Speculation: Roster Building LX: The Return of Cap(tain) Crunch aka LB Bus Stop Theme

[NYRFAN218]

There's a next to nil chance that the Rangers find the cap space to give Kreider $7 million on his next contract. Maybe Gorton thinks there will be more suitors and will get a better package at the deadline for him at this point. I can't imagine the offers for him are very good at this point.

I can see Namestnikov being dealt to Edmonton. They're desperate for forwards, and someone else here brought it up because he's proven he can produce with elite talent. I'd put him on McDavid's LW and see what he can do. Edmonton will give a mid rounder, I think.

The Rangers still need to make one more move. If the Rangers can manage to unload Smith at 50% to Ottawa or something, that might do it. That would clear $2 million and change, plus Namestnikov's $4 million, and that's $6 million to sign Buchnevich, Lemieux, and DeAngelo.

Bridge Buchnevich for two years at $3.75 million. DeAngelo and Lemieux both get their QO's for a year. That's about $1.75 million for both of them. Gives the Rangers a little over half a million to work with. It can be done.

Girardi's dead cap hit goes down from $3.5 million to $1.1 million after next season. That helps going forward.

So I just ran all these numbers in CapFriendly. It would give us 1.5ish in cap space with a 21 man roster (13 F, 6 D, and 2 G). Figure they'll want to add a 7th D somehow though I guess they could live without one if things are that tight. That would add 700-800K. And the Rangers will need cushion too for various in season moves as well as for Kakko's bonuses.

It's going to be a tight fit. I don't know what scenarios are out there for them but I'd definitely look into tying a Lindgren type player to Smith to try and move him even with salary retained. And they should be trying to dump Beleskey somewhere. He's only 875K in the minors but they need every dollar they can get.

 

[wafflepadsave]

How about a trade today?

 

[kovazub94]

For me, if we are talking about seriously going after a playoff spot, strome as 2c is the more practical solution

If we are talking about building chemistry amongst out forwards and helping develop offensive capabilities, then Chytil between kreider and Buchnevich, Kravtsov or Kakko is the more logical choice.

Personally, I think we are still in the building/construction phase and havi g Chytil playing with offensive players helped this team more so on the longterm.

Panarin-Mika-Kaako
Kreider-Chytil-Buchnevich
Lemieux-Howden-Kravtsov
McKegg-Lias-Fast

I see no room for Namestnikov or Strome. and eventually Kreider

You’re not listening. You could be absolutely right but even (especially) successful plans need to be hedged, have a plan B, carry insurance, etc.

 

[Synergy27]

I’m having a really hard time with watching the asks for Kreider in these threads go down as we all come to the realization of how bad this cap crunch is. Ugh.

 

[Gospel of Prospal]

How about a trade today?

K. I'll text JD and GMJG

 

[Leetch3]

I’m having a really hard time with watching the asks for Kreider in these threads go down as we all come to the realization of how bad this cap crunch is. Ugh.

that is 100% fake news...the cap crunch will force us to move names now instead of the deadline at a slightly less return due to no retention, it might force us to buy someone out. it will not effect the kreider trade.

 

[bobbop]

Gorton has known all along what he is dealing with. Getting Trouba signed was the first domino. He needs about $6MM to cover the overage on Trouba’s contract plus Buchnevich, Lemieux and D’Angelo. Buchnevich could even boost that a little higher in the unlikely event that he requests a two year arbitration award.

Buying out Smith gets you about half of what you need. The other big chunk comes from a) trading Kreider, b) buying out Shattenkirk or c) trading Namestnikov at 25% retention (unlikely) There is also the unlikely but possible alternative of trading Skeji or Buchnevich but that doesn’t seem to fit the Rangers narrative.

So for me, it comes down to a simple call — trade Kreider (and get full value) or buy out Shattenkirk. I’m just not giving Kreider away. He’s been a great warrior for this team and frankly I wish it hadn’t come to that but it has. He is the last chance for the Rangers to return a premium asset to support the build.

Namestnikov is a valuable player, much more so than people here give him credit, but it’s going to be near impossible right now for a team to take back all or most of that contract. He’s not bad, just wildly overly paid. At the deadline, with 2/3 of his contract burned off and some retention, he would be a valuable asset.

