Speculation: Derek Stepan Negotiations (9/19-Dreger: "Unlikely" Stepan signs before season opens)

[Vitto79]

Stepan kind of has them by the nuts a little bit too with Cally and Hags hurt

Sather will get his bridge deal but its going to be 2 yrs - 6.6 so a 3.3 average.

In the end the team needs Stepan real bad right now.

The cap will be relatively easy to get under waiving Asham and Powe down to the minors.

I think Pyatt stays

 

[Off Sides]

Stepan should have been first priority and then everything else falls wherever it falls. Instead Sather put Stepan aside for last and this is what he gets.

I think protecting the organization by buying out Richards should have been the first priority.

From there, McD, Stepan, Hagelin, Zucc

Then the UFAs, Moore, Pouliot

However the Rangers run on the timeline the CBA has set forth. Other teams have somewhat abandoned it by signing their RFA long before this situation can even present itself. Rangers know what leverage is, they have some idea how to use it, but they do not know when not to use it to benefit the organization long term.

Even if Stepan ends up on a bridge deal there is no way this whole debacle makes them a better long term organization.

 

[Chief]

...If the Rangers had bought him out we probably wouldn't be arguing about Stepan now because a few hundred thousand of the money saved from his bought out contract would be no big deal....

Stepan is using the leverage he has because not signing is leverage at least if the team struggles. It calls for some sufferance on his own part--true but the Rangers won't have one of their better--arguably their best forward. It may give someone like Lindberg an opportunity and the way Oscar has looked so far there's some reason to believe that his play can mitigate in large part Stepan's absence--having quality replacements already in place could very well work in the Rangers favor to bring this situation to a conclusion.

Brad Richards has nothing to do with Stepan's contract negotiation. There is a dollar value management has placed on Stepan and they don't want to exceed it. If BR had been bought out, it's not as if Slats would walk into the room with a blank check and ask Stepan to fill in the blanks.

Stepan will be back and will be fine...holdouts are just an annoyance of modern day sport.

As for Lindberg, thinking he can step into the NHL as a#1 center and replace the guy who might be the best player on the team, is borderline delusional.

 

[NYR Viper]

Brad Richards has nothing to do with Stepan's contract negotiation. There is a dollar value management has placed on Stepan and they don't want to exceed it. If BR had been bought, it's not as if Slats would walk into the room with a blank check and ask Stepan to fill in the blanks.

Stepan will be back and will be fine.

As for Lindberg, thinking he can step into the NHL as a#1 center and replace the guy who might be the best player on the team, is borderline delusional.

I think the idea would be to bump up Brassard and Richards, leaving the 3rd line C spot open for Lindberg.

 

[JohnC]

How is Lindberg gonna play #1C but be the goalie at the same time?

 

[94now]

I'd argue we could still sneak into the playoffs without Stepan. Not without Lundqvist.

Exactly. No one is saying Step should be paid as much, but give him even Zherdev's money is taking an advantage of current CBA. I am sure under anyone but Totrs Step would have had a much more impressive numbers. There is more in hockey game than scoring or assisting. People still think of Stepan as rookie that have to prove something, while, in fact, he has became a cornerstone of this team. Not equal to Hank or even McD, but lead forward, nevertheless. CBA, RFA or whatever it is still insulting. As a young man Step is he may not know whole value of money in life, but he can see a second class treatment from Slats & Co. Even I can.

 

[94now]

I think the idea would be to bump up Brassard and Richards, leaving the 3rd line C spot open for Lindberg.

or Miller. Or Boyle. Good luck with that. As AV said, when we do not have skill upfront, we should play defensive hockey. That is what we will get.

 

[NYR Viper]

or Miller. Or Boyle. Good luck with that. As AV said, when we do not have skill upfront, we should play defensive hockey. That is what we will get.

I never said it was ideal, which seems to be what you assumed above, but the option is there.

