Speculation: 2014 Offseason - Roster Building / Trade Speculation Thread IV

[BarbaraAlphanse]

I don't think we can afford all of Mac, Staal, Girardi and Niskanen. Maybe this year, but not next year when Staal is due a raise.

Maybe we let Stralman go, sign Niskanen, and then trade Staal for a young RH dman like Vatanen or Barrie. That would give us:

McD - Girardi
Niskanen-Klein
Moore-Vatanen/Barrie

Niskanen shoots right.

 

[aufheben]

Also don't like the idea of shipping out half our Top-4 after just making the SCF...

 

[DelZottoHitTheNetJK]

Normally I'm all for looking for the future, but with the MSL acquisition, Lundqvist being 32 years old, and a Stanley Cup final appearance, this team won't be trading Staal for a pick. That much I can assure you.

As for your second paragraph. Allen, Diaz, or McIlrath as replacements? Thats a disaster in the making and simply unacceptable.

I agree that we're in win now mode; but in a salary cap world we can't keep BOTH Staal and Stralman. I'd rather resign the younger, more mobile Stralman and trade Staal who has a ton of value as opposed to the only other real alternative of letting Stralman walk for nothing and either losing Staal for nothing, trading him at the deadline, or signing him to an albatross extension

and

McDonagh-Girardi
Moore-Stralman
McIlrath/Allen/Diaz-Klein


Is still a competent D group with Lundqvist in net. Consider that with that D group we would also have our legitimate top C in Stastny, or whoever else. It also assumes that Moore and McDonagh get better, which I believe they both will. I'm really high on J Moore and I think he's going to have a breakout year. He looked awesome in the SCF making quick plays and moving the puck up the ice.

This is how you win today. You need kids on ELCs to step in and eat minutes. Saad on Chicago. Toffoli on LA. Voynov on LA in 2012. The young, cheap ELC players need to play above their heads while the big guns perform. Such is life with the salary cap, and it's much easier to replace a

 

[charliemurphy]

I would hate to lose Staal but I think Sather has tied his own hands in getting into these types of scenarios. If we do trade Staal, I would like a player like ROR coming back. I'm not interested in a draft pick that may/may not pan out in a few years for Staal. If he's dealt they have to get someone that can make an immediate impact.
Having said that, if Sather can lock up Staal for $5m per then he'd be a fool not to do it then start getting on the phone and packaging players like Brassard, J. Moore + for a player like ROR.

 

[Miz]

Regarding Staal, If Sather can extend him this summer then why wouldn't you keep him? The guys been a rock for us when he on the ice. If he can't come to terms by lets say...mid/late July, then you look to move him for a cheaper replacement or cheaper assets. Not sure why multiple posters are looking to cut bait with Staal. We can't always be robbing Paul to pay Peter.

 

[BarbaraAlphanse]

The defense would be:

McD-G
Staal-Niskanen
Moore-Klein

We can trade Moore and Klein at the end of the season in place of Skjei and McIlrath/Allen, saving about 3 million.

Trading Dorsett and giving his spot to another rookie gives us 500-800k savings.

Next year, we have 5 players eligible for increases:

Staal, Stepan, Hagelin, MSL, Talbot.

Talbot doesn't have much leverage. He could go to a team looking for a goalie and we'd have another guy making vets minimum, or he could choose to stay with us for about 1.5 mill. Increase of 1 mill on his salary.

MSL will likely take a slight pay cut to stay here, he'll be 40, will take a shorter term contract, I can see him getting a 2-3 year at 4.5-5 per.

Staal's reported extension is 6 mill. That was Girardi's, too. If they can get Staal to take the same amount, that's an increase of 1.5 mill.

Hagelin should get around 3.5 to stay, long term. An increase of 1.25.

Stepan is the wild card. ROR would set a market for him, no matter where he is. If ROR gets a long term extension of 6.5 that's killer. Step could take 5.25-5.5 for 5 years and still end that contract heading into his prime.

All in all, that's an increase of 5.5-6 mill.

Shipping Klein (3) + Moore (1.5) + Dorsett (1.6) out in place of cheaper guys saves about 3.5 million already. Poo for a rookie (if resigned) another .5-1 mill in savings.

