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

[gmerger37]

You guys are clearly reading this extension the wrong way, sather signed hank to this deal to increase his potential trade value.

Now teams won't low-ball for fear of him walking at the end of the year.

 

[Fitzy]

Definately. There's no way any rational person would question max length + near league max dollar contracts for aging and declining goalies in a market where you can get talented young goalies relatively on the cheap, all the while considering the past history of signings like these failing spectacularly. Only rival fans and Finnish posters (????) would question this contract.

Ranger fans have watched Henrik play every game since he joined the team in 05-06. They know how important he has been year in and year out.

Fact is, had NYR let Lundqvist walk, the exact same rival posters would be laughing and saying the Rangers would suck for years to come.

The exception is certain people who don't like that he had a Swedish gold medal under his belt, and another medal likely to come soon.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

I guess what Im saying is, compared to Lundqvist's track record, your expectations of him really don't mean ****.

Besides you holding him so accountable, which means absolutely zilch to me, what are your other concerns. Do you think this money will really effect being able to build a team around him?

How do they not mean "****?" He's been very inconsistent in the playoffs. That needs to stop. His play against the Devils in our Cup run year was just up and down. Elite one night, just OK the next. Everyone always wants to blame lack of scoring. And that's a valid complaint. But he needs to play like a superstar just about every time out with this paycheck. I don't think that's outlandish. I think if you're making 8.5M a year you need to play like an 8.5M player just about every time you take the ice.

And I do have concerns about the money. I hope that's not the case, but what do we do then? Everyone just assumes the cap will go up in perpetuity. That's a large assumption to me in this current economy.

I mean, I'm not so against the terms that I'm sick or anything. I just want the play to match the terms, say, 95% of the times he takes the ice.

 

[Tawnos]

Great news.

Once again people are stressing too much about the cap in the offseason. Even without buying out Brad Richards, we are still gonna be under the summer cap and likely around a million over the actual cap. Buyout Richards and we can add a 2nd liner to the team. Do the math. It's not hard.

 

[NYR Viper]

Great news.

Once again people are stressing too much about the cap in the offseason. Even without buying out Brad Richards, we are still gonna be under the summer cap and likely around a million over the actual cap. Buyout Richards and we can add a 2nd liner to the team. Do the math. It's not hard.

With Richards gone they will have a TON of cap space to do whatever they want to do.

 

[nyr2k2]

Pierre LeBrun @Real_ESPNLeBrun

Wonder what Lundqvist would have got July 1 on the open market? My guess is $9 M plus with teams trying to outbid each other...

 

[RangersHank*]

Thank god. Now that can be laid to rest. LGR

 

[mrhockey193195]

Thank goodness!

 

[Hunter Gathers]

He would've gotten at least 9 in a bidding war. Goalies like Lundqvist don't grow on trees, I mean, it's not like you're going to find a goalie like Hank in the 7th round of a draft or anything

https://twitter.com/Real_ESPNLeBrun/status/408263021098577920.

Who out there that is a remotely good team would be giving Hank that?

Hank would have to chose between going to a **** team for high pay or going to a playoff team for lower pay. I don't think any contender would be giving him a dime over what we paid.

I don't see any hometown discount in this deal. For a guy that was slightly overpaid (at the time of the contract) last time out, I really expected a bit of a deal here. But, as I said, with such a deal comes higher expectations.

 

[Daishi]

That's a large assumption to me in this current economy.

That strikes to me as strange too. The economy isn't showing any signs of getting much better but hockey fans worldwide assume the profits for NHL clubs will keep growing exponentially year after year.

Who out there that is a remotely good team would be giving Hank that?

Hank would have to chose between going to a **** team for high pay or going to a playoff team for lower pay. I don't think any contender would be giving him a dime over what we paid.

People generally just assume every contract is +1 million for UFAs, but what you said is spot on. There aren't any contenders that would pay him more than the Rangers did, and most wouldn't pay even that. Pens could have moved Fleury and someone else and picked up Lundqvist for about 7.5 million but if Fleury picks up his play this post-season I doubt they'd be even interested considering how much loyalty they've showed that dud.

 

[Ian]

If Henrik was only willing to play for a possible SC contender, I don't know how many teams you can say could legitimately be able to take on a 9+ contract.

There's some borderline teams that you might be able to argue would be playoff locks with Henrik on their teams (NYI, COL). But how much better are those situations than the Rangers?

Then there's the teams with the space and the need for a star (EDM, BUF, CGY?), but would he go to any of those teams? My guess is no.

Letting Henrik go to July 1 without an extension, I think the Rangers could have easily gotten him for 8, maybe even less.

However, I don't think that'd do much for their relationship, and if it takes a 775k overpayment to keep the best player your team has had in the past decade, and arguably a top 5 player in your franchise's history, you do it.

 

[Greg02]

I'm glad to see Hank reupping and an end to the rather asinine speculation that the Rangers should go a different direction. I would have preferred 8 million/6 years, but I don't think this will hamstring us.

 

[KingP]

what other options were there? trade him?

 

[gardenparty]

Given his inconsistent play this year and inability (thus far) to carry the team on his shoulders deep into the playoffs, $8.5MM seems a little steep. I would have expected something south of that.....maybe $7.5MM - $8MM per season.

Still, it's comforting to know the most important position on the ice is locked up with a top echelon goalie. Not thrilled with the cap hit, is all.

 

[OnlyTruth]

Explain.

