Speculation: Offseason Thread #11: Catchy Title Incoming

[Gardner McKay]

Courtesy of BBkers

PLAYERS UNDER CONTRACT WITH NEW YORK RANGERS ORGANISATION 2016-2017 (40 - 41 depending on if Gropps contract slides)
NEW YORK RANGERS SQUAD(21)
[table="head;width=4200]Nr|Pos |Player| Caphit |Contract Status |Team 2015 |Drafted/Acquired |Age 2016
1| F | Jesper Fast(h) |$950.000 |RFA 2017 |New York Rangers/NHL |R6 #157 NYR (2010) |25
2| D | Dylan McIlrath |$800,000 |RFA 2017 |New York Rangers/NHL |R1 #10 NYR (2010) |24
3| F | Oscar Lindberg^ |$650,000 |RFA 2017 |New York Rangers/NHL |R2 #57 PHX (2010) - acquired unsigned through trade|25
4| F | Josh Jooris |$600,000 |RFA 2017 |Calgary Flames/NHL |Undrafted - signed w/NYR as UFA |26
5| F | Tanner Glass |$1,450,000 |UFA 2017 |New York Rangers/NHL |R7 #265 Florida Panthers (2003) - signed w/NYR as UFA |32
6| F | Nathan Gerbe |$600,000 |UFA 2017 |Carolina Hurricanes/NHL|Undrafted - signed w/NYR as UFA |26
7| F | J.T. Miller |$2.750.000 |RFA 2018 |New York Rangers/NHL |R1 #15 NYR (2011) |23
8| F | Mika Zibanejad |$2,625,000 |RFA 2018 |Ottawa Senators/NHL |R1 #6 Ottawa Senators (2011) - acquired through trade |23
9| D | Brady Skjei (ELC) |$925,000* |RFA 2018 |Hartford Wolfpack/AHL |R1 #28 NYR (2012) |22
10| D | Kevin Kline |$2,900,000 |UFA 2018 |New York Rangers/NHL |R2 #37 Nashville Predators (2003) - acquired through trade|32
11| D | Nick Holden |$1,650,000 |UFA 2018 |Colorado Avalanche/NHL |Undrafted - acquired through trade |29
12| F | Michael Grabner |$1,600,000 |UFA 2018 |New York Islanders/NHL |R1 #14 Vancover Canucks (2006) - signed w/NYR as UFA |29
13| G | Anti Raanta |$1,000,000 |UFA 2018 |New York Rangers/NHL |Undrafted - acquired through trade |27
14| F | Pavel Buchnevich (ELC)|$925,000* |RFA 2019 |St. Petersburg SKA/KHL |R3 #75 NYR (2013) |21
15| F | Rick Nash (NMC) |$7,800,000 |UFA 2019 |New York Rangers/NHL |R1 #1 overall Columbus Blue Jackets (2002) - acquired through trade|32
16| D | Ryan McDonagh |$4,700,000 |UFA 2019 |New York Rangers/NHL |R1 #12 Montreal (2007) - acquired unsigned through trade|27
17| F | Mats Zuccarello (NTC) |$4,500,000 |UFA 2019 |New York Rangers/NHL |Undrafted (started w NYR) |29
18| D | Dan Girardi (NMC => NTC)|$5,500,000 |UFA 2020 |New York Rangers/NHL |Undrafted (started w NYR) |32
19| G | Henrik Lundqvist (NMC)|$8,500,000 |UFA 2021 |New York Rangers/NHL |R7 #208 NYR (2000) |34
20| F | Derek Stepan (NMC => NTC)|$6,500,000 |UFA 2021 |New York Rangers/NHL |R2 #51 NYR (2008) |26
21| D | Marc Staal (NMC => NTC)|$5,750,000 |UFA 2021 |New York Rangers/NHL |R1 #12 NYR (2005) |29[/table]

TOTALS
SALARY CAP: $73,000,000
CAP PAYROLL: $62,675,000
LTIR: $650,000 (injured players salary - Lindberg - can be deducted once season starts)
CAP SPACE (21-man roster - 12 FWDs, 7 D, 2 G): $10,325,000
^ - injured, operated on in offseason and placed on LTIR until November/December

AVERAGE AGE ~ 27.3 years (27,0 when Kreider & Hayes are resigned)

