Speculation: Is Henrik really in the driver's seat?

[charliemurphy]

Had to chime in since I rarely do... this gif is a pisser and sums it up.
There is just way too much of talk of trading cornerstone type players and their value. Players like Lundqvist don't come around too often. He's one of the home grown players they're building around.
Those of us that posted around here around the lockout knew this process was long term.
Lundqvist stays put for another 6-8 years.
Unless the Rangers win the Cup this year, Richards is off the books in the offseason. Target a couple of FAs and take it from there.

 

[vladmyir111]

Snarkyness aside, he's 32. Is it worth giving someone an 8 year contract for maybe 5 good years at such a cap hit?

Most people can see the answer is no. Though something most people don't talk about here is I seriously doubt he's expecting max hit max length. Guy has to realize he's not getting 8 years and at 8 per. The ****** season he is having is hopefully cementing that in his head.

Have you noticed how pissed he is after almost every single goal this season though? He's been emotional over the years, but I kind of get the feeling the whole contract thing is bothering him a lot more than most would think. He's not Marty or Roy (or himself) in the late 20s, we're not winning a cup with a ****** team riding on his back no matter what anyone thinks.

 

[RangersHank*]

Snarkyness aside, he's 32. Is it worth giving someone an 8 year contract for maybe 5 good years at such a cap hit?

Most people can see the answer is no. Though something most people don't talk about here is I seriously doubt he's expecting max hit max length. Guy has to realize he's not getting 8 years and at 8 per. The ****** season he is having is hopefully cementing that in his head.

Have you noticed how pissed he is after almost every single goal this season though? He's been emotional over the years, but I kind of get the feeling the whole contract thing is bothering him a lot more than most would think. He's not Marty or Roy (or himself) in the late 20s, we're not winning a cup with a ****** team riding on his back no matter what anyone thinks.

I think the lack of goals is frustrating him more than anything. He will get paid regardless

 

[Boom Boom Geoffrion*]

he's 32.

He's actually 31.

- 3 1 -

 

[Brooklyn Ranger]

I seriously doubt anyone involved in on-ice personnel decisions reads this site. I would not be shocked at all if people in marketing, sales, in-game entertainment read the site.

That's what I meant--sorry it wasn't clear.

 

[Brooklyn Ranger]

I doubt any team will give up any significant assets for an UFA goalie with big caphit like Hank at the trade deadline. Better to keep him so he can back up Talbot, who will be #1, in the playoffs.

Talbot will probably continue to play well and Sather will simply re-sign Talbot and let Lundqvist go wherever he wants in free agency. It was a nice run Hank but this is the end for you on this team.

This is something I have never done before,

but

Your post(s) bring what have you done for me lately to a whole new level.

 

[Lindberg Cheese]

Does the King's customized Lambo drive him or does he drive it?

 

[Fataldogg]

Yes. Even if Sather wanted to use Talbot as leverage (which would be a big mistake), Lundqvist can use the open market for leverage. If Sather offers Lundqvist $7 million, you can bet your bottom dollar there is a team out there willing to give him $8 million. If Sather offers him $7.5, there is a team that will pay him $8.5 million. We've seen players like Clarkson land nearly $6 million on the open market. Lundqvist will grab more than that.

Than people argue there is a limited market for goaltenders. That's not entirely true. When Lundqvist hits the market, teams would be willing to move around assets to acquire him.

Penguins? Dump Fleury's salary and acquire Lundqvist (and this could be a reality IF he gets bombed again in the playoffs). Capitals, move Holtby for a young top-6 forward (adding forward depth) and acquire Lundqvist with several more prime years making a run for the Cup (because the Capitals will need to make a more serious run while Ovechkin is still in his prime). Leafs? They have never been happy with the goaltending, outside of this year, which it has been great for them, and if it crumbles, I can consider them putting in an offer. Islanders? New arena. New faces. Might take quite an offer to attract Lundqvist given how poorly they have performed, but if the Islanders can bounce back to a playoff position I'm sure there would be some consideration. And no, Lundqvist wouldn't turn down a lucrative offer from a rival team because they are a rival.