 

[NYR Viper]

The Rangers could also trade Namestnikov and Fast along with buying out Smith to save the money needed most likely as well.

I really wouldn’t be surprised to see Buch dealt along with Namestnikov and then Kreider dealt at the deadline.

 

[pld459666]

You’re not listening. You could be absolutely right but even (especially) successful plans need to be hedged, have a plan B, carry insurance, etc.

I hear ya, I just dont think Strome is or should be plan B

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

I dunno, folks, if other GMs are trying to hold Gorts over a barrel, I think all he has to do is buy out Smith, and then he can sit back and wait for what he considers fair market value on any other moves.

To see what I mean, check out the scenario below. I'm assuming: A) Buch at $3.1MM over 2 years, which is $163K more than what Tierney got as a 24-y-o center last year, and only $300K below what Johnsson got over four years, including one UFA year, just a month ago; B) Lemieux and DeAngelo at their QO numbers; and C) 12 forwards and 6 defensemen. It's extremely tight, but it works.

Of course, you'd prefer to go with a 22- or 23-man roster, and you do run the risk that Lemieux, or more likely, DeAngelo, busts out and require big money next year when they have arbitration rights (although that's not really all that bad, because at that point the team will have ~$20MM in cap space, and only depth moves to make) – but this scenario does get the team under the cap, alleviating any potential compliance issues, and then you've got as long as you need to make moves to give yourself more flexibility. (And note, it gets even easier if you give Kakko and/or Kravtsov a month in the minors at the start of the season.)

It's not my preferred path, but IMO it's better than making trades from a position of weakness. Unless I'm missing something?

FORWARDS	2019-20	2020-21	2021-22	2022-23	2023-24	2024-25	2025-26
Panarin, Artemi	$ 11,642,857	$ 11,642,857	$ 11,642,857	$ 11,642,857	$ 11,642,857	$ 11,642,857	$ 11,642,857
Zibanejad, Mika "A"	5,350,000	5,350,000	5,350,000	-	-	-	-
Kreider, Chris "A"	4,625,000	-	-	-	-	-	-
Namestnikov, Vladislav	4,000,000	-	-	-	-	-	-
Strome, Ryan	3,100,000	-	-	-	-	-	-
Beleskey, Matt	1,900,000	-	-	-	-	-	-
Fast, Jesper "A"	1,850,000	-	-	-	-	-	-
Kakko, Kaapo	925,000	925,000	925,000	-	-	-	-
Chytil, Filip	894,166	894,166	-	-	-	-	-
Andersson, Lias	894,166	894,166	-	-	-	-	-
Howden, Brett	863,333	863,333	-	-	-	-	-
McKegg, Greg	750,000	-	-	-	-	-	-
Nieves, Cristoval	700,000	-	-	-	-	-	-
SUBTOTAL	$ 37,494,522	$ 20,569,522	$ 17,917,857	$ 11,642,857	$ 11,642,857	$ 11,642,857	$ 11,642,857
DEFENSE	2019-20	2020-21	2021-22	2022-23	2023-24	2024-25	2025-26
Trouba, Jacob	$ 8,000,000	$ 8,000,000	$ 8,000,000	$ 8,000,000	$ 8,000,000	$ 8,000,000	$ 8,000,000
Shattenkirk, Kevin	6,650,000	6,650,000	-	-	-	-	-
Staal, Marc "A"	5,700,000	5,700,000	-	-	-	-	-
Skjei, Brady	5,250,000	5,250,000	5,250,000	5,250,000	5,250,000	-	-
Smith, Brendan	4,350,000	4,350,000	-	-	-	-	-
Fox, Adam	925,000	925,000	925,000	-	-	-	-
Hájek, Libor	833,333	833,333	-	-	-	-	-
SUBTOTAL	$ 31,708,333	$ 31,708,333	$ 14,175,000	$ 13,250,000	$ 13,250,000	$ 8,000,000	$ 8,000,000
GOALIES	2019-20	2020-21	2021-22	2022-23	2023-24	2024-25	2025-26
Lundqvist, Henrik	$8,500,000	$8,500,000	-	-	-	-	-
Georgiev, Alexandar	792,500	-	-	-	-	-	-
SUBTOTAL	$ 9,292,500	$ 8,500,000	$ -	$ -	$ -	$ -	$ -
BUYOUTS	2019-20	2020-21	2021-22	2022-23	2023-24	2024-25	2025-26
Richards, Brad	$ -	$ -	$ -	$ -	$ -	$ -	$ -
Girardi, Dan	3,611,111	1,111,111	1,111,111	1,111,111	-	-	-
Spooner, Ryan	300,000	300,000	-	-	-	-	-
SUBTOTAL	$ 3,911,111	$ 1,411,111	$ 1,111,111	$ 1,111,111	$ -	$ -	$ -
TOTAL (Pre-Adjustments)	$82,406,466	$62,188,966	$33,203,968	$26,003,968	$24,892,857	$19,642,857	$19,642,857
SUBTRACTIONS	2019-20	2020-21	2021-22	2022-23	2023-24	2024-25	2025-26
Smith Buyout	$ (3,379,167)	$ (1,204,167)	$ 1,145,833	$ 1,145,833	-	-	-
Beleskey Demotion	(1,075,000)	-	-	-	-	-	-
McKegg Demotion	(750,000)	-	-	-	-	-	-
Nieves Demotion	(700,000)	-	-	-	-	-	-
Fox Demotion	(925,000)	(925,000)	(925,000)	-	-	-	-
SUBTOTAL	$ (6,829,167)	$ (2,129,167)	$ 220,833	$ 1,145,833	$ -	$ -	$ -
ADDITIONS	2019-20	2020-21	2021-22	2022-23	2023-24	2024-25	2025-26
Kravtsov Promotion	$ 925,000	$ 925,000	$ 925,000	$ -	$ -	$ -	$ -
Buchnevich Contract	3,100,000	3,100,000	-	-	-	-	-
Lemieux Contract	881,125	-	-	-	-	-	-
DeAngelo Contract	906,500	-	-	-	-	-	-
SUBTOTAL	$ 5,812,625	$ 4,025,000	$ 925,000	$ -	$ -	$ -	$ -
TOTAL (Post-Adjustments)	$81,389,924	$64,084,799	$34,349,801	$27,149,801	$24,892,857	$19,642,857	$19,642,857

