The Rangers’ clear interest in J.T. Miller should not be considered a shot across the bow to
Ryan Strome’s camp, but the games before the trade deadline may serve as a referendum of sorts on whether Strome should be a Ranger long term.
Drury and Pat Morris, Strome’s agent, are still in contact about an extension, sources say. But the talks aren’t really headed towards a neat and immediate conclusion. If Strome decides he wants to stay, then there’s a cap number and term number that works, and he could sign right away. The cap number starts with a five, though, and the term doesn’t go up beyond four, in all likelihood.
The possibilities on the free-agent market this summer for a legitimate No. 2 center are pretty limited, especially given the Rangers’ salary-cap concerns beyond this season. If they can’t get Strome for four years at $5.25 million annually, say, they also can’t extend Miller, whose $5.25 million cap hit expires after 2022-23. You’ve also got
Vincent Trocheck, who will be coming off a $4.75 million cap hit but a $6.25 million salary; Tomas Hertl, whose next deal will be in the eight-year, $8 million range;
Nazem Kadri, who’ll get a big raise off his $4 million cap hit; and maybe
Evgeni Malkin, who would be an intriguing fit with Panarin but won’t exactly be cheap either, even at age 35.
