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

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

The point about Stepan's playoffs is very valid, BRB. Not only are his point totals low, but his overall game in the playoffs has been nothing to write home about. I think it's a conditioning issue myself more than anything.

I never said it wasn't an issue. Another valid point is how the whole team stunk offensively and its unfair to pin the lack of playoff contributions to one player during his contract negotiations. If we are going to go deeper into the weeds, I thought he was bad in '11-12, his first taste of playoff hockey, and better last season.

 

[NYRFAN218]

Bob McKenzie was just on NHL Live and EJ Hradek asked him about the Stepan situation. He said he's heard nothing new and tossed out the same numbers that have been put out by Brooksie. Stepan asking for $3.5 and the Rangers offering around $3 million.

 

[RangerBoy]

Bob McKenzie on NHL Live. He hasn't heard anything new on Stepan. Bob said both sides need each other. He is right.

 

[Giglio NYR15]

I just dont get why they cant meet in the middle and 3.25......6.50/2yrs. But maybe thats just too simple for my 23 yr old brain and why im not a big shot nhl gm.

 

[RangerBoy]

Steve Zipay aka Zip. Tortorella called him Zip.

On the invisible Ranger, Derek Stepan, who is still absent due to a contract dispute, I was told, “Nothing yet”. As I wrote the other day, have sense that Stepan will be back in the fold sometime before opening night.

http://www.newsday.com/sports/hocke...ice-vigneault-game-preview-1.6126608?p=143754

Zipay spoke to Sather about the players benefitting from skating in high altitude in Banff. Is Sather the source of the above information/speculation?

“I do know quite a few of our players found it harder as far as practices” in the high altitude, head coach Alain Vigneault said as the team prepared to face the Calgary Flames in their third per-season tilt on Monday. “I don’t know whether it was more challenging for them to breathe…we had some comments on that. Research says the second day is the most challenging. That’s what happened to us on Sunday; it was tough for the guys, that’s what they were saying. We worked real hard and Reg (Grant, the team’s strength and conditioning coach) had a lot of hard stuff off the ice. It might be beneficial, we’ll find out.”

Cablevision/Newsday sent Zipay on the road trip.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

I hope the team isn't being worked too hard again.

 

[Tawnos]

I never said it wasn't an issue. Another valid point is how the whole team stunk offensively and its unfair to pin the lack of playoff contributions to one player during his contract negotiations. If we are going to go deeper into the weeds, I thought he was bad in '11-12, his first taste of playoff hockey, and better last season.

Agreed on all of this, except that it's unfair to use a players individual performance in a contract negotiation. I mean, what else are you supposed to use? He's not negotiating collectively with other players, he's negotiating as an individual.

The fact is that he hasn't upped his game in the playoffs... Yet. Sign the contract, and do it this year and next. Then bank.

But again, I don't really think $3.5m for this player is unreasonable.

 

[NYR2007]

Agreed on all of this, except that it's unfair to use a players individual performance in a contract negotiation. I mean, what else are you supposed to use? He's not negotiating collectively with other players, he's negotiating as an individual.

The fact is that he hasn't upped his game in the playoffs... Yet. Sign the contract, and do it this year and next. Then bank.

But again, I don't really think $3.5m for this player is unreasonable.

I agree with you, but i feel he is a player that develops over time. He isn't gonna be a monster the first play off appearance like kreider. But he will get better and better with more experience and i could see him becoming a PPG player in the playoffs on our top line

 

[Tawnos]

I agree with you, but i feel he is a player that develops over time. He isn't gonna be a monster the first play off appearance like kreider. But he will get better and better with more experience and i could see him becoming a PPG player in the playoffs on our top line

I'm pretty sure you're right. But it doesn't matter at all for the negotiation.

 

[Bardof425*]

I keep reading how stepan has no leverage. I guess purely from a CBA standpoint he doesn't but I find it hard to believe as this holdout continues sather won't move towards stepan. Beaver is an inferior player at this point making double offered to stepan. The evidence will be plain to see in short order With beaver as a 1c and the fans will be calling for sathers head. Leverage can't make beaver play better or change his cap #. Beaver is relevant to steps holdout because step isn't signed, yet beaver was brought back at inflated salary despite underperforming. So on one hand your paying a player you didn't have to huge dollars yet hardball with step over couple hundred k.

Understandably, you can't cave on all contract negotiations but step is one of our top players. So while you disparage stepan I hope you enjoy the beaver.

you get a free song on Itunes every time you type "beaver"?

 

[haveandare]

So, your argument is "Hes the 2nd best forward on the team only if he continues to be the 2nd best forward on the team like he was last season"

What arbitrary indicator will make you a believer?

More like, he's the 2nd best forward on the team only if he continues to play as well as he did for 40 games last year, and every other forward stays the same as they were over those games or gets worse.

I want to see consistent performances over a period longer than 40 games. I don't think that's an arbitrary indicator at all. I think it's extremely relevant toward establishing what caliber of player Step will be going forward.