CONTRACTED BUT ASSIGNED TO AHL/ECHL/ELSEWHERE (19-20 depending on Ryan Gropps status)
[table="head;width=4200]Nr |Pos |Player| Caphit |Contract Status |Team 2015 |Drafted |Age 2016
22|D |Chris Summers |$600.000 |UFA 2017 |Hartford Wolfpack/AHL |R1 #29 Phoenix Coyotes (2006) |28
23|D |Matt Bodie |$600.000 |UFA 2017 |Hartford Wolfpack/AHL |Undrafted (started w NYR) |26
24|D |Tommy Hughes |$600,000 |RFA 2017 |Hartford Wolfpack/AHL |Undrafted (started w NYR) |24
25|F |Adam Chapie (ELC) |$800.000* |RFA 2017 |UMass/NCAA |Undrafted (started w NYR) |25
26|D |Troy Donnay (ELC) |$716,667* |RFA 2017 |Greenville Road Warriors/ECHL |Undrafted (started w NYR) |22
27|G |MacKenzie Skapski (ELC)|$661,667* |RFA 2017 |Greenville Road Warriors/ECHL |R6 #170 NYR (2013) |22
28|D |Calle Andersson (ELC) |$661,667* |RFA 2017 |Hartford Wolfpack/AHL |R4 #119 NYR (2012) |22
29|G |Magnus Hellberg |$625,000 |RFA 2017 |Hartford Wolfpack/AHL |R2 #38 Nashville (2011) |25
30|F |Niklas Jensen |$600,000 |RFA 2017 |Hartford Wolfpack/AHL |R1 #29 Vancouver (2011) |23
31|D |Adam Clendening |$600.000 |RFA 2017 |Edmonton Oilers/NHL |R2 #36 Chicago Blackhawks (2011) |24
32|D |Michael Paliotta |$600.000 |RFA 2017 |Lake Eerie Monsters/AHL |R3 #61 Chicago Blackhawks (2011) |23
33|F |Chris Brown |$575,000 |RFA 2017 |Hartford Wolfpack/AHL |R2 #36 Arizona (2009) |25
34|F |Adam Tambellini (ELC) |$803.333* |RFA 2018 |Hartford Wolfpack/AHL |R3 #65 NYR (2013) |22
35|F |Cristoval Nieves(ELC) |$755.000* |RFA 2018 |Michigan Wolverines/NCAA |R2 #59 NYR (2012) |22
36|F |Steven Fogarty (ELC) |$750.000* |RFA 2018 |Notre Dame Fighting Irish/NCAA |R3 #72 NYR (2011) |23
37|F |Malte Strömwall (ELC) |$742.500* |RFA 2018 |AIK/SHL |Undrafted (started w NYR) |22
38|D |Ryan Graves (ELC) |$633.333* |RFA 2018 |Hartford Wolfpack/AHL |R4 #110 NYR (2013) |21
39|F |Ryan Gropp (ELC-S?)¤ |$839.166* |RFA 2019 |Seattle/WHL |R2 #41 NYR (2015) |20
40|LW |Robin Kovacs (ELC-S?)¤|$803.333* |RFA 2019 |AIK/Allsvenskan |R3 #62 NYR (2015) |20
41|G |Brandon Halvorsen (ELC)|$803.333* |RFA 2019 |Sault Ste. Marie/OHL |R2 #59 NYR (2014) |20
(42)|LW/D|Ahti Oksanen @ |$??? |AHL deal |Boston University/NCAA |Undrafted |23
(43)|RW |Michael Joly @ |$?? |AHL deal |Cape Breton/QMJHL |Undrafted |21[/table]

* - has additional bonus money in contract
ELC - denotes player on Entry Level Contract
NTC - denotes No Trade Clause in Contract
NMC - denotes No Movement Clause in Contract
¤ - contract can slide if he remains in juniors (Gropp)
@ - signed to an AHL deal with Hartford Wolfpack

QUALIFIED RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (RFAs) (3)
[table="head;width=4200]Nr|Pos |Player| Caphit 2015/2016|Team 2015/2016 |Drafted/Acquired|Age 2016|Signed
1| F | Chris Kreider |$2,475,000 |New York Rangers/NHL |R1 #19 NYR (2009) |25|Arb July 22
2| F | Kevin Hayes (ELC) |$900,000 |New York Rangers/NHL |R1 #24 Chicago (2010)- signed w/NYR as UFA|24|Arb July 27
3| F | Marek Hrivik |$698,250 |Hartford Wolfpack/AHL |Undrafted (started w NYR) |25|[/table]