I can picture Tampa Bay, Carolina, Anaheim, and Edmonton all inquiring too.

A lot can happen on the open market, and for a player with Lundqvist's resume, he will grab a sizable contract.

At the end of the day, if he doesn't want to be a Ranger, he won't be. Regardless of what is offered to him. I can see him taking less money elsewhere to play on a more competent team.

 

[nikonsniper*]

When was the last time a big, true, in his prime top level goaltender a free agent?

a Luongo, Miller, Roy, Brodeur, or Kipper, etc

 

[MGF0723]

I just have the feeling that Lundqvist will not be returning next season. I don't see him being traded so, with that being said, what decent goalie would more than likely be testing free agency after this season? It seems that many would be free agents have been locked up by their respective teams already.

 

[NYRangers84]

I just have the feeling that Lundqvist will not be returning next season. I don't see him being traded so, with that being said, what decent goalie would more than likely be testing free agency after this season? It seems that many would be free agents have been locked up by their respective teams already.

Tim Thomas? Not sure which UFA goalies are going to be truly free, anyone have an idea?

Worst case seems that Lundqvist leaves and we don't get another proven starter. Then we'd have Talbot with nobody good backing him up.

 

[Cake or Death]

Brooks posted an impressive stat:

"Who told Vigneault that Lundqvist couldn’t or shouldn’t play back-to-back? The fellow fibbed to the coach. Over the previous three seasons, the Rangers had 34 sets of back-to-back games. Lundqvist started both ends 28 times, going 20-6-2 with seven shutouts in the second game, including last spring’s playoff Game 7 whitewash of the Capitals."

28 back-to-backs, with a 20-6-2 record and a 1 in 4 shutout ratio on the second night. Wow. Hank has been so excellent, for so long, it's understandable how easy it could be for some to get used to it and take him for granted. But the dude has been absolutely stellar during his career.

 

[Crease]

I don't think many posters take for granted how great Lundqvist has been for the Rangers. I think some posters are just sensitive to the idea of the Rangers issuing yet another retirement contract. Gomez, Drury, Redden, Richards. We've been burned over and over again with retirement contracts.

Lundqvist deserves his retirement contract from Rangers more than any of those mercenaries. But that doesn't make the contract any less risky. Or make it an efficient use of cap space .

 

[Cake or Death]

I don't think many posters take for granted how great Lundqvist has been for the Rangers. I think some posters are just sensitive to the idea of the Rangers issuing yet another retirement contract. Gomez, Drury, Redden, Richards. We've been burned over and over again with retirement contracts.

Lundqvist deserves his retirement contract from Rangers more than any of those mercenaries. But that doesn't make the contract any less risky. Or make it an efficient use of cap space .

Most don't him for granted, but there are more than a few who seem to forget how exceptionally well he's played. And again, when you see something constantly I think it is easier to take it for granted.

Your points are valid. But he's 31 and goalies can age well. And in contrast to the examples, he had his best years here so we at least know what he can do first hand. And by and large, and I commonly get this opinion from people from all over the world, including tons of friends in Canada, he is still regarded as the best in the league... and it will take more than a patchy start to undo that. Not suggesting it isn't risky. But letting him walk and trying to trade him carry their own risks, too.

 

[Ola]

OP- Yup.

Seriously though, I get the lure with moving Hank and going with a cheaper option.

There is definitely an argument that can be made that makes sense in theory and has proven to be correct IRL too. I.e. you can get 7m production from a 3m goalie but you cannot get 7m production from a 3m forward. Stepan never as good as Malkin on the ice. Talbot can be as good as Hank on the ice. Playing the net can be argued to be digital, you save the puck or not. A center hit the ice affacts the game in a zillion diffrent ways from the first second. (and then this can be nuanced of course, more arguments can be made both ways)

But, -- the time for the above thinking is not now --. Its waaaay too soon. We just have no option other than resigning Hank. Then we can see what to do, IF Talbot proves ready to challenge for a starting position. Hank could get a NMC or whatever, tough luck for Slats. Things could still be one. Hank wouldn't want to stay in NY as a back-up anyway, while he probably could choose where to go.