 

[Mrpuck]

I don't understand how some of you continue to blame this on not buying out Richards. Having him on the team makes this team better and deeper, especially if he can come back to any resemblance of himself from the year before last. There is plenty of money left to sign Stepan, and Sather has played this perfectly so far. I'm not comfortable signing Stepan to a 6 year deal on 1/2 a seasons production. He takes the bridge deal and make his big money in 2 years just like 95% of the other players in his position. If he doesn't like it, then he can sit. The sky is not falling.

 

[LORDE]

I don't understand how some of you continue to blame this on not buying out Richards. Having him on the team makes this team better and deeper, especially if he can come back to any resemblance of himself from the year before last. There is plenty of money left to sign Stepan, and Sather has played this perfectly so far. I'm not comfortable signing Stepan to a 6 year deal on 1/2 a seasons production. He takes the bridge deal and make his big money in 2 years just like 95% of the other players in his position. If he doesn't like it, then he can sit. The sky is not falling.

PLZ Stop making sense!

Yeah, it's frustrating... but Step is doing more harm to himself than the team at this point. Yes, he's a pro. Yes he's talented. But I don't think he's doing himself any favors missing camp... missing out on learning a new system from a new coach, building chemistry with his teammates, and getting himself up to game speed. I guess he thinks he's good enough to overcome all of that and to rewrite the CBA/negotiating process.

I'm sure he'll teach Sather a lesson.

 

[16 To Stanley*]

I don't understand how some of you continue to blame this on not buying out Richards. Having him on the team makes this team better and deeper, especially if he can come back to any resemblance of himself from the year before last. There is plenty of money left to sign Stepan, and Sather has played this perfectly so far. I'm not comfortable signing Stepan to a 6 year deal on 1/2 a seasons production. He takes the bridge deal and make his big money in 2 years just like 95% of the other players in his position. If he doesn't like it, then he can sit. The sky is not falling.

What people actually don't realize, is the fact that even Richards at last years level, (a 60 point pace over 82 games) is still better than nearly ever 3C in the league.

If we get the Richards from the prior year, the center depth is unreal.

Not buying out Richards has nothing to do with Stepan not signing. Again the Rangers are keep and continuing the precedent they have set with players like this.

If we start handing out big, long term contracts to guys who play well over 41 games, then that will set a new precedent for guys like Kreider, Fast, Lindberg, Miller, McIlrath and will handcuff us.

 

[egelband]

Yeah, Richards has zero to do with Stepan. I imagine the Rangers could sign Step for almost whatever they want and sort out the roster after. They just don't want to give him more than x dollars. Whatever amount that is. I think there's a script written anyhow. In a few days the Rangers will say 'you've got us, here's another 250K' and he'll sign. And it will be pretty much exactly what Sather planned to pay plus about 100k per year.

 

[Off Sides]

I don't understand the half season production idea?

Stepan
10-11 45 points 82 games tied 114th among forwards in points
11-12 51 points 82 games tied 87th among forwards in points
12-13 44 points 48 games tied for 21st among forwards in points

.66 PPG player over the past three years = 54pts over 82 games
54 points in the last 82 game season would have ranked that forward 72nd in production.

It's not based on one season.
Production wise, he went from top end 2nd line forward in his rookie season to bottom 1st line in his sophomore season to top 1st line production this past season.

 

[GordonGecko]

Not mad at either side either.

I am mad at Stepan, until he's a UFA he's a waterboy. The sooner he realizes that the better for him, otherwise he'll just rot at home indefinitely

I think protecting the organization by buying out Richards should have been the first priority.

Who cares about Richards already. Even if the Rangers had an extra $10M to blow, it wouldn't be on Stepan. They don't have to pay him, he's restricted. After the next two years he'll get whatever he's worth, right now that's just not on the table

 

[Off Sides]

Who cares about Richards already. Even if the Rangers had an extra $10M to blow, it wouldn't be on Stepan. They don't have to pay him, he's restricted. After the next two years he'll get whatever he's worth, right now that's just not on the table

Which is good for the Rangers in which way?

What benefit do the Rangers get from a Stepan bridge deal as opposed to signing him long term to a McD like contract?

