The more points Tony DeAngelo and Ryan Strome put on the board, the more likely the two pending restricted free agents with salary arbitration rights will price themselves out of New York next season.
The Rangers, no different from approximately two-thirds of the teams in the NHL, are going to be up against it next season, especially if the salary cap increase is limited to the same 2.5 percent it was last summer.
DeAngelo, who maintains only a casual acquaintance with the defensive zone while being a dynamic attacker, has recorded eight points (4-4) in 10 games. If the 24-year-old finished with a 60-point season, which should be well within reach if No. 77 maintains his spot on the first power-play unit, he is likely looking at a two-year deal in the range of $4 million to $4.5 million per, given available comparables at capfriendly.com. Would the Rangers pay that?