GDT: Free Agent Frenzy

[LiveLongandProspal]

We re-signed Phil Di G

 

[HFsNumber1Heel]

[QUOTE="Roo Returns, post: 174138604, member: 99526"

Once again, this is not what the ultimate trade would be but what Briesbois would probably ask for. Write a fair proposal here both in terms of Tampa's ask and what the ultimate deal would be.

 

[wafflepadsave]

Well, if the Rangers really do have a legitimate concern regarding the performance bonuses and arbitration awards, then I'm glad to know they're on top of it. Seems crazy that we couldn't fit a $2M contract but if that's the mathematical reality then so be it.

And that would be an item to address during the press conference (fast). Maybe explains the Johnson signing.

 

[HFsNumber1Heel]

We re-signed Phil Di G

Gross. although 250K is not bad.

 

[wafflepadsave]

St. Louis is nicer then most people think. Lots of players who played there love settling down there. Chicago itself is not great, some of the suburbs though are top notch.

Just have to go on the west side of St. Louis and it’s good.

 

[HFsNumber1Heel]

There is no Ranger bias. A player of Sergachev's calibre would never get 3 A level pieces (Lundkvist, Kravstov and the 1st) and 2 B level pieces (Buch and Barron).

I don't want to go down a list of every trade they've made but historically there is. We can analyze it over the next three months if you'd like. Take the St. Louis and Talbot trades as recent example. Was it a case of Sather just being too bold and dumb?

 

[wafflepadsave]

After sleeping on it, here on my thoughts on Fast. There are a few possibilities as to what happened:

1) The Rangers offered Fast the same contract as he would ultimately sign with Carolina, but Fast wanted more from the Rangers
2) The Ranger offered a shorter deal with more money and Fast opted for more years.
3) Fast saw his spot with the Rangers are uncertain as prospects/younger players start moving into the lineup and he wasn't sure what it meant for him — then decided he was better off leaving for a contender.
4) Fast was insulted by the Rangers assuming they would get the chance to match any offer.
5) The Rangers were insulted that Fast, who reportedly wanted to stay, was shopping himself around then using other offers to negotiate.
6) Jeff Gorton and John Davidson are really bad at their jobs and their diabolical secret motive is to destroy this team from the inside.

Personally, I think some combination of the first 5 is the most likely case scenario.

Spot on, now would you mind sleeping on the Johnson signing and report back.

 

[Avery16]

Just have to go on the west side of St. Louis and it’s good.

Nah. West side is quiet and shuts down early. Downtown is great.

 

[Ed Giacomin]

Figured we were/are very tight on the cap, but what I don't understand is why they couldn't keep such a valuable glue guy at $2M? Get rid of Smith FFS, even if you need to throw in a draft pick to get it done! It's lunacy any way you look at it!

Do you not think they tried to trade him? and likely sweetened the deal with a player or pick?

 

[Avery16]

St. Louis over Chicago? Yikes. I think your list has lost some credibility haha.

Chicago is overrated on this thread.

 

[HFsNumber1Heel]

Two Sunday Morning points and please read my entire post before yelling at me (I'm turning into one of my coworkers lol).

1. I hate losing Fast. I own his jersey. But we don't know the entire story. Was he tired of being here? Was he unhappy because the Rangers staff wouldn't clear him during the play in round and he felt he was ready to go? Does the Rangers medical staff feel he will break down in 12-18 months?

Also remember, $2 million in NY is not the same as $2 million in Raleigh. Maybe he wanted $3 million from the Rangers.

As many have said and are finally starting to realize, NY is not a place for everyone to live in. I'm not going to have another NY bashing post but to sum it up: the infrastructure sucks, the women are impossible, and all the mystique and aura of NY is nostalgia. Mike Vacarro every six months from the NY Post writes another emo article about how we're in the worst sports drought of this region's history. Why is Boston doing so well but NY can't? I hope the Rangers are the one to break this. Look: The internet, facetime, working remote have taken away NY's competitive advantage. I applaud how the city has handled covid but it's time to upgrade post pandemic. Fast is married, he doesn't need the NYC nightlife.

