume if that happens. They should try to re-sign Stralman and trade Girardi. Admit a mistake.

Fitzy, I"m not sure if that's realistic due to the cap constraints. Also after this year we will have to re-up Hags and Steps.

 

[Doctyl]

I'm sticking with the

Buy out Richards

Re-sign everyone else to long term deals- Brassard, Zuccarello, Staal, Stralman, Kreider, Boyle, Moore narrative. Don't sign any big name free agents.

If we do have to slide Lindberg or Miller into a top 9 role to make the cap work for keeping everyone else, it will be worth it.

One guy I'm souring on is Pouliot. Depends on his demands.

I think we have guys who could replace Pouliot in our system

 

[Fitzy]

I think we have guys who could replace Pouliot in our system

The trick is his ability to shield the puck. When MSL was put on that wing, a far superior player, the line struggles because it had no one with size who could win pucks in the offensive zone and hold off defenders along the boards.

For all his flaws, his combination of size and speed has fit the line well. Maybe they could try Kreider there, but who knows.

 

[Doctyl]

The trick is his ability to shield the puck. When MSL was put on that wing, a far superior player, the line struggles because it had no one with size who could win pucks in the offensive zone and hold off defenders along the boards.

For all his flaws, his combination of size and speed has fit the line well. Maybe they could try Kreider there, but who knows.

I had wanted to try Kreider there. Those 2 guys could get him the puck, it could work. Ultimately depends on how much Pouliot wants. If he's willing to sign another 1X1 deal I'm okay with that

 

[Vidic15*]

Why are people advocating breaking up our best two lines by trading away or letting go Pouliot and Dorsett?

 

[Doctyl]

Why are people advocating breaking up our best two lines by trading away or letting go Pouliot and Dorsett?

HFNYR has some strange obsession with hating Dorsett. Pouliot is such a flawed player, but has chemistry with Brass and Zucc. It really depends on how much money Pouliot wants

 

[Ola]

The trick is his ability to shield the puck. When MSL was put on that wing, a far superior player, the line struggles because it had no one with size who could win pucks in the offensive zone and hold off defenders along the boards.

For all his flaws, his combination of size and speed has fit the line well. Maybe they could try Kreider there, but who knows.

Good point!

 

[Ola]

Huh? 14 points in 22 games. Playing with a broken jaw. Nash has scored 3 goals all post-season.

What is unimpressive? Is it the simple fact that he isn't Kopitar? Stepan would be one of the best #2 centers in hockey if the Rangers could ever find a dominant #1.

Mmmm, I don't mind Stepan. But it's hard to blame Stepans lack of offense on Nash lol. It's Stepans job to set up his wingers, Stepan NEVER sets up Nash. Stepan never draws any attention offensively. Stepan never open things up.

Stepan is a good hockey player, but he isn't very good offensively. He got the center smarts, and that shouldn't be underrated. Neither Brass not BR could come close to replacing his 2-way game.

But let's not pretend tht Stepan is a capable offensive No 1 center who is held back by his wingers... I think tht is pretty far from the truth.

 

[Trxjw]

Unfortunately I don't think there is a way to make the cap work to bring back everyone. With Andy MacDonald getting $5M per year, I can't imagine Stralman getting less than $4.25. If we re-sign Staal for market value as well, that's ~$20M tied up in 4 defenders moving forward, and only one of them brings any semblance of offense to the group.

 

[Whiplash27]

Why are people advocating breaking up our best two lines by trading away or letting go Pouliot and Dorsett?

I don't see anything special about Dorsett... I'm indifferent on him.

Pouliot is undisciplined and very streaky. He took a lot of awful penalties in the playoffs. He's also mostly disappeared since the beginning of the 2nd round (although he did score 1 goal this round).

I like him when he's on, but his stupidity makes me weary.

 

[NCRanger]

Unfortunately I don't think there is a way to make the cap work to bring back everyone. With Andy MacDonald getting $5M per year, I can't imagine Stralman getting less than $4.25. If we re-sign Staal for market value as well, that's ~$20M tied up in 4 defenders moving forward, and only one of them brings any semblance of offense to the group.

Trade Staal to Carolina. Francis may even overpay for Staal because their D is a disaster area, and they can sell the three Staals as a draw. Sather might be able to poach a competent forward (Tlusty, Skinner?) and a pick. There's not a whole lot in the Carolina system I'd take though.

I'm also somewhat serious about seeing if Washington would do a Nash for Green swap. Green's going into a contract year on a contract where he's probably overpaid, BUT, if he wants that kind of money on the open market, he'll have to produce what he did a few years ago. And if he doesn't, big deal. What you'd pay Green/Allen or McIlrath is probably less than what you'd pay for Staal/Stralman, and you might get some more offensive production.

