Confirmed with Link: Rangers re-sign Henrik Lundqvist [7 years, $59.5M, $8.5M AAV, Full NMC]

[NYR Viper]

Frankly, I don't care too much about the cap going up. You pay your best players the most money, period. Thats how it works in any market.

All this crap about how this hamstrings the team going forward is not more than ignorant conjecture. Lets make the team far worse so we can save a few million on the cap and get SCORERS!

Sounds like a helluva plan. Well thought out and specific.

Exactly. He is one of, if not THE best player at his position. A position that is extremely important.

Good signing

 

[poeman]

Some of you are absolutely crazy...How do we know Talbot is not a one-year wonder? Goalies lack consistency in this league, and Henrik is the consistent out of all of them.

Yes it is probably his final deal, but you all are freaking crazy if you think Hank would not have gotten this type or deal or a bigger one from a team ion UFA.

Henrik Lundqvist is a premier player and a team that is on the up and up would have thrown a ton of money at him.

The freaking Philadelphia Flyers would have offered a $10M/a yr contract...

DEAL WITH IT FELLAS

 

[Paulie Walnutz]

I won't call you a hater, but I will call you ignorant to the facts of the situation. Extremely misinformed.

The cap is going to go up, (could be $80-90 million by 2015) and Richards contract is GONE this summer.

All the information is out there, just go and do a little research.

I'm well aware of the facts man, I see all of these other guys we need to lock up and wonder how we're going to do it, and if we do bring everyone back we'll be tight against the cap in the NEAR future with the same players same team same mediocrity. Look, I don't wanna rub people the wrong way, 5-6 and 7-7.5 would have been my preference, let's just agree to disagree and be civil on here for once ok? No need to get crazy.

 

[Raspewtin]

It's true that a goalie isn't the most important position. But it has the effect in that it can win you games you have NO business being in. It's a wonderful luxury to have that makes mediocre teams cup contenders.

I'm really happy we have the best in the world locked up for life.

Now keep the momentum going and make moves for the future.

I'm well aware of the facts man, I see all of these other guys we need to lock up and wonder how we're going to do it

I'm not concerned about this because I hope Sather does the right thing and lets a handful of them go via trade. This core is mediocre and will never win anything currently constructed.

 

[mulli25]

Entirely too high of a cap hit for a goalie in the modern NHL...hell Hank's previous contract was entirely too high for his position.

However, with that being said, I have zero confidence in Sather's ability to put that cap money to better use. So, at the end of the day, I'm pleased with the signing.

Adios Brad Richards

 

[OverTheCap]

They probably will wallow in mediocrity year after year. You're really going out on a limb there.

It will NOT be because of Lundqvist's salary/performance.

The most pathetic thing about this argument is the lack of specificity behind it. "OMG, we could spend this money on SCORERZ!" just doesnt cut it. Its absurd and dumb.

Apparently not re-signing Hank to this contract would have led Sather to solve our scoring woes. Stamkos would magically become available and Sather would no longer make bad free agent signings such as Drury, Gomez, Richards, etc. Instead of our free agent forwards underperforming, they would be rising to the occasion and carrying the team.

 

[Kane One]

Whoa. Incredible news.

 

[nevesis]

I'm well aware of the facts man, I see all of these other guys we need to lock up and wonder how we're going to do it, and if we do bring everyone back we'll be tight against the cap in the NEAR future with the same players same team same mediocrity. Look, I don't wanna rub people the wrong way, 5-6 and 7-7.5 would have been my preference, let's just agree to disagree and be civil on here for once ok? No need to get crazy.

“@NYP_Brooksie: If NHL revenue increases by 5% per (likely will be higher) and PA exercises annual 5% bump, cap will exceed $100M way before end of dealâ€

 

[Colby]

Happy he's locked up, but it makes me nervous. If it wasn't 100% clear before, this ensures Richards will be bought out this summer.

 

[Paulie Walnutz]

“@NYP_Brooksie: If NHL revenue increases by 5% per (likely will be higher) and PA exercises annual 5% bump, cap will exceed $100M way before end of dealâ€

You left out the most important part: IF

 

[offdacrossbar]

this is news ? duh. like we were gonna let him walk away ?

hes gonna be a nyr for life.

and water is wet.

now about that goal scoring thing......

 

[nevesis]

From SB Nation…

He's been the backbone of the Rangers for the last number of years, and it wouldn't make a whole lot of sense to let him walk as a UFA at the end of this year.

Even though it may seem like a very large investment at the moment, you have to take the salary cap into account. The NHL has a lot going for itself at the moment, and they just recently signed a brand new mega TV deal with CBC and Rogers Sportsnet. Taking all of that into account, it's safe bet to say the salary cap ceiling will likely raise a whole lot in the very near future. I'm sure the Rangers were well aware of that before handing out this extension, and were comfortable taking this risk.

Either way, like it or not, Henrik Lundqvist is here to stay. He'll likely finish out his career under the bright lights of Broadway, just like everyone wanted him to.

