Is Anton Stralman in a Tenuous Spot with Rangers?

[Mikos87]

I think you're wrong. But whatever.

Whether he can or can't doesn't matter. The best coaches in the league all line up their sticks on defense.

The reason for that is teams can force a guy to turn to defend on zone entries and dump ins on their off side. With how fast the game is at the NHL level, that split second difference can make all the difference in the world.

Perfect example of this is the Devils vs Flyers in the 2012 playoffs. Flyers sported 6 LHD on defense... 6. The Devils just used a cross corner dump on the D on his off side, and pinned the Flyers in their zone all series long. Needless to say it was a very short series, and a big reason why they traded JVR for RHD Schenn.

 

[DudMan28]

What about Diaz? Any chance we brought him in to be a bottom pair RD next year? Apparently he brings some offense which everyone on here is clamoring for. Never seen him play so this is purely speculation. I would have to imagine him and Moore on the bottom pair would be a nightmare.

 

[Mikos87]

What about Diaz? Any chance we brought him in to be a bottom pair RD next year? Apparently he brings some offense which everyone on here is clamoring for. Never seen him play so this is purely speculation. I would have to imagine him and Moore on the bottom pair would be a nightmare.

Yeah Diaz is probably Swiss league bound after this season. Just depth for this year. Not exactly a mistake free defenseman against bigger faster stronger forwards.

If he was an A level skater he'd play every day. The Rangers simply don't have 4 legitimate top 4 defenseman. They have 3 guys that can fill in for sure yeah, but you need 4 defenseman that can handle 20+ a night against top tier teams, and the Rangers only have 3. This is where the Del Zotto deal will hurt.

Klein never played top 4 minutes on a contender, and Stralman is struggling as the games are getting more important. All of those guys in the 4-6 roles can go up against bottom line competition without worry.

But the current 4-6 will be challenged greatly with teams that sport to top offensive lines, or forwards with size and skill.

 

[17futurecap]

The Post has learned Anton Stralman rejected the Rangers’ offer prior to the Olympics for an extension believed in the three-year, $9 million range, which is somewhat shocking. The Blueshirts, who have righty Kevin Klein on the third pair at $2.9 million, will take another go at it after the season. If they succeed in extending Stralman, that would seem to throw a detour into Dylan McIlrath’s path to Broadway.

http://nypost.com/2014/03/08/devils-played-bettmans-game/

Not sure why Brooks thinks that it's shocking? I think he can get over 3 a year on the market.

 

[Crease]

I see Stralman in the $3.5m to $3.75m range.

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

I see Stralman in the $3.5m to $3.75m range.

I'd say closer to $3.75M-$4.25M.

 

[haohmaru]

Time to reevaluate signing Stralman if he wants north of 3.5M/Per. Not because he isn't worth it, but that might not fit with what the Rangers have to spend to fill out the team.

 

[Vitto79]

nypost.com/2014/03/08/devils-played-bettmans-game/

Over 3 million won't be a good cap hit. This is why Diaz is in. Sign him for a million and let mcilrath compete in camp too

 

[Doctyl]

Stralman is easily worth 4 million a year. Although if Sather wants to get UFA happy on us in the offseason I could see why he wouldn't want to pay Stralman.

 

[SupersonicMonkey*]

Where is the cap space coming from to pay Stralman 4+ million?

If Sather weren't such a distracted, procrastinating old, demented fool, he could have concentrated on the larger picture, rather than St. Louis and St. Louis alone. Oh and Diaz at the last minute to make it look like he did more than he actually did.

He should have been working on ALL the expiring contracts all season. And he should have been laying ground work for trades involving the expiring contracts all season. Now we are set to lose a good portion of the roster for nothing via free agency.

If the fool keeps Richards that's the cherry on top.

Stralman could have been dealt for some size, grit, and depth on the wing. Now he's going to price himself out.

UFA
Stralman
D. Moore
Boyle
Pouliot
Carcillo
Diaz

RFA
Brassard
Kreider
Zuccarello
J. Moore
Falk

Summer 2015:
UFA
Staal
St. Louis
Dorsett
Talbot

RFA
Stepan
Hagelin

Sather can't multitask to save his life, he's going to figure all that out?

 

[NYR Viper]

Sign him. 3-4 years at 3.5 million. Play it out and use one of the dmen as a trade chip as one of the younger guys shows they're ready.

 

[Fitzy]

That some of you didn't want to pay Callahan 5 million but would hand Stralman just a bit less is baffling.

He's worth about 3 million a year, if he asks for more let him go.

 

[Mikos87]

I'd let him walk. He isn't that offensive RHD that the team needs. There is Kevin Klein who is the same type of defensemen with the same capabilities that is signed to a cheaper deal.

Let him walk and bring up McIlrath. If Dylan isn't ready a cheap option on the bottom pair can be used to fill in.

Stralman will get $4M for 5 years or so in the open market. The league isn't filled with RHD that can play so someone will overpay. Stralman on a money contract is not a value add for the team.

 

[Clown Fiesta]

He's been a little less solid this season, but effectively resurrected his career here. Really like him, if he ends up accepting a fair offer I'd love to have him back. If he wants to test the market he's earned that right at this point. Guys played above his pay for us for awhile now.

 

[True Blue]

I don't really disagree with anything you said, but you kinda missed the point of my post. His value in terms of putting out a team that can win games this year was greater than the return he would have brought at the deadline, which was a 3rd round pick at best judging by the rest of the market. Resigning him is another matter.

Fair. He can also be traded before the free agent window in an attempt to recoup assets.

 

[True Blue]

I'd say closer to $3.75M-$4.25M.

At that price, he should not be brought back.

