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

[Boruto]

NO WAY he misses more than 2 games. Good luck getting your team mates to sympathize with you. If the team does poorly, what does that say about you? If your team does well, what does that say about you? New coach in NY for the next few years and perhaps for a long time. If he wants to be a career Ranger, what does it do for him to skip games and not be in the starting line up for more than 2 games? If Kreider-Richards-Nash and Zucc-Brass-Benny do well, what does that do for him? If he misses more than 2 games, Matt Oates needs to be fired before he signs the deal in prep for game 3.

 

[AlternateSideParking]

The kid shouldnt be punished for Sather's BS FA depth signings. He deserves what he's asking, which is certainly reasonable when you consider he's developing into the star everybody thought he could become.

The idea that Stepan is at fault here is ridiculous. Pouliot, Pyatt, Powe, Falk, Asham, Moore.

Those guys were not anywhere near the top or middle of the totem pole in terms of off season priorities. I can accept keeping Richards. The aforementioned scrubs, not a chance.

 

[silverfish]

The kid shouldnt be punished for Sather's BS FA depth signings. He deserves what he's asking, which is certainly reasonable when you consider he's developing into the star everybody thought he could become.

The idea that Stepan is at fault here is ridiculous. Pouliot, Pyatt, Powe, Falk, Asham, Moore.

Those guys were not anywhere near the top or middle of the totem pole in terms of off season priorities. I can accept keeping Richards. The aforementioned scrubs, not a chance.

Why, because he has no leverage in contract negotiations?

This is how the CBA works. This is how Sather functions. There is no reason to give Stepan a long-term deal right now.

Bridge contract to take him to RFA status in two-years, then lock him down when the cap is more flexible and favorable to the Rangers.

This is a business.

I'm on team Sather here.

 

[RangerBoy]

$3.2M per for a 2 year bridge contract for a player without arbitration rights is more money than any player outside of Duchene has received. Sign the ****ing contract and play hockey. Its very simple. The season begins in 11 days. Sign the contract. Join the team in Alberta. Maybe Stepan gets a chance to play in one of the games later this week.

 

[AlternateSideParking]

Why, because he has no leverage in contract negotiations?

This is how the CBA works. This is how Sather functions. There is no reason to give Stepan a long-term deal right now.

Bridge contract to take him to RFA status in two-years, then lock him down when the cap is more flexible and favorable to the Rangers.

This is a business.

I'm on team Sather here.

Times have changed. You cant fault Sather nor Stepan if their respective peers are giving/receiving long-term deals post ELC.

The bridge deals are a privilege to GMs, not a right. They make a ton of sense contractually, but a lot of GMs hedged their bets on young talent by bypassing the bridge.

Stepan wants his cake because some of his buddies around the league have gotten it. I have no problem with that.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

Why, because he has no leverage in contract negotiations?

This is how the CBA works. This is how Sather functions. There is no reason to give Stepan a long-term deal right now.

Bridge contract to take him to RFA status in two-years, then lock him down when the cap is more flexible and favorable to the Rangers.

This is a business.

I'm on team Sather here.

The bridge contract is agreed upon. Now they're haggling over $'s. $'s that Sather easily has if he cuts some of the crap hes acquired over the past couple of years. Money that your #1 center probably deserves -- Sather has already won, its time to put down the hammer and meet in the middle whereever they are -- ESPECIALLY if they're $250-500K off annually as has been reported.

 

[OverTheCap]

$3.2M per is fair for both sides. Substantially more than what Cally, Dubi, Anisimov, etc. received in their bridge contracts.

I don't think Stepan has reached Duchene territory yet, though. Colorado has been one of the worst offensive teams the past few years, way worse than the Rangers, like bottom 5 in the league bad. I feel Duchene has done more with less - last year he played at a .91 points-per-game pace on a line with Parenteau and Jamie McGinn.

 

[Mr Atoz*]

Why, because he has no leverage in contract negotiations?

This is how the CBA works. This is how Sather functions. There is no reason to give Stepan a long-term deal right now.

Bridge contract to take him to RFA status in two-years, then lock him down when the cap is more flexible and favorable to the Rangers.

This is a business.

I'm on team Sather here.

The problem with that is if this poisons Stepan against the Rangers and his attitude is when you could squeeze me you did and now that you can't I'm gone.

 

[Tawnos]

The bridge contract is agreed upon. Now they're haggling over $'s. $'s that Sather easily has if he cuts some of the crap hes acquired over the past couple of years. Money that your #1 center probably deserves -- Sather has already won, its time to put down the hammer and meet in the middle whereever they are -- ESPECIALLY if they're $250-500K off annually as has been reported.

I'm torn here. On one hand, I totally understand Sather's negotiating position and applaud him for it. On the other hand, I wouldn't consider $3.5m anything resembling an overpayment. Points wise, Stepan was slightly more valuable to the Rangers during his ELC than Duchene was during his. If I have any problem with Sather, it's that his target dollar number was too low from the beginning.

Stepan has to consider, though, that given the way our roster is structured, his holdout might see him start the year on the 3rd line even if he gets into camp tomorrow.

 

[Lindberg Cheese]

The kid shouldnt be punished for Sather's BS FA depth signings. He deserves what he's asking, which is certainly reasonable when you consider he's developing into the star everybody thought he could become.

The idea that Stepan is at fault here is ridiculous. Pouliot, Pyatt, Powe, Falk, Asham, Moore.

Those guys were not anywhere near the top or middle of the totem pole in terms of off season priorities. I can accept keeping Richards. The aforementioned scrubs, not a chance.

