Confirmed with Link: Rangers re-sign Derek Stepan [2 years, $6.15M, $3.075M AAV]

[RangerBoy]

Stepan is going to roll into camp by Monday and sign a contract so he gets paid. The season begins on Tuesday.

 

[JohnC]

I think the Franson signing is a good sign

 

[The Gloaming]

Some people are taking this way to much at heart. We're already giving him stupid nicknames?

Stupid nicknames are researved for Brad Richards.

 

[16 To Stanley*]

Remember that time Staal didn't play for like, 2 seasons, and everyone started to forget how good he was, and called him overrated?

Somehow, that's already happening with Stepan

Staal was an established #1 pairing D-man, for multiple 82 game seasons.

Stepan played like a #1 C for 48 games.

Not even close to comparable and on these Rangers boards, he is becoming overrated. People calling him a top 10 center, give me a break.

There's a huge difference between POTENTIAL and what he is now.

Listen guys, I am not saying I want to see Sather offer-sheeted (I am a Ranger fan), I am just saying there would be a small part that feels he deserves it.

And if reports are correct Stepan has agreed to sign a bridge deal for 3.5 which is a considerable haircut compared to the recent deals of Kadri and Hodgeson. Anything less than that is Sather just screwing his own guy because of his horrible cap situation he has gotten himself into. Yes, if Stepan continues his trajectory he will sign a huge deal in two years regardless, but trying to pay him half of what he is worth based upon market value because of the cap situation Sather has gotten himself into is just wrong IMO.

If you don't see 3.5 as a more than fair deal for the Rangers I dunno what world you are living in. As a guy on national radio said yesterday, I'll paraphrase: "When Stepan says he will sign for 3.5 you immediately send a private jet to pick him up and sign the contract - I dunno what Sather is doing here unless it's all about not being able to sign him for that because of the cap and if that's the case maybe Brad Richards should have been bought out - If Stepan offers to play for 3.5 and you say no then call him out for holding out, there are major issues here, and it's not with the player, it's with the GM. - Stepan is a rare talent, could make the US Olympic team, is in the beginning of his career, and 3.5 is a total bargain when looking at market comparables - when and if the deal finally gets done or not this whole situation is horrible for a young guy who seems to want nothing more than to play for the team he was drafted for and is willing to get underpaid to do so - he just doesn't want minimum wage, because he has proved he is better, he scored the second most points in the NHL during the last 20 games last season and Sather is trying to pay him, what? nearldy half of what Kadri and Hodgeson got? This is insane. "

3.5 is a total bargain? Stepan is worth more than Giroux, Subban, Couture, Kadri, all paid less.

I hope the guy above who posted all the contracts makes you feel better. Stepan has already been offered absolutely fair value.

 

[mgftp]

Regarding Sather, what horrible cap situation are you talking about? Sather knew exactly how much he was going to allot to re-signing Stepan. It was decided months ago that Stepan wouldn't get more than 2 years and we can easily afford to give him 3.5 mil. So where is this horrible cap situation?

If you think the Richards contract isn't a bad cap situation I guess we will just have to disagree. But it's just one example of many over-paid over-aged players at the end of their career getting top dollar long term deals, Drury, Gomez, and Redden to name a few others. I don't see how Sather being the worst Salary cap GM is even arguable with his track record, but I guess it's an opinion.

But if you think Sather can afford 3.5 why don't we have anywhere near that in cap room right now and why isn't Stepan getting 3.5?

 

[Callagraves]

Staal was an established #1 pairing D-man, for multiple 82 game seasons.

Stepan played like a #1 C for 48 games.

Not even close to comparable and on these Rangers boards, he is becoming overrated. People calling him a top 10 center, give me a break.

There's a huge difference between POTENTIAL and what he is now.

Stepan showed his Potential, and that he found out how to stay consistent.

His first season, he put up 45 points. His next, 51 points. Third season? 44 points in HALF A SEASON.

It's pretty tough to overrate that.

 

[Gardner McKay]

If you don't think the Richards contract isn't a bad cap situation I guess we will just have to disagree. But it's just one example of many over-paid over-aged players at the end of their career getting top dollar long term deals, Drury, Gomez, and Redden to name a few others. I don't see how Sather being the worst Salary cap GM is even arguable with his track record, but I guess it's an opinion.

But if you think Sather can afford 3.5 why don't we have anywhere near that in cap room right now and why isn't Stepan getting 3.5?