 

[KreiMeARiver*]

3.5 x 3 best offer or cyalaterbye

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

At that price, he should not be brought back.

I'd probably walk away from him regardless at this point. Love Stralman, but Klein is signed to a cheap hit for the next few years, and we have Allen/McIlrath on the verge at RD. One of them will win that spot in camp and be much cheaper than Stralman.

 

[True Blue]

I'd probably walk away from him regardless at this point. Love Stralman, but Klein is signed to a cheap hit for the next few years, and we have Allen/McIlrath on the verge at RD. One of them will win that spot in camp and be much cheaper than Stralman.

I do not disagree. I would see what he can fetch in the time leading up to free agency.

 

[AHB*]

I'd probably walk away from him regardless at this point. Love Stralman, but Klein is signed to a cheap hit for the next few years, and we have Allen/McIlrath on the verge at RD. One of them will win that spot in camp and be much cheaper than Stralman.

Agreed, I think Allen is ready. I also like Diaz.

Honestly, Stralman was great to start the year, but since Klein came in, he's been passed on the depth chart.

I really really liked what i saw from Allen when he was up this year also. I'd have no problem going into the season with:

McD-Girardi
Staal-Klein
Moore-Allen/McIlrath/Diaz

Keep Falk as the 7th if he wants. Otherwise sign some Eminger type guy that will be fine sitting on the bench for a cheap hit.

Stralman shouldn't be kept unless it's for less then 3 million, which it won't be. There's no way we should be allocated 3+Million for our bottom pairing D-Man. Especially with a raise due to Staal after next year.

We have to be smart with our cap space. Especially with the CDN likely not holding up well and therefore the cap not rising as much as anticipated.

We have raises this off-season coming to

Brassard
Zucc
Kreider
J.Moore

Then we have to pay possibly slightly more to keep:

Carcillo
Boyle
D. Moore
Pouliot

The year after next we have to raise/re-sign:

Staal
MSL (maybe he takes a similar deal to now, please)
Stepan
Hags
Talbot

Now, not all those guys will return/be raised, and if they want to much, I'd let some walk, specifically Carcillo, Boyle, Moore, Talbot, etc, although I think they'll all be fair and signed to similar deals as now.

But a handful will be getting signifcant raises. We still need to improve in certain areas also.

Let Stralman go.

 

[Raymones]

Sign him. 3-4 years at 3.5 million. Play it out and use one of the dmen as a trade chip as one of the younger guys shows they're ready.

This. I hope they try to keep this d-corps together. I see him getting between 3.3-3.5 for 3-4 years. He definitely earned it. Great corsi stats but doesn't produce enough to get 4 million plus. Maybe if he chose the UFA route, but I find that unlikely.

 

[RangerBoy]

Anton Stralman's agent, Marc Levine, told the Daily News via email on Sunday afternoon that a report of the Rangers defenseman rejecting a contract offer believed in the three-year, $9 million range was "false." Levine did not elaborate

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/h...ank-red-wings-article-1.1715893#ixzz2vVnTbMnQ

Maybe the Rangers never made an offer.

McKenzie tweeted Klein was possibly acquired as protection in case of Girardi leaving but Girardi stayed. Do the Rangers like Stralman better than Klein? The 3 years and $9M in one year less than Klein last left on his contract? Stralman hasn't played well since the break. Samuelsson has paired Klein and Stralman with Staal. Sign Stralman and trade Klein?

 

[aufheben]

I'd say closer to $3.75M-$4.25M.

Yeesh. Idk. Stralman isn't a defensemen you overpay for in the Rangers current situation.

 

[Mikos87]

Yeesh. Idk. Stralman isn't a defensemen you overpay for in the Rangers current situation.

Yeah he will immediately become a whipping boy as soon as he gets a $3M+ contract. You aren't talking about an impact player here, just someone that is reliable, and who has a ready made replacement in Klein already on the roster. The two are so alike that most times I can't tell the difference, and I mean that as a compliment.

I would much rather sign Dan Boyle after San Jose's annual flame out on a 1 year deal to reunite the TB band since the Rangers need a top 4 offensive RHD.

Ideally I'd like to see:

Mac-G
Staal-Boyle
Moore-Klein

That is a rock solid D core. Perhaps the deepest in the league with 4 guys that can eat top pair minutes and two mobile stretch 4s that can match up against any bottom 6.

Would anyone in their right mind give 4.25 and term to Stralman if D.Boyle can be had for 5.5 on a one year deal?

 

[Blue Blooded]

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/h...ank-red-wings-article-1.1715893#ixzz2vVnTbMnQ

Maybe the Rangers never made an offer.

McKenzie tweeted Klein was possibly acquired as protection in case of Girardi leaving but Girardi stayed. Do the Rangers like Stralman better than Klein? The 3 years and $9M in one year less than Klein last left on his contract? Stralman hasn't played well since the break. Samuelsson has paired Klein and Stralman with Staal. Sign Stralman and trade Klein?

Has Strålman been playing worse since the break? I don't think so. He's been playing Strålman hockey - pushing the play while making a noticeable mistake here and there.

They have been trying Klein with Staal at times, which is prudent as they need to make a decision on whom to keep (or to keep both). Staal-Klein hasn't been working out well at all though and they were stuck in their own end a lot while Moore-Strålman suddenly managed to spend most of their time in the offensive zone. When the usual pairings play, Moore-Klein are stuck in our end while Staal-Strålman are spending most of their shifts in the offensive zone (despite starting in the defensive zone a lot more than Moore-Klein, weird right?).

The fact is that Strålman has proven to be by far our best defenceman at driving play and maintaining puck possession, and considering that it is the way we are moving forward with this team it would be very stupid to let him go in favor of Torts type of defenceman in Kevin Klein.