Devils buy out Zubrus

Posted on July 29, 2015 by hasan4978

Continuing their offseason of change, the Devils used their final buyout window of the offseason to terminate the contract of long-time Devil forward Danius Zubrus.  Zubrus had a 35+ contract and as such the Devils received no cap savings for the buyout, but also will not have a dead cap hit on their ledger after this year.  With the team barely above the salary floor, carrying Zubrus’s cap hit this year wasn’t an issue though.  According to GM Ray Shero, the issue was more one of roster flexibility – indicating FA signings and trade acquisitions are still a possibility.  Although the GM didn’t say it, Zubrus’s age and mileage was also a concern given the team’s new fast, attacking and supportive motto.  Zubrus wasn’t the speediest forward in his prime but would seem not to fit into coach John Hynes’ system at 37 years old coming off his worst season in the NHL.

Will this be the end of the line for a respected veteran of 1243 NHL games (plus another 92 in the playoffs)?  People might not realize Zubrus has been playing in the league since 1996, when he was a teenage rookie with the Flyers.  For context, Martin Brodeur was in his fourth full season with the Devils that year.  Looking at his career, I forgot he was some of the places he was – Montreal, Washington and briefly Buffalo before signing here as a free agent during the summer of 2007 at what was thought to be a long six-year deal.  Although Zubrus put up 38 and 40 points in his first two seasons with the team, he was miscast as a top-line center and wing, trying to replace the production of departing free agents like Scott Gomez and Brian Gionta.  After two more meh seasons, Zubrus had a career reinassance in 2011-12 with not only his best regular season as a Devil (17-27-44 with a +7) – but was a key factor in the team’s playoff run with ten points in 24 games and more importantly stellar board work and cycling, which became his true hallmark as a Devil.  Well that and the myriad of jokes that stemmed from Zubrus being the locker room deejay.

Unfortunately, Zubrus was never the same after suffering a wrist injury early in the 2013 lockout season, and after signing a three-year deal during the summer of 2013.  After a 13-goal, 26 point season in 2013-14 (where he still played every game and at times early last season gave the top line with Jaromir Jagr and Travis Zajac a spark), Zubrus cratered to four goals, six assists and a -9 in 74 games last season, where you could argue he was the worst forward in the NHL – or at least the worst one consistently getting ten plus minutes.  At his age and with his miles it’s hard to envision him getting anything beyond a tryout contract this summer, but if this is it for him he would be able to leave the NHL with nothing to be ashamed of though unfortunately, our playoff run in 2012 that came up short was his best chance to win a Cup.  Zubrus was the prototypical Devil for a long time, unselfish, playing a physical game and willing to change positions and roles for the good of the team.  And heck, how can you not like a guy that has ‘interesting’ taste in music and will consistently play the straight man to the one-man comedy act that was Jagr in 2013-14?

While his best individual performance as a Devil was his random four-goal game against the Lightning several years ago, arguably his most important game was in Game 4 against the Flyers where he scored twice, including the tie-breaking goal in the YouTube above.  Best of luck with whatever you do next, Zubie.

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Rangers, Stepan agree to new deal for six years, $39 million

Posted on July 27, 2015 by Derek
Derek Stepan takes the winning shot to beat a sprawling Braden Holtby scoring at 11:24 of overtime to send the Rangers to the Conference Finals where they'll meet the Lightning. Game 1 is Saturday. AP Photo by Frank Franklin II/Getty Images

Derek Stepan and the Rangers finally agreed to a much anticipated new six-year contract worth $39 million avoiding arbitration.
AP Photo by Frank Franklin II/Getty Images

They waited till the last minute. Finally, the Rangers and Derek Stepan agreed to a new deal that’ll pay him $39 million over the next six years. Indeed, the predicted figure which was proposed in this space as well as others turned out to be true. Stepan’s average salary is $6.5 million per season. ‘

From the beginning, it made sense. With Stepan submitting $7.25 million for arbitration and the Rangers countering with $5.2 million, you had to figure they’d settle in the middle. It couldn’t have gone any better except for one odd question. Why did it take so long for the two sides to get it done? Everyone knew what Stepan would get. However, that’s how the Rangers do business. They like to wait and drive us crazy.