Why pay more than you need to. Just because you can spend 35k on a car doesn't mean you want to pay 35k if you don't have to. Maybe you want to leave some extra room for upgrades to the car and have a cap of what you want to spend at 32k.

 

[mgftp]

Why pay more than you need to. Just because you can spend 35k on a car doesn't mean you want to pay 35k if you don't have to. Maybe you want to leave some extra room for upgrades to the car and have a cap of what you want to spend at 32k.

I just think undercutting him that much is pointless, you don't have him in camp, might not even start the season. For what to underpay him by 70% instead of 80%. Doesn't make sense to me.

 

[GAGLine]

If you don't think the Richards contract isn't a bad cap situation I guess we will just have to disagree. But it's just one example of many over-paid over-aged players at the end of their career getting top dollar long term deals, Drury, Gomez, and Redden to name a few others. I don't see how Sather being the worst Salary cap GM is even arguable with his track record, but I guess it's an opinion.

Those players were all mistakes in the long term, but of the 4 you mentioned, only 1 is still on the team, and his contract isn't preventing the Rangers from signing Stepan. Richards' contract may become a problem if we can't buy him out next year, but this year it isn't an issue.

But if you think Sather can afford 3.5 why don't we have anywhere near that in cap room right now and why isn't Stepan getting 3.5?

We have 24 players on the roster. When Stepan signs, we will have 25. Cally and Hags won't be ready to start the season, but we won't need to carry 23 players.

CAPGEEK.COM USER GENERATED ROSTER
My Custom Lineup
FORWARDS
Chris Kreider ($1.325m) / Derek Stepan ($3.500m) / Rick Nash ($7.800m)
Benoit Pouliot ($1.300m) / Derick Brassard ($3.200m) / Mats Zuccarello ($1.150m)
Brian Boyle ($1.700m) / Brad Richards ($6.667m) / Derek Dorsett ($1.633m)
Taylor Pyatt ($1.550m) / Dominic Moore ($1.000m) / Arron Asham ($1.000m)
Carl Hagelin ($2.250m) / Ryan Callahan ($4.275m)
DEFENSEMEN
Ryan McDonagh ($4.700m) / Dan Girardi ($3.325m)
Marc Staal ($3.975m) / Michael Del Zotto ($2.550m)
John Moore ($0.965m) / Anton Stralman ($1.700m)
Justin Falk ($0.975m) /
GOALTENDERS
Henrik Lundqvist ($6.875m)
Martin Biron ($1.300m)
OTHER
Buried: Darroll Powe ($0.142m)
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled with the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $64,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $64,856,667; BONUSES: $762,500
CAP SPACE (23-man roster): $205,833

Hagelin may go on LTIR, which would give us more flexibility. When Cally and Hags are back, we can send down another forward, giving us more cap room. If a kid makes the team over a vet, we will save even more cap space.

We have plenty of ways to make it work. If we waive Powe, Asham and/or Pyatt, do any of them get picked up? Even if they don't, we can still save as much as 925k per player by sending them down, depending on the need to replace them.

So why haven't we signed Stepan to 3.5 if we can afford to do so? Because Sather doesn't feel he deserves that much? Because a few extra hundred thousand might help down the road? It seems Sather is willing to go as high as 3.2. Stepan needs to sign the contract and get into camp.

 

[mgftp]

Wow, I completely disagree, guess that's all there is to say.

 

[GAGLine]

Wow, I completely disagree, guess that's all there is to say.

You completely disagree with basic math?

 

[16 To Stanley*]

Stepan showed his Potential, and that he found out how to stay consistent.

His first season, he put up 45 points. His next, 51 points. Third season? 44 points in HALF A SEASON.

It's pretty tough to overrate that.

He put up nearly a ppg over HALF A SEASON.

When he puts up a PPG over a FULL season, then you can start calling him a top 10 center.

People are absolutely overrating him. Saying he's better than guys like E. Staal, P. Bergeron. Laughable.

A top 10 center is a joke.

 

[16 To Stanley*]

I just think undercutting him that much is pointless, you don't have him in camp, might not even start the season. For what to underpay him by 70% instead of 80%. Doesn't make sense to me.

Name on the front, not the name on the back.

 

[mgftp]

You completely disagree with basic math?

I disagree with your logic, not the math you use to back it up. No need to be *******, lol.