If Step supported the last CBA then he is partially responsible because those are the rules that the players agrred to have used against his otherwise strong case. Pennywise and pound foolish on both sides. 500k - 1 mil over 2 years is nothing for Dolan yet theres a real cap concern so the wallet tightens. On the other hand 500-1 mil, 275-550 k after taxes spread over 2 years is chujp change for guy whos going to make 40-50 mil career earnings. I think hes getting real bad advice, why would anyone forced to have to work for one employer by contract with no leverage expect to get market value? You can either work or find something else outside of your chosen industry (NHL). What other unionized profession gives you 2-3 weeks to negotiate and decide on an offer? The real world is a bit harder.

 

[GAGLine]

The problem with that is if this poisons Stepan against the Rangers and his attitude is when you could squeeze me you did and now that you can't I'm gone.

So we should give him whatever he wants so we don't hurt his feelings? Where is he going to go? After this contract he'll still be an RFA. He'll still be looking for a long term, big money deal.

 

[broadwayblue]

If they are really arguing about a few hundred thousand dollars than they should just split the difference and call it a day. I'm not of the philosophy that because Sather has made plenty of terrible deals in the past he should keep doing it...but really, what's 200k? That will hardly move this into "terrible deal" territory.

 

[PlamsUnlimited]

They need to get this done, ad fast.

 

[LORDE]

The problem with that is if this poisons Stepan against the Rangers and his attitude is when you could squeeze me you did and now that you can't I'm gone.

This isn't emotional for anyone involved except the fans.

This is business. No hard feelings will be had by anyone when it's all said and done.

 

[Kwayry]

3.3 should get it done.
Any longer and Step is going to lose the PR battle.

 

[kovazub94]

If they are really arguing about a few hundred thousand dollars than they should just split the difference and call it a day. I'm not of the philosophy that because Sather has made plenty of terrible deals in the past he should keep doing it...but really, what's 200k? That will hardly move this into "terrible deal" territory.

This is not the point - Sather offers what he perceives to be a fair offer given the circumstances. Comparables around the league, no arbitration rights, Rangers depth at center, US Nat'l team situation suggest that it is not on the organization to make the first step. IMHO, it is up to Stepan to come in and say "I will take $3.3 m" and agree to $3.2 m. to get it done.

 

[PlamsUnlimited]

3.3 is good for a bridge for Stepan. We already know that he's going to get more after the fact. Cap is low but a few hundred thousands really wouldn't alter much here.

 

[eco's bones]

To me the difference between Duchene and Stepan is not that great. Duchene has done more offensively and is a year younger. His team has also counted on him to be a go to guy from the day he was drafted. He's not as good defensively as Stepan is. His team has not been to the playoffs in the last 3 years. He's an excellent player but he's no Crosby.

 

[JCrusher*]

Stepan is being offered a good bridge contract. I like stepan a lot but its not like he is a superstar, He needs to do it more than one season before he gets bigtime money

 

[Green Blob*]

3.3 should get it done.
Any longer and Step is going to lose the PR battle.

Lose the PR battle?

BOTH sides lost that a lone time ago over this crap.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

Stepan u were a 1c for 48 games... play and prove it wasnt a fluke and u will get paid

 

[haveandare]

I can't believe this is still going on. It's painfully stupid. Sign the bridge and start earning that next big contract. Better players than Step have gone through this same process without holding out.

 

[Hi ImHFNYR]

Losing games costs more than just money.

I just don't get the overwhelming concern. There have been SOOOO many players who ave missed the start of a season AND camp due to injury and they were fine. There have been so many guys who join a new team/system via trade midway through the entire year and they've been fine so why are we so worried about this?I suspect we'll get a deal done before game 1 and he'll be fine. After seeing Sauer lose his career I don't blame anyone fo wanting max cash but 3.25 is perfectly reasonable. Regardless if he is worried about an injury he can take out insurance on himself for the next 2 years until he gets a big deal. So there isn';t much reason to hold out like this for 3.5 when you look at similar situations. That said in the end no matter what I cannot justify demanding someone forfeit hundreds of thousands of dollars

 

[MetalGodAOD*]

I can't believe this is still going on. It's painfully stupid. Sign the bridge and start earning that next big contract. Better players than Step have gone through this same process without holding out.

Gotta love people who repeat the same thing without reading a few posts up.

 

[16 To Stanley*]

The kid shouldnt be punished for Sather's BS FA depth signings. He deserves what he's asking, which is certainly reasonable when you consider he's developing into the star everybody thought he could become.

The idea that Stepan is at fault here is ridiculous. Pouliot, Pyatt, Powe, Falk, Asham, Moore.

Those guys were not anywhere near the top or middle of the totem pole in terms of off season priorities. I can accept keeping Richards. The aforementioned scrubs, not a chance.

Our biggest issue last year was our depth.

If you don't realize how important signing guys like Falk, Pouliot and Moore were this off-season, then i really question if you even watched them last year.

We had games where our 4th line was Haley-Newbury-Bickel. That's unacceptable.

We lost a lot of depth last year and we have built it back up very quickly, due to the saavy Gaborik trade and the smart signings of very high end role players in Moore/Pouliot, on the extremely cheap.

And if you think those signings have ANYTHING to do with step not getting paid, then you've also clearly missed out on past negotiations when we had cap room for guys going into bridge years. Callahan, Dubinsky, Hagelin, Staal, Girardi, Del Zotto. I could go on, but there's a precedent and the Rangers should stick to it.

Sooner or later Stepan and his moron agent will realize they don't have a choice but to sign on the dotted line.