Its the same thing with Callahan and Girardi. Resigning them is better than not resigning them. Thats just the way it is. There is a teorethical pain-limit somewhere down the road. Cally shouldn't get like 49m over 7 years no matter what. But it just seems very likely that we will be best of by resining them. People arguing otherwise are narrowminded. They are comparing a bad decision with a made up optimal option that does not excist. We would probably be choosing between an un-optimal choice (resigning them) and an even worse alternative.

 

[Hariken]

You can't live on old merits in todays NHL. Right now Lundqvist is average and Talbot is outplaying him. He is also past his prime and is only going to get older and slower. Talbot on the other hand, is just entering his prime and will be a much cheaper and better option compared to re-signing Lundqvist to a massive contract based on his old merits. This team should start matching Talbot as a true #1 because he is the future in net.

 

[Nightshift]

Personally id trade Callahan and Girardi if NHL ready younger players are available as centerpieces. Both could be extremely valuable to true playoff contenders and fetch a handsome return. I just cant see paying Cally 5.5 - 6mil to be a top end 3rd liner. As for Girardi, you have to admire his game but the way he plays create ripe conditions for a rapid decline in his early 30's. He already seems to have lost a little foot speed. Retooling is the way to go at the deadline provided the right deals are available.

 

[Siddi]

You can't live on old merits in todays NHL. Right now Lundqvist is average and Talbot is outplaying him. He is also past his prime and is only going to get older and slower. Talbot on the other hand, is just entering his prime and will be a much cheaper and better option compared to re-signing Lundqvist to a massive contract based on his old merits. This team should start matching Talbot as a true #1 because he is the future in net.

Give it up already! Your schtick is getting old

 

[Brooklyn Ranger]

You can't live on old merits in todays NHL. Right now Lundqvist is average and Talbot is outplaying him. He is also past his prime and is only going to get older and slower. Talbot on the other hand, is just entering his prime and will be a much cheaper and better option compared to re-signing Lundqvist to a massive contract based on his old merits. This team should start matching Talbot as a true #1 because he is the future in net.

You get one more

 

[Doctyl]

Personally id trade Callahan and Girardi if NHL ready younger players are available as centerpieces. Both could be extremely valuable to true playoff contenders and fetch a handsome return. I just cant see paying Cally 5.5 - 6mil to be a top end 3rd liner. As for Girardi, you have to admire his game but the way he plays create ripe conditions for a rapid decline in his early 30's. He already seems to have lost a little foot speed. Retooling is the way to go at the deadline provided the right deals are available.

as much as i love cally he is a 3rd liner pk pp specialist. i hate girardi. i completely agree as long as we get solid pieces back for them.

 

[Doctyl]

You can't live on old merits in todays NHL. Right now Lundqvist is average and Talbot is outplaying him. He is also past his prime and is only going to get older and slower. Talbot on the other hand, is just entering his prime and will be a much cheaper and better option compared to re-signing Lundqvist to a massive contract based on his old merits. This team should start matching Talbot as a true #1 because he is the future in net.

you do realize talbot isnt that much younger than hank and is just starting his nhl career right? its incredibly foolish calling him the future. im not surprised by this at all though same thing happened with chad johnson

 

[Oak]

I appreciate everything Hank has done but this new contract is ridiculous. He should have gotten 4 years max at maybe 6-7 mil per. Even if they would have kept it 8 mil which I dont like no way in hell should they have given him a contract this long, especially when he is having his worst season in a while.

I'm gonna put myself in a time capsule somebody come get me when Sather is gone.

 

[Crease]

We can close this now.