If Stepan gets a bridge deal, in two years time he's just going to cost more cap hit wise than if they just already had him signed long term, especially after this process.

 

[BTW8892]

Who cares about Richards already. Even if the Rangers had an extra $10M to blow, it wouldn't be on Stepan. They don't have to pay him, he's restricted. After the next two years he'll get whatever he's worth, right now that's just not on the table

I agree. It's actually better that they kept Richards, as it prevented Sather from overspending in this horrible UFA pool.

 

[Off Sides]

I agree. It's actually better that they kept Richards, as it prevented Sather from overspending in this horrible UFA pool.

That much I agree with, except of course should he not be bought out next time or is injured and can not be bought out.

 

[94now]

I never said it was ideal, which seems to be what you assumed above, but the option is there.

It is not acceptable option, though. Sather must play that card, but the risk is he would expose his new coach to fans and media who will say he is no better that Torts, only softer pretty soon (I can imagine this board going nuts with defensive style AV would play). Sather cannot use Stepan holdout as an excuse, no way. I think Sather will pay 6.5 in two eventually. He might had that already penciled.

 

[TheTakedown]

That much I agree with, except of course should he not be bought out next time or is injured and can not be bought out.

when the cap goes up this won't be a problem...

just be happy we didn't get David clarkson for the albatross of a contract he got... you want poor depth? that's it right there

 

[chosen]

PLZ Stop making sense!

Yeah, it's frustrating... but Step is doing more harm to himself than the team at this point. Yes, he's a pro. Yes he's talented. But I don't think he's doing himself any favors missing camp... mtissing out on learning a new system from a new coach, building chemistry with his teammates, and getting himself up to game speed. I guess he thinks he's good enough to overcome all of that and to rewrite the CBA/negotiating process.

I'm sure he'll teach Sather a lesson.

Stepan is doing exactly what he should be doing. Management never hesitates to take it as far as they can and neither do the players, nor should they.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

How is Lindberg gonna play #1C but be the goalie at the same time?

Easy. We combine him with Hank to form Hancar Lindqvist.

 

[Mrpuck]

Which is good for the Rangers in which way?

What benefit do the Rangers get from a Stepan bridge deal as opposed to signing him long term to a McD like contract?

If Stepan gets a bridge deal, in two years time he's just going to cost more cap hit wise than if they just already had him signed long term, especially after this process.

What if there is a move to be made at the deadline that would cost us @2.5mil? A rental player for a playoff push?
If we moved Powe/Asham etc. and just give in to Stepan at say 6yr/30mil. then that move at the deadline is gone.

That's the benefit right now to giving him the bridge deal.

 

[Tawnos]

Which is good for the Rangers in which way?

What benefit do the Rangers get from a Stepan bridge deal as opposed to signing him long term to a McD like contract?

If Stepan gets a bridge deal, in two years time he's just going to cost more cap hit wise than if they just already had him signed long term, especially after this process.

If Stepan gets a bridge deal and proves to be a legit 1st line center on any team, we will get to offset even more UFA years with a couple of RFA ones. A long term deal now would allow us to get 3 or 4 years into UFA. A long term deal in 2 years allows us to potentially get 5 or 6.

If he doesn't prove to be a legit 1st line center, then we will know that better in two years and pay him accordingly.

 

[JohnC]

Easy. We combine him with Hank to form Hancar Lindqvist.

Even if the engineering doesn't work out as planned he'll have a badass name

 

[pld459666]

I have seen numerous posters make this comment.

Stepan is not looking for a big contract because he had a good 48 game run.

Stepan is looking for a big contract because he's gotten better and better for the last three seasons he's played.

Came in as a rookie and posted 45 points in 82 games. Followed that uo with 51 points in 82 games and got even BETTER with 44 points in 48 games (75 point pace)

Contracts are not given out based on the last seasons worth of production. It's the body of work that determines what Stepan should get.

Stepan's body of work is greater than a 48 games.

So please, lets stop talking like he's looking for this contract based on last season. Because if that WERE the case, he'd be more than justified in looking for more than 5 million per season.