Next year's FA is the real stinger. Not this year's.

 

[GAGLine]

Also don't like the idea of shipping out half our Top-4 after just making the SCF...

I understand that, but if Stralman won't sign, there's nothing we can do. And the problem of Staal's pending contract won't go away regardless of what happens with Stralman.

 

[BarbaraAlphanse]

Edit, having said what I said... looks like McKenzie is giving hopeful news. Says the belief amongst many is that the cap will be as high as 75-76 mill next year. That's 4-5 mill more for us to spend.

Escalates quickly. We could be looking at a cap ceiling of around 85-90 mill in just 5 years. Crazy.

 

[GAGLine]

Regarding Staal, If Sather can extend him this summer then why wouldn't you keep him? The guys been a rock for us when he on the ice. If he can't come to terms by lets say...mid/late July, then you look to move him for a cheaper replacement or cheaper assets. Not sure why multiple posters are looking to cut bait with Staal. We can't always be robbing Paul to pay Peter.

It's a matter of how much Staal wants. Do you want to pay him 6 mil per year to play on the 2nd pair behind McDonagh? Or are we better off trading him now and getting some younger, cheaper assets?

Staal has been a good player for us, but a decision has to be made sooner or later as to his future on this team, and I'd rather the team make that decision now than wait until he's a pending UFA and the only choices are re-sign him or let him walk.

 

[Fitzy]

I agree that we're in win now mode; but in a salary cap world we can't keep BOTH Staal and Stralman. I'd rather resign the younger, more mobile Stralman and trade Staal who has a ton of value as opposed to the only other real alternative of letting Stralman walk for nothing and either losing Staal for nothing, trading him at the deadline, or signing him to an albatross extension

Stralman is older than Staal.

It seems unfair to label a Staal extension that doesn't exist yet as albatross. It'd likely be at market value. There's no reason to suggest that Stralman at 5 million is a better deal than Staal at 6.

 

[aufheben]

How are we signing Niskanen if we can't afford Stralman?

 

[SingnBluesOnBroadway]

How are we signing Niskanen if we can't afford Stralman?

Bitcoin?

 

[NYR Viper]

It's a matter of how much Staal wants. Do you want to pay him 6 mil per year to play on the 2nd pair behind McDonagh? Or are we better off trading him now and getting some younger, cheaper assets?

Staal has been a good player for us, but a decision has to be made sooner or later as to his future on this team, and I'd rather the team make that decision now than wait until he's a pending UFA and the only choices are re-sign him or let him walk.

I would say that the decision on Staal has to be made this off-season. If you wait until the trade deadline it's too long His value deteriorates and if you are "in it" then it is a major issue and takes away from the concentration of the player and the team.

 

[bernmeister]

What is Stralman looking for? The Rangers shouldn't give anyone a blank check. $4M. 4-5 years. Anything more and he can get it from another team. Stralman will be overpaid. Looking at the free agent market for defensemen,Stralman will probably get more than the Rangers want to pay. Niskanen is getting 7 years as a free agent. This is why the Rangers acquired Kevin Klein. The Rangers had two right-handed shooting D as pending group III's. The Rangers signed Girardi. They are trying to sign Stralman. Klein will replace Stralman if they can't re-sign him. Some people will say the Rangers made a mistake in signing Girardi instead of Stralman. Where were those people last February? AV did say Klein can play top 4 minutes because he was a top 4 D in Nashville.

I agree w/this with one addition
if we can move Girardi at 5/5+ per, and do
Stralman graduating 3.75 -4.5 4yrs, with $1m bonus if traded, and limited NTC. (he gets 13 teams, roughly a third, veto power; the others, he has to go)

that would slightly be better on matching to AV's system and we can still flip later if nec.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

Bob McKenzie ‏@TSNBobMcKenzie 7m
It's believed Kane-Toews initial ask of CHI on extension is around $12M/yr each. They'll end up lower but still could be $10M+ AAV players.

 

[GAGLine]

How are we signing Niskanen if we can't afford Stralman?

How are we affording Staal next year if we re-sign Stralman? It's a catch-22 either way. I think the only way Niskanen is a Ranger is if Stralman walks and Staal is traded, though that would make us weak on the left side if Niskanen can't play on the left.