With that said sign Nieto or Grabner as a replacement.

2. Sergachev: My trade proposals from Briesbois's POV have been trashed and that's fine but if anyone is going to say I'm whack, then I respond by saying you come up with what you think is a fair package that Tampa would accept given their cap situation. And TDA/Buch/Robertson isn't going to get it done.

 

[HFsNumber1Heel]

Chicago is overrated on this thread.

I did a Milwaukee and Chicago baseball trip with some friends May 2019. Milwaukee >>>>>>> Chicago. I mean both were fun but I felt zero connection with Chicago.

 

[kovazub94]

Spot on, now would you mind sleeping on the Johnson signing and report back.

@SingnBluesOnBroadway had it covered in JJ own thread if you missed it.

 

[Avery16]

I did a Milwaukee and Chicago baseball trip with some friends May 2019. Milwaukee >>>>>>> Chicago. I mean both were fun but I felt zero connection with Chicago.

Chicago is pretty, but it might be harder to live there than NYC, and that’s really saying something. Plus, those winters.

 

[PuckLuck3043]

Chicago is overrated on this thread.

Chicago is a nice place to visit, just make sure you carry an M16.

 

[broadwayblue]

Two Sunday Morning points and please read my entire post before yelling at me (I'm turning into one of my coworkers lol).

1. I hate losing Fast. I own his jersey. But we don't know the entire story. Was he tired of being here? Was he unhappy because the Rangers staff wouldn't clear him during the play in round and he felt he was ready to go? Does the Rangers medical staff feel he will break down in 12-18 months?

Also remember, $2 million in NY is not the same as $2 million in Raleigh. Maybe he wanted $3 million from the Rangers.

As many have said and are finally starting to realize, NY is not a place for everyone to live in. I'm not going to have another NY bashing post but to sum it up: the infrastructure sucks, the women are impossible, and all the mystique and aura of NY is nostalgia. The internet, facetime, working remote have taken away NY's competitive advantage. I applaud how the city has handled covid but it's time to upgrade post pandemic. Fast is married, he doesn't need the NYC nightlife.

With that said sign Nieto or Grabner as a replacement.

2. Sergachev: My trade proposals from Briesbois's POV have been trashed and that's fine but if anyone is going to say I'm whack, then I respond by saying you come up with what you think is a fair package that Tampa would accept given their cap situation. And TDA/Buch/Robertson isn't going to get it done.

Maybe the organization wanted to keep him but didn't have the confidence regarding available cap space as mentioned above. Or maybe they wanted to go in a different direction for the composition of the team. Or maybe Fast wanted a change of scenery or a different role. Could be a lot of things.

He was definitely a useful player for us, but he isn't part of the core, so I'm not really broken up about it. Ideally he could have been dealt at the deadline, but hindsight is 20/20 and the team was trying to make the playoffs so it was unlikely they would have moved him anyway.

Best of luck to Fast.

 

[HFsNumber1Heel]

LA is an entirely different beast if you're rich. And LA rich is at least seven figures. It's undeniably a destination city for professional athletes. Kings players aren't sitting in rush hour traffic anyway. Profession athletes don't really hang out with regular people. And, honestly, what city, other than NY, can even compare with the sheer number of incredibly, truly top-tier, beautiful women? Not to mention the food...

I've lived in LA before both with and without a car. It's a lot like Atlanta where if you don't have a car you are cooked.

It can be affordable but you're going to have between 2-6 roommates and some will be trying to make it in the entertainment industry, some will not have day jobs and be drifters, and some will be involved in some shady business. I've seen it all.

Gas is super expensive and if you're not spending it on that it's on Uber.

It can also be the most lonely city in the world because if you don't know anyone or have a very limited social circle and you don't have a car, you need to pay a lot of money to do anything.

Athletes as you said don't have to worry about this kind of stuff though. I'm sure Duguay had a blast playing there the end of his career.

 

[SingnBluesOnBroadway]

Spot on, now would you mind sleeping on the Johnson signing and report back.

