Rangers aren't trading Brassard. If his demands are too high, it will go to arbitration and he will play with his awarded salary for one year. He will become a UFA and walk next July.
If they trade him because of high salary demands, who are the Rangers getting in return for an unsigned player headed for arbitration, with high salary demands? Not exactly the kind of player teams are looking for, because the salary cap is a very real issue.
It wouldn't be an upgrade. Brassard playing on his arbitration awarded contract is more valuable to the Rangers than whatever the return would be in a salary dump trade.
Lombardi is insurance in case Miller isn't ready yet, not insurance in case Brassard wants/gets more money.
This is the reason some have been harping on the Rangers will not be upgrading at this point. Lombardi IS Pouliot's replacement, unless at this point Kevin Hayes signs, because there will be virtually no cap space left after the RFAs are signed.
The coaching staff and management arent talking about Lombardi, Mueller, and Glass in some sort of smokescreen manner. They see them as players on this roster.
There will be most likely LESS than a million in cap space when the RFAs sign. This is the roster.
C: Stepan, Brassard, Miller, Moore, Lombardi, Mueller
W: Kreider, Nash, St. Louis, Hagelin, Zuccarello, Glass, Tarnasky
D: McDonagh, Girardi, Staal, Boyle, Moore, Klein, Kostka
Unless another kid swoops in and takes a spot, thats it.
The 12th and 13th forwards are at 600K each. And the 7th defenseman is at 600K.
Swap one out for anyone paid more and we are likely over the cap.
I posted this over a week ago. The Rangers needed another top 9 forward on a value contract. I hoped it would be a righty like Stempniak or Setoguchi, but it turned out to be Lombardim Fine. He fits the character and identity of the team.
With that extra 800K hit, theres no room left. Literally none.
I'm not as down on this roster as some. I see value there, the same way Stralman, Pouliot, D.Moore, and even Brian Boyle were when they were all acquired. Dirt cheap value pick ups that play niche roles and can become contributors. Same scouts picked these guys that picked their predecessors.
If they trade him because of high salary demands, who are the Rangers getting in return for an unsigned player headed for arbitration, with high salary demands? Not exactly the kind of player teams are looking for, because the salary cap is a very real issue.
It wouldn't be an upgrade. Brassard playing on his arbitration awarded contract is more valuable to the Rangers than whatever the return would be in a salary dump trade.
Lombardi is insurance in case Miller isn't ready yet, not insurance in case Brassard wants/gets more money.
This is the reason some have been harping on the Rangers will not be upgrading at this point. Lombardi IS Pouliot's replacement, unless at this point Kevin Hayes signs, because there will be virtually no cap space left after the RFAs are signed.
The coaching staff and management arent talking about Lombardi, Mueller, and Glass in some sort of smokescreen manner. They see them as players on this roster.
There will be most likely LESS than a million in cap space when the RFAs sign. This is the roster.
C: Stepan, Brassard, Miller, Moore, Lombardi, Mueller
W: Kreider, Nash, St. Louis, Hagelin, Zuccarello, Glass, Tarnasky
D: McDonagh, Girardi, Staal, Boyle, Moore, Klein, Kostka
Unless another kid swoops in and takes a spot, thats it.
The 12th and 13th forwards are at 600K each. And the 7th defenseman is at 600K.
Swap one out for anyone paid more and we are likely over the cap.
I posted this over a week ago. The Rangers needed another top 9 forward on a value contract. I hoped it would be a righty like Stempniak or Setoguchi, but it turned out to be Lombardim Fine. He fits the character and identity of the team.
With that extra 800K hit, theres no room left. Literally none.
I'm not as down on this roster as some. I see value there, the same way Stralman, Pouliot, D.Moore, and even Brian Boyle were when they were all acquired. Dirt cheap value pick ups that play niche roles and can become contributors. Same scouts picked these guys that picked their predecessors.