Today is a good day for the New York Rangers. - Brian Winters

 

[LORDE]

From a business standpoint this was a no-brainer... guy puts ***** in seats. Keeps this team relevant when they could (should) be bottom feeders (arguably a bad thing I suppose).

But he's generational talent. Loves the city and we love him.

I'm super happy about this. Could it be for a little less? Absolutely. But they guy is a perennial Vezina candidate. Glad he's ours.

Give the guy 2.5 goals per game and we're dangerous.

 

[poeman]

With the cap supposedly going back up to 70M, they'll have 32 million in space. Add Richards' amnesty and they'll be up to 38 million. Yeah, no room to improve the offense.

 

[NYRKindms]

With the cap supposedly going back up to 70M, they'll have 32 million in space. Add Richards' amnesty and they'll be up to 38 million. Yeah, no room to improve the offense.

except they are going to have to find a 1c or 2c to replace Richards. They have Cally, Girardi, etc etc all UFA at the end of the year

I like Hank and think he is a great goalie but this deal added to the UFA and the cap means 7th or 8th finish for the next few years atleast unless the kids in Hartford somehow catch fire

 

[Hariken]

Exactly. He is one of, if not THE best player at his position. A position that is extremely important.

Good signing

He was. He is not anymore - see that 2,5 GAA and .917 sv %? That's average at best, not even in the top 20. You pay for how he performs now and not how he performed in the past. This deal is absolutely brutal.

 

[NYR Viper]

He was. He is not anymore - see that 2,5 GAA and .917 sv %? That's average at best, not even in the top 20. You pay for how he performs now and not how he performed in the past. This deal is absolutely brutal.

I expect to not see you cheer for him when he plays well.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Meh, would have liked a bit of a hometown discount. I mean, he will be making .2 less than Crosby if the numbers are accurate.

 

[GAGLine]

With the cap supposedly going back up to 70M, they'll have 32 million in space. Add Richards' amnesty and they'll be up to 38 million. Yeah, no room to improve the offense.

Well, to be fair, it will be more like signing an offense rather than improving it, since the only forwards we have under contract for next year are Nash, Stepan, Hagelin and Dorsett, assuming Richards will be bought out. That means we've got to re-sign or replace 9 forwards.

Kreider, Brassard and Zucc will all be RFA and will be back. Pyatt, Pouliot and likely Moore will be gone. Richards has to be replaced and decisions have to be made on Callahan and Boyle.

That 38 mil could disappear in the hurry. Of course, it still remains to be seen what trades we make between now and free agency.

 

[Kane One]

He was. He is not anymore - see that 2,5 GAA and .917 sv %? That's average at best, not even in the top 20. You pay for how he performs now and not how he performed in the past. This deal is absolutely brutal.

The only thing brutal here are your posts.

Are you going to forget everything Lundqvist has accomplished in his career (you know, as the best goaltender in the league since the 2004-05 lockout) or just use this season to strengthen your stupid argument?

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

He was. He is not anymore - see that 2,5 GAA and .917 sv %? That's average at best, not even in the top 20. You pay for how he performs now and not how he performed in the past. This deal is absolutely brutal.

No more brutal than your analysis as to why his #'s are a bit down after 20 starts.

 

[Holocene]

Well now we can't sign FA studs like Clarkson and Clowe!!! Because those are the only type of players you're going to see hit FA nowadays. We will have to get scorers through trades and that is a-okay with me because Sather is better at trades than FA.

 

[GAGLine]

Meh, would have liked a bit of a hometown discount. I mean, he will be making .2 less than Crosby if the numbers are accurate.

Crosby got his contract under the old CBA. It would have been more like Malkin's 9.5 per year otherwise. But I agree. I was hoping for something between 7.5 and 8 per year.

 

[poeman]

Well, to be fair, it will be more like signing an offense rather than improving it, since the only forwards we have under contract for next year are Nash, Stepan, Hagelin and Dorsett, assuming Richards will be bought out. That means we've got to re-sign or replace 9 forwards.

Kreider, Brassard and Zucc will all be RFA and will be back. Pyatt, Pouliot and likely Moore will be gone. Richards has to be replaced and decisions have to be made on Callahan and Boyle.

That 38 mil could disappear in the hurry. Of course, it still remains to be seen what trades we make between now and free agency.

I'll make a decision for you...Trade MDZ, resign Moore, and dont even think about letting Callahan go... Boyle can take a hike.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

except they are going to have to find a 1c or 2c to replace Richards. They have Cally, Girardi, etc etc all UFA at the end of the year

I like Hank and think he is a great goalie but this deal added to the UFA and the cap means 7th or 8th finish for the next few years atleast unless the kids in Hartford somehow catch fire

And whats the answer to the bolded? MORE MONEY!

You get one of the best Rangers players ever for 7 more years, AND hopefully a mentality that leads the team away from throwing money at question marks.