PLAYERS STILL UNSIGNED BUT WITH RIGHTS RETAINED BY NYR (13)
[table="head;width=3800]Nr|Position |Player| Team| Height |Weight| Nationality |Shoots|DOB|Drafted
1|G |Igor Shesterkin |St. Petersburg SKA (KHL) |6' 1"| 187 | Russia |L|December 30, 1995 |R4 #118 NYR (2014)
2|D |Tyler Nanne ¤ |Ohio State/NCAA (did not play) |5' 10"|175 | USA |R|March 17, 1996 |R5 #142 NYR (2014)
3|D |Sergey Zborovskiy |Regina/WHL |6' 3"| 200 | Russia |R|February 21, 1997 |R3 #79 NYR (2015)
4|C |Brad Morrison |Prince George/WHL |6' 0"| 160 | Canada |L|January 4, 1997 |R4 #113 NYR (2015)
5|RW |Daniel Bernhardt |London Knights/OHL |6' 3"| 191 | Sweden |L|April 11, 1996 |R4 #119 NYR (2015)
6|G |Adam Huska |Green Bay Gamblers/USHL |6' 3" |191 | Slovakia |L|May 12, 1997 |R7 #184 NYR (2015)
7|D |Sean Day |Mississauga Steelheads/OHL |6' 2" |229 | Belgium/Canada|L|January 9, 1998 |R3 #81 NYR (2016)
8|D |Tarmo Reunanen |TPS U20 (Finland) |6' 0" |180 | Finland |L|March 1, 1998 |R4 #98 NYR (2016)
9|LW/RW |Timothy Gettinger |Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds/OHL|6' 5" |201 | USA |R|April 14, 1998 |R5 #141 NYR (2016)
10|c |Gabriel Fontaine |Rouyn-Noranda Huskies/QMJHL |6' 1" |187 | Canada |L|April 30, 1997 |R6 #171 NYR (2016)
11|G |Tyler Wall |Leamington Flyers/GOJHL |6' 2" |190 | Canada |R|January 14, 1998 |R6 #174 NYR (2016)
12|C |Ty Ronning |Vancouver Giants/WHL |5' 9" |165 | Canada |R|October 20, 1997 |R7 #201 NYR (2016)
(13)|F |Klingberg, Carl |Free agent - rights retained |6' 3" |205 | Sweden |R|January 28, 1991 |R2 #34 Atlanta (2009)[/table]

¤ - injured

2017 DRAFT PICKS (5)

• 1st round NYR
• 3rd round NYR
• 4th round Florida
• 5th round NYR
• 6th round VAN

• We lost our 2nd round pick to Carolina in the trade for Eric Staal
• We lost our 4th round pick to Colorado in the trade for Nick Holden
• We lost our 6th round pick to Nashville in the trade for Magnus Hellberg
• We lost our 7th round pick to Ottawa in the trade for Mika Zibanejad
• We gained a 4th round pick from Arizona for Keith Yandle - condition was met when he signed a 7 year deal there
• We gained a 6th round pick from Vancouver when we traded Emerson Etem

2018 DRAFT PICKS (8)

• 1st round NYR
• 2nd round Ottawa
• 2nd round NYR
• 3rd round NYR
• 4th round NYR
• 5th round NYR
• 6th round NYR
• 7th round NYR

• We gained a 2nd round pick from Ottawa when we traded Derrick Brassard

Click to read more...

 

[Cyclones21]

Gardner - if the last thread title was inspired by "50 ways to leave you lover", then I would think the lyric "Hop on the bus, Gus, You don't need to discuss much" would be appropriate for the Rangers this off season.

 

[Gardner McKay]

Gardner - if the last thread title was inspired by "50 ways to leave you lover", then I would think the lyric "Hop on the bus, Gus, You don't need to discuss much" would be appropriate for the Rangers this off season.

It was not. I just put it up there because so many posters have their own plan on how to fix this team. Felt it was appropriate.

 

[Vinny DeAngelo]

I think clever title incoming matches our offseason so far... Trades incoming.