My quick thoughts on the Johnson signing:

1) He's a true stopgap that allows the Rangers to not rush a prospect and let young players stay where they are during a very different time. Minimize the change.
2) He has familiarity with Martin's system
3) He's being seen as a veteran 6/7 defenseman and, if any younger player (say Hajek), outperforms him is easily shifted to street clothes. Meaning he's not going to block anyone.
4) This move is more about giving the Rangers the flexibility with their younger players than it is thinking that Johnson will be a major contributor or is a long-term solution.
5) Think of this as being very similar to when they traded for Adam McQuid.

 

[lhg39]

Do you not think they tried to trade him? and likely sweetened the deal with a player or pick?

I would think the issue with Fast was the third year. They are going to need every penny to be able resign Zibanejad and the kids who will be entering RFA. It stinks to lose him, but from that perspective I understand.

 

[HFsNumber1Heel]

Fast leaving might open up a bigger role for Barron who I expect to make the team and be all over the place lineup wise.

There is also Tim Gettinger. This is a big year for him it's either make the team as a grinding 4th liner/PKer or turn into Dane Byers 2.0

It's ok to let players leave sometimes. Lou did it all the time when the Devils were winning Cups. Just have a plan.

 

[Minmonster]

My quick thoughts on the Johnson signing:

1) He's a true stopgap that allows the Rangers to not rush a prospect and let young players stay where they are during a very different time. Minimize the change.
2) He has familiarity with Martin's system
3) He's being seen as a veteran 6/7 defenseman and, if any younger player (say Hajek), outperforms him is easily shifted to street clothes. Meaning he's not going to block anyone.
4) This move is more about giving the Rangers the flexibility with their younger players than it is thinking that Johnson will be a major contributor or is a long-term solution.
5) Think of this as being very similar to when they traded for Adam McQuid.

I would have preferred McQuad at 1.1. Isn't being tough to play against a priority this offseason?

 

[Tawnos]

My quick thoughts on the Johnson signing:

1) He's a true stopgap that allows the Rangers to not rush a prospect and let young players stay where they are during a very different time. Minimize the change.
2) He has familiarity with Martin's system
3) He's being seen as a veteran 6/7 defenseman and, if any younger player (say Hajek), outperforms him is easily shifted to street clothes. Meaning he's not going to block anyone.
4) This move is more about giving the Rangers the flexibility with their younger players than it is thinking that Johnson will be a major contributor or is a long-term solution.
5) Think of this as being very similar to when they traded for Adam McQuid.

There was a lot of consternation that McQuaid was going to block kids, but he only ended up playing 36 games for the Rangers and was behind DeAngelo and Pionk in both games played and TOI/G.

 

[RangerBoy]

The Rangers play could be to buyout Brendan Smith in the 2nd buyout window in November. The arbitration hearings run from October 20-November 8. The Rangers have 4 cases so the hearing dates will be spaced out. Jeff Gorton did the same thing with Kevin Shattenkirk last August. The Rangers needed to make one more move after paying Artemi Panarin and Jacob Trouba. Gorton will look to move Smith in a trade but he can buy Smith out after the Rangers have settled their last arbitration case.

The Rangers would clear $1,556,667 in space for this season. Cap hit of $2,783,333 for 20-21 and $783,333 for 21-22. The Rangers buyout money jumps to $15,777,777 for 20-21. The Rangers gain more flexibility for this season and the cap hit for 21-22 is cheap. Instead of the Rangers clearing the entire $4.35M for Smith after this season, the Rangers clear $3,566,667. Not much of a difference.

The Rangers will shed a significant amount of money with the buyouts to Henrik Lundqvist and Kevin Shattenkirk dropping from 20-21 to 21-22. Ryan Spooner's $300,000 comes off the books. Add Smith's buyout money.