People are fetishizing Stepan, probably because he's holding out and people dislike Sather, who Stepan is "taking a stand" against, or because he was one of a few bright spots in an otherwise disappointing season last year. Either way, 40 games do not define a player. It's far from certain that he's a PPG player now, or that he's the second best forward on the team going ahead.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

I agree with you, but i feel he is a player that develops over time. He isn't gonna be a monster the first play off appearance like kreider. But he will get better and better with more experience and i could see him becoming a PPG player in the playoffs on our top line

He has had more than one playoff appearance. And he sucked in all of them.

 

[OverTheCap]

Sather may be feeling in a more negotiable mood tomorrow after tonight's game. Don't think Richards is the answer on the top line.

 

[Crazed Beaver]

you get a free song on Itunes every time you type "beaver"?

A few more and I get a free video, guess what it is?

Ok I'll spill it, it's .....wait for it.... Leave it to beaver!

 

[Leetch3]

Katie Strang ‏@KatieStrangESPN 6m
#NYR Rangers GM Glen Sather on Derek Stepan situation: "I hope he starts to get a little wiser about this decision."
Expand

Katie Strang ‏@KatieStrangESPN 5m
#NYR That was clip from MSG interview that just aired. Sather said "it's unfortunate that Derek has decided to listen to his agent."
Expand

Katie Strang ‏@KatieStrangESPN 4m
#NYR More Sather on MSG: "I don't think Derek's going to let this linger too long. I don't think he's big enough of a fool..."
Expand

 

[Pugs35]

Katie Strang ‏@KatieStrangESPN 6m
#NYR Rangers GM Glen Sather on Derek Stepan situation: "I hope he starts to get a little wiser about this decision."
Expand

Katie Strang ‏@KatieStrangESPN 5m
#NYR That was clip from MSG interview that just aired. Sather said "it's unfortunate that Derek has decided to listen to his agent."
Expand

Katie Strang ‏@KatieStrangESPN 4m
#NYR More Sather on MSG: "I don't think Derek's going to let this linger too long. I don't think he's big enough of a fool..."
Expand

What does this accomplish Sather? C'mon.

 

[Flavius]

Katie Strang ‏@KatieStrangESPN 6m
#NYR Rangers GM Glen Sather on Derek Stepan situation: "I hope he starts to get a little wiser about this decision."
Expand

Katie Strang ‏@KatieStrangESPN 5m
#NYR That was clip from MSG interview that just aired. Sather said "it's unfortunate that Derek has decided to listen to his agent."
Expand

Katie Strang ‏@KatieStrangESPN 4m
#NYR More Sather on MSG: "I don't think Derek's going to let this linger too long. I don't think he's big enough of a fool..."
Expand

Taking it public like this is never a good thing...

 

[Green Blob*]

I was shocked they aired that. Keep it private jeeze.

 

[UAGoalieGuy]

Sather may have just confirmed that he is senile.

 

[Tawnos]

Taking it public like this is never a good thing...

What it sounds like to me is that Sather hasnt talked to Stepan, just his agent, and he wanted to get a message through to the player. If that's the case, then going public is absolutely the right move.

 

[PlamsUnlimited]

It's true. Sather never struck me as a fan of hold out nonsense.

 

[NYR2007]

He has had more than one playoff appearance. And he sucked in all of them.

He was our leading goal scorer and finished 4th in total points for last years playoffs. I think your forgetting that the whole team couldn't score.

 

[Drewbackatu*]

Nobody brings up that point because they understand the entire team couldn't score in the playoffs -- and thats its a small sample size being used against a very young player.

Your hero Matt Duchene only had 3 assists in his 6 career playoff games. Maybe playing less playoff games is a benefit to your argument, somehow?

The Tavares stuff is just you taking this discussion even further down the rabbit hole.

Stating a fact that Stepan isn't nearly as good a player as Matt Duchene is doesn't mean that MD is my hero.

Stepan is a very nice homegrown player who has developed pretty well over his first 3 years in the league and who, for the sake of his continued development and for the team's needs, should compromise a bit, sign a deal and get into camp where he belongs.

 

[Drewbackatu*]

I'm not degrading him though. If you watched the rangers at all the past two years you'd know Stepan struggled mightily for the last 20 games of 2012 plus the 2012 playoffs, plus the beginning 12 games of last season. You're saying that just because everyone else sucked that it's OK that Stepan sucked. Not how it works.

I view the player as a hockey fan. You view him as a Ranger fan. Fine, but him being the best forward we've produced is a testament to our pretty brutal drafting, not to Stepan. And BTW, Callahan who we also produced is twice the player Stepan is

Your words ring true and some people around here just don't want to hear it or face the facts about Stepan who is a very nice player who just happens to be the #1 center on a team filled with mediocre centers.

 

[Trxjw]

Stepan bashing brigade out in full force.