 

[BBKers]

Posted by Ranger Boy
The Rangers have 35 SPC'S. They re-sign their remaining 6 group II free agents in Kreider,Miller,Hayes, McIlrath,Hrivik and Hughes. 41. They still have so much room. I know they usually leave 1-3 SPC'S to maneuver with during the season. Not 9. They have a ton of flexibility. Hrivik and Hughes will see their qualifying offers expire on Friday.

Yeah. This is very interesting

 

[FoxysExpensiveNYDigs]

Has Hughes shown enough to get another contract?

 

[Mac n Gs]

Has Hughes shown enough to get another contract?

Beacon usually has words of praise for Hughes when he's discussing the Pack

 

[Don Chytil]

Beacon usually has words of praise for Hughes when he's discussing the Pack

Really? That's odd because by my estimations, a 24 year old scoring less than 10 points per year in the AHL has only about a 2% chance of making the NHL. Even Dan Girardi put up solid point totals in the AHL as a 22 year old. Sauer and McIlrath (not known for their scoring abilities at the NHL level) both put up better points totals. So this information would lead me to believe that Hughes does not have an NHL future, right? Or is there something to be inferred from watching the game that I can't get from stats?

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

Really? That's odd because by my estimations, a 24 year old scoring less than 10 points per year in the AHL has only about a 2% chance of making the NHL. Even Dan Girardi put up solid point totals in the AHL as a 22 year old. Sauer and McIlrath (not known for their scoring abilities at the NHL level) both put up better points totals. So this information would lead me to believe that Hughes does not have an NHL future, right? Or is there something to be inferred from watching the game that I can't get from stats?

A+ work

 

[Vinny DeAngelo]

Can't wait until we lose hrivik because AV played glass over him so often we never got to see what he can really do

 

[silverfish]

Can't wait until we lose hrivik because AV played glass over him so often we never got to see what he can really do

Couple of these 'tweeners' at the moment. Hrivik (shouldn't be, but is) and Jensen will require waivers to go back to the AHL.

We keeping Glass over these guys?

Sure, maybe I'm overrating our own guys here, but it's not hard to think that Jensen turned heads at the WC this year.

 

[FLYLine27*]

I won't lose any sleep if we lose Hrivik. Definitely not the end of the world.

 

[Do you want ants]

Couple of these 'tweeners' at the moment. Hrivik (shouldn't be, but is) and Jensen will require waivers to go back to the AHL.

We keeping Glass over these guys?

Sure, maybe I'm overrating our own guys here, but it's not hard to think that Jensen turned heads at the WC this year.

If we lose any more young players, good bottom 6 guys or tweeners to tanner glass, I'll lose faith in Gortons plan. He won't be on the team after next year and it will make zero sense to keep troting him out there for the sake of "tuffness" and "fake grinder".

Sure it won't make or break our future or Cup hopes, but the old saying goes "you're only as strong as your weakest link" and he's one of them.

 

[KreiderHouseRules*]

I won't lose any sleep if we lose Hrivik. Definitely not the end of the world.

Lose sleep, no, but it'd be a total joke to lose Hrivik and then hear NYR fans on here talk about spending 2M on 4th liners like Matt "Sydney Esiason" Martin, and complaining that we never even draft and develop 4th line or bottom-6 players, when we'd have just thrown one away because of the worst player in the NHL, Tanner Glass.

Hrivik is a solid bottom-6 player. He likely ends up being better than everyone's favorite Jesper "Vanilla" Fast IMO.

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

Lose sleep, no, but it'd be a total joke to lose Hrivik and then hear NYR fans on here talk about spending 2M on 4th liners like Matt "Sydney Esiason" Martin, and complaining that we never even draft and develop 4th line or bottom-6 players, when we'd have just thrown one away because of the worst player in the NHL, Tanner Glass.

Hrivik is a solid bottom-6 player. He likely ends up being better than everyone's favorite Jesper "Vanilla" Fast IMO.

I'd be downright shocked if Hrivik became a better player than Fast

 

[FLYLine27*]

Lose sleep, no, but it'd be a total joke to lose Hrivik and then hear NYR fans on here talk about spending 2M on 4th liners like Matt "Sydney Esiason" Martin, and complaining that we never even draft and develop 4th line or bottom-6 players, when we'd have just thrown one away because of the worst player in the NHL, Tanner Glass.