Torts total D style and block shots made him look decent. Even under Renney D style. Also that 30 games win crap that gave him all the commercial is nothing but a math illusion. You need to look at win % because he also leads in loses as well. You star almost every game, you can get 30 wins even if you don't make the playoffs. Not a big deal. Lets see how it will go under AV style.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

If Henrik was only willing to play for a possible SC contender, I don't know how many teams you can say could legitimately be able to take on a 9+ contract.

There's some borderline teams that you might be able to argue would be playoff locks with Henrik on their teams (NYI, COL). But how much better are those situations than the Rangers?

Then there's the teams with the space and the need for a star (EDM, BUF, CGY?), but would he go to any of those teams? My guess is no.

Letting Henrik go to July 1 without an extension, I think the Rangers could have easily gotten him for 8, maybe even less.

However, I don't think that'd do much for their relationship, and if it takes a 775k overpayment to keep the best player your team has had in the past decade, and arguably a top 5 player in your franchise's history, you do it.

The ONLY team I could see really gunning for Hank is Philly. They have money coming off the book and need a goalie. But I doubt they would have offered more than we did. Maybe they offer 9.

So we maybe got him for .5 a year less than pure July market value. And that's completely debatable.

 

[BLONG7]

No such thing as a hometown discount anymore...

 

[Fitzy]

We all knew it was going to be steep, the only question was the term.

Maybe it'll be a tough pill in five years. But I see a lot of people somehow thinking this is bad short term which it is not.

NYR have a better chance at the cup with Henrik here at 8.5, then they do without him and trying to bring in some middling 2nd line player with the extra cash. ELC goalies don't stay on ELC's.

 

[Tawnos]

That strikes to me as strange too. The economy isn't showing any signs of getting much better but hockey fans worldwide assume the profits for NHL clubs will keep growing exponentially year after year.

Well, the amount the NHL gets from the Canadian TV deal increases over the life of the contract. So revenue IS going to go up for a while.

 

[silverfish]

Who out there that is a remotely good team would be giving Hank that?

Hank would have to chose between going to a **** team for high pay or going to a playoff team for lower pay. I don't think any contender would be giving him a dime over what we paid.

I don't see any hometown discount in this deal. For a guy that was slightly overpaid (at the time of the contract) last time out, I really expected a bit of a deal here. But, as I said, with such a deal comes higher expectations.

Think we'll have to disagree here.

First I'll say, that Hank going to any team would make them a playoff contender (see: Rangers, New York)

Then I went and sorted teams by cap space available coming this off-season. Some names that stand out:

Colorado (~30), Calgary (~30), Edmonton (~29), NYI (~28), St. Louis (~23), Anaheim (~19), Tampa (~12), Pitt (~9).

Here are those same teams and where they rank in GA/G this season:

Calgary - 30th, 3.54
Edmonton - 29th, 3.45
NYI - 28, 3.36
Anaheim - 14, 2.5
Tampa - 12, 2.48
St. Louis - 8, 2.27
Colorado - 4, 2.08

Now, in all honesty, I truly believe that some of these teams wouldn't be in the race for Hank, obviously, but I also believe that I missed some names, as well.

To think there wouldn't be a bidding war for a top goalie in the league who can single-handedly carry a team to the playoffs just doesn't sit right with my way of thinking. Especially when it is safe to assume, though maybe asinine, that the cap will trend upwards. The NHL is making money, they just signed a huge deal with Rogers, profits will go up, cap will go up.

In a couple of years, $8.5 will be around 10% of the Rangers total cap. If we're putting that towards a top 5 goalie in the league, ****, I'm game.

 

[BarbaraAlphanse]

Jesus. Bunch of ungrateful fans. How is this news not a unanimous positive across the board?

Only in ****ing New York. Debatable that he's best player in the league at his position. Signs a deal not only fair in terms of his production but also less than he would have received in the open market. *Cue complaints from fans*.

 

[VanIslander]

If I were the GM I too would double down on Hank: do or die!

There is no Ranger I am more willing to go all-in on than Lundqvist. He has continually earned my faith over the years. I would go to war with him. Do you rmember last the playoffs? He is the man. **** November performances!! He has proven his worth time and again and will time and again.

(Yeah, I'd prefer ideally a 4-year deal over 7 years, but that is minor in the grand scheme of things.)

 

[KingP]

what were the other options?

im just curious what we could of maybe gotten or was that just not an option?

 

[SingnBluesOnBroadway]

Torts total D style and block shots made him look decent. Even under Renney D style. Also that 30 games win crap that gave him all the commercial is nothing but a math illusion. You need to look at win % because he also leads in loses as well. You star almost every game, you can get 30 wins even if you don't make the playoffs. Not a big deal. Lets see how it will go under AV style.

Yet his SV % is about the same as his career average and his GAA is is only about .025 higher than his career average.

 

[silverfish]

what were the other options?

im just curious what we could of maybe gotten or was that just not an option?

Full rebuild!

Trade him to the Stars for Jack Campbell, and Tyler Seguin (would they even do that?). Ride or die with a Talbot/Campbell show in goal.

Trade Callahan, Nash, Girardi, Staal.
Waive Pyatt, Pouliot, Moore.

Compile draft picks and prospects.

Get a top 5 draft pick for the next few years.

Draft Nylander's kid and or Ekblad.

Be terrible and hear it from the whining fans who hate that we're losing every game, but also think this Lundqvist contract is outrageous.

Win every cup from 2018-2025.

Wait.... this actually sounds awesome, and is a totally plausible scenario