 

[NYR Viper]

I wonder if St Louis will be looking for a big shake-up this off-season...

 

[Matt4776]

I wonder if St Louis will be looking for a big shake-up this off-season...

I'd LOVE Shattenkirk.

 

[NYRFAN218]

What's everyone's estimates on our UFA's/RFA's? I'm trying to figure it out but I'm having more difficulty than in past years. Probably because we're still playing and by this point I've already read up on tons of stuff. Here's my guesses...

Boyle - $2.5
Dom Moore - $2
Pouliot - $2? Maybe a tad more, not really sure.
John Moore - $1.5
Zucc -$3.5-4
Brass - $4
Kreider - $2-2.5
Stralman - $4ish

Just my own guesses but I want to hear what everyone else thinks. Obviously depends on years too, especially for the RFA's.

 

[Trxjw]

Trade Staal to Carolina. Francis may even overpay for Staal because their D is a disaster area, and they can sell the three Staals as a draw. Sather might be able to poach a competent forward (Tlusty, Skinner?) and a pick. There's not a whole lot in the Carolina system I'd take though.

I'm also somewhat serious about seeing if Washington would do a Nash for Green swap. Green's going into a contract year on a contract where he's probably overpaid, BUT, if he wants that kind of money on the open market, he'll have to produce what he did a few years ago. And if he doesn't, big deal. What you'd pay Green/Allen or McIlrath is probably less than what you'd pay for Staal/Stralman, and you might get some more offensive production.

If Tlusty was the return I'd be livid, and Skinner likely wouldn't save us anything on the cap as he already makes what I'd project Staal to get on his new deal. So Skinner would actually make the cap crunch even worse for next season.

Green doesn't address the problem of having way too much money tied up in defense, and he's another righty. You might get more production out of that group, but you'd take a massive hit defensively.

 

[NYR Viper]

I'd LOVE Shattenkirk.

I wonder if they would like Nash. Bigger player who would fit in well there. They have some intriguing pieces for sure.

What's everyone's estimates on our UFA's/RFA's? I'm trying to figure it out but I'm having more difficulty than in past years. Probably because we're still playing and by this point I've already read up on tons of stuff. Here's my guesses...

Boyle - $2.5
Dom Moore - $2
Pouliot - $2? Maybe a tad more, not really sure.
John Moore - $1.5
Zucc -$3.5-4
Brass - $4
Kreider - $2-2.5
Stralman - $4ish

Just my own guesses but I want to hear what everyone else thinks. Obviously depends on years too, especially for the RFA's.

I think Stralman gets more. Maybe 4.5. It all depends on if they push for more money. Dom Moore could probably get more.

 

[NYR Viper]

If Tlusty was the return I'd be livid, and Skinner likely wouldn't save us anything on the cap as he already makes what I'd project Staal to get on his new deal. So Skinner would actually make the cap crunch even worse for next season.

Green doesn't address the problem of having way too much money tied up in defense, and he's another righty. You might get more production out of that group, but you'd take a massive hit defensively.

Yeah I'm not enamored with any of those options. On top of that Skinner has concussion issues and he makes this team EVEN SMALLER. Skinner, MZA and MSL?

What about LA? Maybe they don't re-sign Gaborik.

t Louis? They have JBo and Pietrangelo on the back-end. Is Shattenkirk available? Oshie? They have a lot ofplayers who play very similarly and no game-breaking forward. He fits their size and speed game well.

Would Montreal kick the tires? They were all excited to add Vanek, Nash is the superior player.

TB to play with Stamkos?

 

[NYRFAN218]

I wonder if they would like Nash. Bigger player who would fit in well there. They have some intriguing pieces for sure.



I think Stralman gets more. Maybe 4.5. It all depends on if they push for more money. Dom Moore could probably get more.

Yeah I agree. Wouldn't shock me if some team came out and gave Boyle $3 million either.

 

[NYR Viper]

Yeah I agree. Wouldn't shock me if some team came out and gave Boyle $3 million either.

Me either. Boyd Gordon got 3 million last off-season. Hendricks and Nystrom received 2.5 each.

 

[Raspewtin]

They need to get bigger down the middle and they need another smooth skating offensive d-man. They need to find a goal scorer who can go to the net hard and fit in this system and Richards needs to be bought out.

I would much rather speed down the middle than size. If both aren't available.

Nazem Kadri. I like him. Would trade Staal for him.