For some, that meant panic. Fans started questioning why Stepan came in with a figure above seven million while the Blueshirts came in two million dollars apart. That’s part of the process. If they’d paid attention to the Capitals and Braden Holtby who actually requested $8 million before settling on $6.1 per season over the next five, each side deliberately does it and then get down to negotiating.

Now that Stepan is done, new GM Jeff Gorton has gotten everyone re-signed. The Rangers should be right at around $70 million for training camp. The current roster could always change. Tanner Glass remains a candidate for waivers. If either Dylan McIlrath or Brady Skjei impress the coaching staff, Kevin Klein could still be dealt to clear room.

For now, we can breathe easy. A Happy Monday indeed for the Blueshirts.

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NHL Happenings: Holtby signs, Semin finds new home with Canadiens

Posted on July 25, 2015 by Derek
Rick Nash and the Rangers offense has gone missing against Braden Holtby and the Caps. AP Photo by Alex Brandon/Getty Images

Braden Holtby has a new deal with the Caps and Alex Semin found a new home with the Canadiens.
AP Photo by Alex Brandon/Getty Images

While the Rangers try to meet Derek Stepan in the middle before his July 27 arbitration date, there have been a couple of noteworthy signings from other teams.

The biggest one being Braden Holtby and the Caps agreeing on a new five-year contract worth $30.5 million. Coming off a career season in which he won 41 games with a 2.22 goals-against-average, .923 save percentage and nine shutouts, the 25-year old netminder asked for eight million in arbitration with the Caps coming in at $5.1 million. A day after the hearing, the two sides hammered out a five-year deal that pays him $6.1 million per season. A solid investment for a player who proved himself in the playoffs posting a 1.71 GAA and .944 save percentage. If he can duplicate ’14-15, the Caps could be serious contenders.

The other signing came from the Canadiens who inked forward Alex Semin to a one-year $1.1 million deal. Considering how bad he was for the Hurricanes in Year 3 getting bought out after tallying only 19 points (6-13-19) in 57 contests, it’s a low risk move. Obviously, the 31-year old Russian enigma has talent but also has a bad reputation for being lazy. On a one-year deal and wanting to stay in the NHL as opposed to the KHL, he must prove himself. This is a player who’s scored 20-or-more goals seven times. His best days came with the Caps where he teamed with fellow Russian Alex Ovechkin to form a lethal combo. Three times he lit the lamp for over 30 including a career best 40 markers and 84 points in ’09-10. Since, his production has dipped which eventually led to him being waived by the Canes after they made a foolish five-year $35 million investment.

It’ll be intriguing to see how Semin performs under the microscope in hockey crazed Montreal. The Canadiens are banking on him to deliver secondary scoring. That requires consistency. For all his ability, he’s never been a great postseason performer going 15-19-34 in 51 games. His best output came in 2009 when he went 5-9-14 in 14 games. Ironically, he’s missed the playoffs the last three seasons with his last showing only three goals and a helper over 14 games in 2012.

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Devils re-sign Larsson to six-year, $25 million deal

Posted on July 25, 2015 by hasan4978

Defenseman Adam Larsson came of age last season and was rewarded with a new contract today

With time running out before the Devils and Adam Larsson were scheduled for an arbitration hearing on Wednesday, the two sides came to terms on a long-term extension that will pay the former #4 overall pick just over $4 million per for the next six seasons, buying off his first three UFA seasons and giving the young Swedish defenseman some security after four up-and-down seasons as a Devil.  Perhaps the best thing about this deal is Larsson will only be 28 at the end of it.  There was talk about agreeing to a two-year bridge deal if the sides didn’t come to terms by the end of the weekend so there was a time concern, fortunately both sides were able to come to an agreement that serves everyone.

Amazing how much things have changed over the span of several months.  Last season, Larsson was kept down in Albany for the second half and played this season on a one-year show-me deal.  Early in 2014-15 he was still a frequent healthy scratch under former coach Pete DeBoer.  Although Larsson was able to carve out a niche on the PK in the fall after an injury to Jon Merrill, it wasn’t till after there was a coaching change where Larsson was finally allowed to establish himself without looking over his shoulder.  He responded with a good second half, paired with Andy Greene on the Devils’ top pairing – and even increasing his point production dramatically on an offensively challenged team.