Hrivik is a solid bottom-6 player. He likely ends up being better than everyone's favorite Jesper "Vanilla" Fast IMO.

Eh, I'm not as high on Hrivik as some. I don't see him more then a NHL tweener at best. Maybe get himself a role on the 4th line, but that will never happen since Glass needs to play

 

[KreiderHouseRules*]

Eh, I'm not as high on Hrivik as some. I don't see him more then a NHL tweener at best. Maybe get himself a role on the 4th line, but that will never happen since Glass needs to play

I'm not super high on Hrivik. I just think he's a cheap, NHL-ready versatile fourth liner. He can skate; decent scoring touch, and he's smart with and without the puck in his own zone.

To me, he's a left-handed Fast with better puck control skills.

Every good team, especially those strapped for cap-space because of other overpaid players on the roster needs players like this.

It's really a travesty that 1.45M Glass is blocking an NHL-ready player like this, and if not Hrivik, he's be blocking someone else deserving of a spot.

I really hope Gorton forces AV to send Glass to the AHL (even though it only saves 900k) when Hrivik and/or others severely out-play him in camp.

 

[Dijock94]

We couldn't trade glass to a cap floor team?

 

[Leetch3]

We couldn't trade glass to a cap floor team?

you say that like the organization is actually trying to trade him

 

[KreiderHouseRules*]

We couldn't trade glass to a cap floor team?

If he was on LTIR and wasn't playing he'd actually have MORE trade value. I don't know if that says more about how ass-backwards the rule is, or how bad Glass really is.

Datsyuk's 7.5M contract for a player who wasn't going to play had more value because the team doesn't actually have to pay the salary. It just helps them get to the cap floor without actually really spending.

So Glass's 1.45M doesn't help them get that much closer to the floor, and he's still playing so they either have him on their roster or they send him to the AHL and then he only counts like 600k. There's plenty of better players a cap-floor team could get to get to the floor AND ice a better team.

Our best bet is either burying him in the AHL to save 900k, or trading something like Glass and a 5th for a 7th to a rebuilding or a floor team.

 

[KreiderHouseRules*]

What potential line combos are you guys most excited to see?

(Assuming the roster stays relatively the same for opening night)


1) Kreider-Hayes-Nash

I like Nash as a RW, and I think that line would be impossible to contain down low and all three players are big and can hold onto the puck, and Kreider's speed will open up more space for Hayes and Nash to work their magic.

2) Grabner Brassard Zuccarello

I like the speed Grabner adds to this line and think he could play the Pouliot role and find chemistry with Brass and Zucc; merely a gut feeling.

3) Miller-Stepan-Buchnevich

Miller brings grit, some hitting, and the ability to score and create offense. Stepan is great defensively (which balances out the fact that Miller and Buch aren't exactly Selke candidates) and consistently produces offensively, and Buch gets put in a position to succeed playing with two established players.

My ideal lineup as of right now would be to balance the scoring over 4 lines:

Kreider Hayes Nash
Grabner Brassard Zuccarello
Miller Stepan Buchnevich
Hrivik Lindberg Fast

or

Kreider Stepan Zuccarello
Nash Hayes Buchnevich
Miller Brassard Grabner
Hrivik Lindberg Fast


Note: I am also really intrigued by the idea of Nash and Buch playing together, whether it's Hayes, Brass, or Stepan between them.

I'm getting excited for this season. I honestly believe Nash is going to have a huge season.

 

[Leetch3]

lol @ hayes as the #1 center

 

[KreiderHouseRules*]

lol @ hayes as the #1 center

Wasn't labeling them.

Just listed in the order I thought it out.

3 lines that could all easily be 2nd lines. 2 (or maybe 3) that could be 1st lines.

Balance.

Need to develop chemistry within a balanced lineup.

 

[Nickmo82]

lol @ hayes as the #1 center

This is a team built on team offence. We don't really have a 1st line in the truest sense.

 

[Beer League Sniper]

This is a team built on team offence. We don't really have a 1st line in the truest sense.

Which is why our scoring dries up in the playoffs, sadly. We need to acquire elite talent somehow. It doesn't have to be this season. I'm willing to be patient, but we need a clear direction.