Well, for people thinking they wont be able to keep the Rangers together, what makes you think we can do it successfully? There's the model of how you want to build from within, but as mentioned, by the time everyone is primed and ready to compete, theyre going to want to be paid as well. We can only hope to get to that level, but we'll have the exact same problems then.
It's a little bit different. Next season, they (NYR) have a $7.8 million superstar forward, $26.5 million wrapped up in their defense, and another $10 million spent on goalies. The Jackets will spend about $14 million on defense, and maybe $8-$8.5 million on the goalie position. They have, in my view, more flexibility in the next couple seasons because of some of those contracts. Their flexibility would increase if they could dump Clarkson's contract to an expansion team needing to get to the floor. They also have no cap problem next year (currently at ~$61 million cap payroll with potentially Calvert and/or Letestu to re-sign but that would be about it). The Rangers, meanwhile, will have ~$10 million to spend on 7 forwards, two of whom are Stepan and Hagelin. A third would be St. Louis if he sticks around. They have four defenders making over $4.5 million next year, plus Yandle at $2.9.
Also, the Jackets' prospect pool is objectively deeper and better than the Rangers. This gives them more flexibility when filling out the roster and in making trades. That's not to say there aren't going to be issues for both teams, but the Rangers are very much "win now" (i.e. this year and next), whereas I think Columbus is set up better to compete in the next 2-5 years.
The CBJ could be in a similar cap situation in '17-'18 with Joey likely on at least a 7X7 contract, Hartsy still at $4.75, Clarkson, Dubi, Foligno all above $5, Jenner and Murray on new contracts, a bunch of the '12 and '13 draftees ready for new contracts, Bob still at $7.425, but that's way down the road and a lot will happen by then.