Now that Larsson’s back in the fold, the Devils’ only matter of concern left from a player contract standpoint is inking first-rounder Pavel Zacha before next month’s August 15 deadline where if he doesn’t sign by then, he won’t be able to sign or play in the NHL this year.  It really shouldn’t be a problem although one deadline was already missed this month where now the Devils have to pay his Czech team 100k to let him out of his contract assuming he gets signed before next month’s deadline.  There’s some worry that neophyte agent Patrik Stefan (yes the former #1 overall pick) is being difficult, but really this negotiation shouldn’t be that tough given the rookie wage scale and the fact they’re only haggling over bonuses at this point – which is one area that’s already changed under new management since Lou Lamoriello was steadfast against giving draft picks bonus money, including Larsson himself, who was the only top ten pick in recent years to sign a contract without them.

Speaking of Lou, his departure this week also put things on hold with the Larsson and Zacha negotiations, and although GM Ray Shero hired an assistant (former NHL player and fellow Penguin exec Tom Fitzgerald), he still needs to appoint a new director of scouting to replace David Conte, and that director will quite possibly need to get their own staff in place as well.  There doesn’t seem to be as much of a hurry to find a new team president, according to co-owner Josh Harris, speaking at a press conference after Lou resigned to work in Toronto.  Which makes one wonder if they didn’t see a president as being that important, then just how ceremonial had Lou’s job become?  At least his successor can work without a shadow over him now – real or perceived.

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Devils sign Larsson for six years, $25 million

Posted on July 25, 2015 by Derek
Adam Larsson is a rich man agreeing to a new six-year deal worth $25 million with the Devils. Getty Images

Adam Larsson is a rich man agreeing to a new six-year deal worth $25 million with the Devils.
Getty Images

A day after Lou Lamoriello was introduced by the Maple Leafs as their new general manager, current Devils GM Ray Shero signed Adam Larsson to a six-year $25 million contract. The former 2011 fourth overall pick will make an average of $4.167 million through 2021. Here’s the full breakdown.

2015-16 2.5

2016-17 3.0

2017-18 4.5

2018-19 4.85

2019-20 5.05

2020-21 5.1

The 22-year old Larsson rebounded from a poor start that had him a healthy scratch under former Devils coach Pete DeBoer. Eventually, with Lamoriello stepping behind the bench with former assistants Scott Stevens and Adam Oates, Larsson’s role increased. Finally gaining full trust of the coaching staff, the Swede developed into a top four shutdown defenseman. Not only did his confidence grow defensively but he also improved offensively setting career highs in goals (3), assists (21) and points (24). The 24 points paced all Devils defensemen edging ex-Devil Marek Zidlicky (23) and Andy Greene (22).

It was a no-brainer for the organization to get Larsson locked up. The 2011 first round pick started to fulfill his potential. A integral part of a revamped blueline featuring elder statesman Greene, Larsson headlines a young core that includes Damon Severson, Jon Merrill, Eric Gelinas and former Ranger John Moore. Aside from Greene who’s 32, the rest of the projected starting lineup on the back end are all 24 and younger.

With the rebuilding club also featuring number one goalie Cory Schneider, new coach John Hynes will look towards a young nucleus on D to help turn the franchise around. Larsson should be a staple who will become a team leader.

Devils tab Fitzgerald Assistant GM: In other team news, the Devils announced the hiring of Tom Fitzgerald as assistant GM. Part of Shero’s staff in Pittsburgh, he’ll serve in the same role he had under the Penguins this past season.

“Tom Fitzgerald has extensive experience as both a player and now in hockey operations, having served in several significant roles over the past eight seasons,” said Shero. “He is well-respected throughout the league, and I feel that he is an ideal fit for our team. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Pittsburgh Penguins for their cooperation in allowing Tom to join our organization.”

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Rangers and Stepan down to wire

Posted on July 24, 2015 by Derek
Derek Stepan celebrates his power play goal which cut the deficit to 3-2 in the second period. But a bad penalty at the start of the third proved costly. AP Photo by Kathy Willens/Getty Images

Derek Stepan and the Rangers are down to the wire for a new contract.
AP Photo by Kathy Willens/Getty Images

It’s come down to this for the Rangers and Derek Stepan. With his hearing July 27, the two sides have yet to negotiate a new deal that would keep the club’s top center past 2017 when he could become an unrestricted free agent. That’s only if they can’t work something out. It better not get to Monday. That would be the worst case scenario with an arbitrator awarding Stepan another potential bridge contract that could put him in position to leave.