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[eco's bones]

The Rangers were praising Strome towards the end of last year so I'm not sure he's walking the plank next year or that the Rangers won't try to keep him but giving him qualifying offer--putting him near the $4 mil per mark is just too much for what I've seen so far.

Namestnikov not nearly as bad as Spooner but he's really a 30-35 point bottom 6 winger. I would like him a whole lot better if he were making $2.5 mil. Not a great contract IMO.

 

[FJB]

Any chance a cap floor team would take Smith and/or Names?

 

[Roo Returns]

In honor of the Star Trek: Picard trailer that just dropped I paraphrase: "Let history for get the Names.....and Smith."

Can't wait til this is over and we can get back to real convos.

Also, Strome was really good last year. He's a very valuable player.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I’m having a really hard time with watching the asks for Kreider in these threads go down as we all come to the realization of how bad this cap crunch is. Ugh.

Its only bad if you completely neglect the buy out possibilities.

Once you remember that its an option that is likely to be visited, the "leverage" other teams have is gone.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

The Rangers were praising Strome towards the end of last year so I'm not sure he's walking the plank next year or that the Rangers won't try to keep him but giving him qualifying offer--putting him near the $4 mil per mark is just too much for what I've seen so far.

Namestnikov not nearly as bad as Spooner but he's really a 30-35 point bottom 6 winger. I would like him a whole lot better if he were making $2.5 mil. Not a great contract IMO.

His QO would be 3.1m

 

[I Eat Crow]

Any chance a cap floor team would take Smith and/or Names?

I think Ottawa is a possibility for one or both. They're going to need NHL bodies.

Smith at 50% is a solid vet for their young players. Namestnikov is valuable to them because they can flip him off at the deadline for another mid round pick.

Unrelated, but I don't see Gorton accepting less than market value for Buchnevich. If @Edge's intel was correct, the Rangers were looking at getting the 8th overall from Edmonton with Buchnevich as the centerpiece.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

The Rangers were praising Strome towards the end of last year so I'm not sure he's walking the plank next year or that the Rangers won't try to keep him but giving him qualifying offer--putting him near the $4 mil per mark is just too much for what I've seen so far.