 

[OverTheCap]

Maybe Stepan is a consistent 1st line center and his performance for half a season wasn't a fluke, but we'll never know until he signs.

I've been pretty patient and understanding throughout this ordeal, but if it extends through the season, I'll be super pissed at both Stepan and Sather. There's absolutely no reason for this to drag on, compromise instead of delaying the inevitable.

 

[Gardner McKay]

Maybe Stepan is a consistent 1st line center and his performance for half a season wasn't a fluke, but we'll never know until he signs.

I've been pretty patient and understanding throughout this ordeal, but if it extends through the season, I'll be super pissed at both Stepan and Sather. There's absolutely no reason for this to drag on, compromise instead of delaying the inevitable.

I thought about this. If it is true that the Rangers are willing to go to 3.2 from Brooks' article a few days ago then just out of curiosity why would you be pissed at slats?? Stepans camp gave on term. Sather is now upping the offer. This should have been a done deal the second 3.2 was offered.

 

[JohnC]

The best part about this is, Stepan was god to like everyone 3 months ago

 

[rangersbaby]

He put up nearly a ppg over HALF A SEASON.

When he puts up a PPG over a FULL season, then you can start calling him a top 10 center.

People are absolutely overrating him. Saying he's better than guys like E. Staal, P. Bergeron. Laughable.

A top 10 center is a joke.

I am one of the biggest supporters of his holdout but....
I agree he is absolutely not a top 10 center.
Probably not a top 20 center.
If he is the 30th best center in the league this year and signs for 3.5 he is still way way underpaid.
Thats the point. Rank him where you want. anywhere from 15-40 in most rankings.
The value for the 15th-40th center in the league far exceeds 3.5.
People may be over rating him for sure. 100%
But there are just as many people who under value his price.
What people dont wanna hear is that no matter how you slice it if he was arbitration eligible this year when you punch the numbers his worth is 5.5 million dollars. and he knows that and his agent know that....
If I was him I would ask for 1 year at 2.6
gets him arb eligible next year.

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

The value for centers who have produced as a top 30 player for <82 games, have had issues scoring in the playoffs, and who are not arbitration eligible does not "far exceed $3.5M." It just doesn't.

If Stepan was a UFA, yea he'd get more. But he isn't so it's completely irrelevant.

 

[Raspewtin]

and just like that Stepan is the last RFA remaining. Not even going into how ****ing stupid this situation got. Just sign the contract already.

 

[mgftp]

I am one of the biggest supporters of his holdout but....
I agree he is absolutely not a top 10 center.
Probably not a top 20 center.
If he is the 30th best center in the league this year and signs for 3.5 he is still way way underpaid.
Thats the point. Rank him where you want. anywhere from 15-40 in most rankings.
The value for the 15th-40th center in the league far exceeds 3.5.
People may be over rating him for sure. 100%
But there are just as many people who under value his price.
What people dont wanna hear is that no matter how you slice it if he was arbitration eligible this year when you punch the numbers his worth is 5.5 million dollars. and he knows that and his agent know that....
If I was him I would ask for 1 year at 2.6
gets him arb eligible next year.

This is a post that makes sense. I agree with every part of it.

I wonder if Sather would consider a 1 year deal or if he insists on screwing him for 2?

 

[OverTheCap]

I thought about this. If it is true that the Rangers are willing to go to 3.2 from Brooks' article a few days ago then just out of curiosity why would you be pissed at slats?? Stepans camp gave on term. Sather is now upping the offer. This should have been a done deal the second 3.2 was offered.

It takes two to tango and I'd rather not take sides in this pissing contest like everyone else. I see both sides of the argument. I think 3.2 is a fair offer but I also understand why Stepan's agent wants more.

 

[Paulie Walnutz]

The best part about this is, Stepan was god to like everyone 3 months ago

Until the playoffs

 

[GAGLine]

I disagree with your logic, not the math you use to back it up. No need to be *******, lol.

I'm just trying to understand what you don't agree with. Do you disagree that we can fit Stepan at 3.5 mil?

 

[LORDE]

Why do people keep talking about what he's "worth"!?!

How many players make what they're worth? Most are overpaid, some are underpaid.

Too much Goldilox bs around here. Step needs to sign the damn contract because he has no leverage. Done. End of story. He may be a little underpaid this time, the next contract he'll be overpaid. And the circle of life continues.