The Rangers added JMFJ. Are the Rangers really playing both JMFJ and Smith on the same defense? The Rangers need to expose a signed D for 21-22 who will play 70 combined games in 19-20 and 20-21 or 40 games in 20-21 in the expansion draft. Anthony Bitetto can satisfy that requirement. He needs to play 19 games in 20-21 to reach 70 combined games. He played 51 games for Winnipeg last season. Give the young guys like Tarmo Reunanen, Libor Hajek and KAM an opportunity. The Rangers don't really have room for Smith. JMFJ makes him expendable. Bitetto is cheap at $737,500. He helps the Rangers with the expansion draft requirement.

The Rangers need to expose two signed forwards for 21-22. Kevin Rooney played 49 games for the Devils last season. He needs 21 this season. $750,000 cap hit. He fits the Rangers cap. Colin Blackwell played 27 games last season for Nashville. He needs to play 40 games this season to be compliant. $725,000 cap hit. Both of them are signed for 21-22. They fit the cap.

The two Domink's are available. Dominik Kahun and Dominik Simon. Both of them would be good options. Both of them are familiar with Jacques Martin. Simon had shoulder surgery in May. He should be ready by November or December. 6-7 months. Michael Grabner is another option.



The Rangers take the Smith buyout savings and sign another cheaper forward. They would still have money left over.

 

[bobbop]

Greene is not much of an improvement over Smith. Honestly, I think Smith did as well as we could have hoped for after he became Trouba’s partner. And again he’s overtaken by a youngster, he’s still useful from a roster / spare part(s) perspective.

Disagree, Greene was excellent in the playoffs and while not my first choice, he should be under consideration. I expect he will be back with the Devils though.

 

[Tawnos]

The Rangers play could be to buyout Brendan Smith in the 2nd buyout window in November. The arbitration hearings run from October 20-November 8. The Rangers have 4 cases so the hearing dates will be spaced out. Jeff Gorton did the same thing with Kevin Shattenkirk last August. The Rangers needed to make one more move after paying Artemi Panarin and Jacob Trouba. Gorton will look to move Smith in a trade but he can buy Smith out after the Rangers have settled their last arbitration case.

The Rangers would clear $1,556,667 in space for this season. Cap hit of $2,783,333 for 20-21 and $783,333 for 21-22. The Rangers buyout money jumps to $15,777,777 for 20-21. The Rangers gain more flexibility for this season and the cap hit for 21-22 is cheap. Instead of the Rangers clearing the entire $4.35M for Smith after this season, the Rangers clear $3,566,667. Not much of a difference.

The Rangers will shed a significant amount of money with the buyouts to Henrik Lundqvist and Kevin Shattenkirk dropping from 20-21 to 21-22. Ryan Spooner's $300,000 comes off the books. Add Smith's buyout money.

The Rangers added JMFJ. Are the Rangers really playing both JMFJ and Smith on the same defense? The Rangers need to expose a signed D for 21-22 who will play 70 combined games in 19-20 and 20-21 or 40 games in 20-21 in the expansion draft. Anthony Bitetto can satisfy that requirement. He needs to play 19 games in 20-21 to reach 70 combined games. He played 51 games for Winnipeg last season. Give the young guys like Tarmo Reunanen, Libor Hajek and KAM an opportunity. The Rangers don't really have room for Smith. JMFJ makes him expendable. Bitetto is cheap at $737,500. He helps the Rangers with the expansion draft requirement.

The Rangers need to expose two signed forwards for 21-22. Kevin Rooney played 49 games for the Devils last season. He needs 21 this season. $750,000 cap hit. He fits the Rangers cap. Colin Blackwell played 27 games last season for Nashville. He needs to play 40 games this season to be compliant. $725,000 cap hit. Both of them are signed for 21-22. They fit the cap.

The two Domink's are available. Dominik Kahun and Dominik Simon. Both of them would be good options. Both of them are familiar with Jacques Martin. Simon had shoulder surgery in May. He should be ready by November or December. 6-7 months. Michael Grabner is another option.



The Rangers take the Smith buyout savings and sign another cheaper forward. They would still have money left over.

You say that it's not much of a difference between Smith's salary and the total amount they spend on the buyout, but if there are concerns about bonuses carrying over into next season, it's possible that cap would be dead next season in either case.