I think everyone would agree that we need more offense from our defense. McD was great this year, but he's not enough. We are also tight on the cap. Trading Staal might be the solution to both, whether we keep Stralman, sign Niskanen, or do something else entirely.

 

[Elevate]

I think the Rangers are much better with a top four of McDonagh Girardi Staal and Klein than McDonagh Girardi Stralman and whoever replaces Staal because there is no way they can keep both.

Much better? I'd argue that both setups would be good but much better I won't buy. The Staal-Stralman pairing put up a 56.2% corsi this year, apart Staal was at 48.6% and Stralman at 56.1%. Here's Staals relative corsi for the past seasons:

Saying Stralman is a product of Staal seems pretty far-fetched. Don't get me wrong, I like Staal, but I feel like Stralman is gonna be more cost efficient.

 

[silverfish]

I think it's becoming more and more obvious by the minute that Stralman will not be a Ranger come early July.

He'll get his 5 x $5m from another team. He's earned it, and I'm happy for him.

We'll re-up Staal long-term. 5 or 6 x $5.5m during the season like we did with Hank. Or, we'll trade Staal. Get back D + F in the trade. He'll have a ton of value if we decide to deal him. Everyone will ***** and moan about his concussion history, and HFNYR will be HFNYR.

If we're signing Niskanen, why don't we just re-sign Stralman?

 

[Ail]

Stralman is older than Staal.

It seems unfair to label a Staal extension that doesn't exist yet as albatross. It'd likely be at market value. There's no reason to suggest that Stralman at 5 million is a better deal than Staal at 6.

Assuming their play is relatively equal (not a given considering there seems to be people arguing for both of them being the better player right now) and they're both playing on the second pairing, I would suggest that the guy getting 5mil is a better deal than the guy getting 6mil. Is Staal worth more on the FA market? Yes, but to the Rangers he a first pairing defenseman playing on the second pair, elsewhere he is probably a first pairing defenseman playing on the first pair, and therefore the extra 1+mil is justified.

It's all relative.

 

[aufheben]

I don't see a reason why Stralman would walk unless we can't afford him, in which case, we wouldn't be able to afford Niskanen either.

I have no doubt that Niskanen would be the new scapegoat within 5 minutes. Stay far away, IMO. His average points per season is what, 25~?

 

[NYR Viper]

I think it's becoming more and more obvious by the minute that Stralman will not be a Ranger come early July.

He'll get his 5 x $5m from another team. He's earned it, and I'm happy for him.

We'll re-up Staal long-term. 5 or 6 x $5.5m during the season like we did with Hank. Or, we'll trade Staal. Get back D + F in the trade. He'll have a ton of value if we decide to deal him. Everyone will ***** and moan about his concussion history, and HFNYR will be HFNYR.

If we're signing Niskanen, why don't we just re-sign Stralman?

Niskanen provides some offense.

If Niskanen wants 6 and Stralman wants 5, is it an easy decision?

I still think that for this team, the best course of action is to re-sign Stralman and trade Staal for help elsewhere.

 

[GAGLine]

Stralman is older than Staal.

It seems unfair to label a Staal extension that doesn't exist yet as albatross. It'd likely be at market value. There's no reason to suggest that Stralman at 5 million is a better deal than Staal at 6.

Stralman is 5 1/2 months older. They were both drafted in the same year.

Stralman may be closer to 4 mil than 5. It seems like it's more about the years with him than the cap number.

 

[Cassano]

Would it be too outlandish to suggest trading Girardi? This guy while a good top 4 defender has carried down the play of McDonagh. I'd love to see what Stralman can do alongside McDonagh for a full season as they're limited time together on the ice showcased dominance in play.

As a Girardi replacement, it'll be tough. But I think signing a guy like Mark Fayne as a reclamation project would be a good replacement. Efficient puck mover with untapped defensive potential. Could be Stralman 2.0.

After that keep Staal until the deadline and trade him if he's not willing to agree to an extension similarly to Callahan.

 

[BleedinBLUEsince92]

Bitcoin?

Post of the year.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

Offer Stralman 5 years 20M (4M per) if he takes it then IMO deal Staal for a center. There's no way wr can afford to lock up our D long term when other than Mac everyone of them provides very little offensively