Namestnikov not nearly as bad as Spooner but he's really a 30-35 point bottom 6 winger. I would like him a whole lot better if he were making $2.5 mil. Not a great contract IMO.

They praised the hell out of Pionk and his battle and willingness to take tough assignments.

He was gone a month and a half later.

 

[Synergy27]

that is 100% fake news...the cap crunch will force us to move names now instead of the deadline at a slightly less return due to no retention, it might force us to buy someone out. it will not effect the kreider trade.

Fake news? An incorrect prediction maybe, we’ll see how this plays out, but fake news? People here are gearing themselves up for a shitty return on Kreider. A month ago we thought we were getting a top 10 pick/Newhook for him. No one knows what will happen but the expectations are sure being managed right now.

 

[Fitzy]

Any chance a cap floor team would take Smith and/or Names?

Just based on my perusal of the cap sites, there aren't too many teams that are in danger of being below the cap floor. The only team currently below is Winnipeg and they have two big RFA contracts to deal with.

 

[Kovalev27]

I don’t get it. If you don’t. Buy out shattenkirk now and he has a season like he just had he is immovable next year and buyout proof basically. You are blocking one of Fox or DeAngelo this year but definitely next year.

It’s a no brainer. You buy out shattenkirk

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I don’t get it. If you don’t. Buy out shattenkirk now and he has a season like he just had he is immovable next year and buyout proof basically. You are blocking one of Fox or DeAngelo this year but definitely next year.

It’s a no brainer. You buy out shattenkirk

Not if you use him as an extra.

the no brainer is to buy out Staal who is both unmovable and a worse player. We can literally put together a top 6 of LHD who are superior to Staal.

 

[Mikos87]

Gorton has known all along what he is dealing with. Getting Trouba signed was the first domino. He needs about $6MM to cover the overage on Trouba’s contract plus Buchnevich, Lemieux and D’Angelo. Buchnevich could even boost that a little higher in the unlikely event that he requests a two year arbitration award.

Buying out Smith gets you about half of what you need. The other big chunk comes from a) trading Kreider, b) buying out Shattenkirk or c) trading Namestnikov at 25% retention (unlikely) There is also the unlikely but possible alternative of trading Skeji or Buchnevich but that doesn’t seem to fit the Rangers narrative.

So for me, it comes down to a simple call — trade Kreider (and get full value) or buy out Shattenkirk. I’m just not giving Kreider away. He’s been a great warrior for this team and frankly I wish it hadn’t come to that but it has. He is the last chance for the Rangers to return a premium asset to support the build.

Namestnikov is a valuable player, much more so than people here give him credit, but it’s going to be near impossible right now for a team to take back all or most of that contract. He’s not bad, just wildly overly paid. At the deadline, with 2/3 of his contract burned off and some retention, he would be a valuable asset.

I would take a Names and Smith buyout over a Shattenkirk and Smith buyout. The latter option cripples the Rangers with $10M+ in dead space next year (with Girardi & Spooner).

A Names and Smith buyout gets you a $1.3M & $3.3M hit next year, plus Girardi's $1.1 & Spooner's $300K. Which equals $6M in dead space.

A Shattenkirk and Smith buyout gets you a $6M & $3.3M hit next year, plus Girardi's $1.1 & Spooner's $300K. Which equals $10.7M in dead space.

 

[Fitzy]

No one is blocking Fox, Kravtsov, or Shesty, until they actually show they are ready for the NHL.

There's a good chance Fox is ready, but it would be a mistake to assume he is.

 

[Mikos87]

They praised the hell out of Pionk and his battle and willingness to take tough assignments.

He was gone a month and a half later.

I'm glad they did. The couple of fights Pionk had really helped his perception around the league. I think he's soft. When he fought, he jumped a couple of those guys, but I saw him dis-engage from many battles last year.

But the moxie, and willingness to compete- and show that he can play 22 a night really helped.

I'm not saying he was good- he wasn't. But that helped drive his trade value.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

I'd be pretty shocked TBH if Fox doesn't start in the AHL for a bit. Likely one of the last cuts, but one of the first callups.

Which might not be the worst thing...Hopefully Shatty can then played somewhat decent in the first few months and raise is trade value.