Unfortunately, this is how it works with the Rangers who always seem to wait last minute to lock up their core players. As has been discussed throughout, Stepan’s market has been set at between $6 to 7 million. Assuming new Team GM Jeff Gorton is able to reach agreement with Stepan, it could be either a six-year or seven-year commitment. Let’s say the two sides meet in the middle. You’re probably looking at at least $6.5 million per season. A proposed six-year deal worth $39 million could make sense. However, if it’s seven years, then you’re talking about anywhere between $45 to 49 million for a center who’s never produced a 60-point season. Of course, he would have had he not missed 14 games in ’14-15. In 68, Stepan fell five points short with his 55 (16-39-55) still ranking third in team scoring behind Derick Brassard (19-41-60) and Rick Nash (42-27-69).

There’s no need to restate Stepan’s value. I’ve already hashed out what makes him so important to the team’s present and future. At 25, he’s established himself as a two-way playmaking pivot who can be trusted in any situation including serving as one half of a lethal penalty killing duo with Nash. As evidenced by last week’s post, he compares favorably to 30-year old Ryan Kesler, who the Ducks extended for six years and $41.5 million. Stepan has proven durable missing only 14 games so far. He also has improved his postseason performance going 10-17-29 over the last two. That leads all Blueshirts with Brassard (15-13-28) and Ryan McDonagh (7-19-26) right behind. Without his Game 5 theatrics setting up Chris Kreider for the tying goal and McDonagh for the overtime winner, they lose to the Capitals in the second round. Topping it off, Stepan scored in sudden death of Game 7 to send the Rangers to a second straight Eastern Conference Final.

Given how much money the Sabres tossed at Ryan O’Reilly (7 years $52.5 million), Stepan is going to be expensive. With Gorton able to get everyone else re-signed, he has just enough wiggle room to get it done. Counting Oscar Lindberg ($600,000), the Rangers have 21 players signed for $63.874 million based off War On Ice. I excluded Matt Lindblad ($600 K) and Jayson Megna (600 K) who both are ticketed for Hartford. If you subtract Lindberg, then it becomes 20 players signed for $63.274 million. There’s also Dylan McIlrath who also will make $600,000. But he could start with the Wolf Pack. Brady Skjei remains the wildcard. If he impresses enough during training camp, then Kevin Klein ($2.9 million) could become expendable. He’s signed through 2018.

One way or another, we’ll have a better idea of what’s happening with Stepan. Hopefully, it’s good news this weekend for the Garden Faithful.

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Lou resigns from Devils, becomes new Leafs GM

Posted on July 23, 2015 by hasan4978

Leafs president Brendan Shanahan and new GM Lou Lamoriello (yep that makes my eyes hurt)

If I didn’t see the stunning news about Lou Lamoriello becoming the new GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs posted by reputable sources on Twitter this morning, I’d have thought it was an Onion headline gone viral.  Although an era truly ended the minute Lou ‘stepped down’ as GM, and quite possibly it was an era that needed to end – I still found myself floored by this news.  I’m not neccesarily surprised Lou went to another organization although I wasn’t sure he’d be a GM again at his age (72 now, 73 a few weeks into the season)…but the fact it happened this soon, not even two months after he ostensibly stepped aside though proves once and for all his departure wasn’t exactly by choice.  It would be one thing if he left, then came back after a season away and you could argue he found he missed being a GM but clearly that’s not what happened here.  While this wasn’t quite Jerry Jones firing Tom Landry – Lou did get two seasons under new ownership, after all – it isn’t far off for a generation of Devil fans that know only Lou and success.

I’m doubly surprised it’s the Leafs that Lou’s taking over although I shouldn’t be given his obvious relationship with long-time player Brendan Shanahan, and their lack of a GM till this point.  Considering how they’re in rebuild mode – trading Phil Kessel at the draft being the latest example of this – why would Lou at 72 sign on for three years to a seemingly long-term project?  He probably could have still gotten any one of a dozen jobs next offseason that didn’t entail as much of a rebuild.  Perhaps working for Shanny and with an Original Six organization with money appealed to Lou at this point in his life.  And clearly he feels as if he’s got something to prove after three straight playoff-less seasons here complicated by off-ice issues:

“Maybe it was a process of the way things have gone in the last five years in New Jersey,” Lamoriello said. “There’s a lot of things that have transpired there. Some are public and some are not with references to changes in ownership and I would say things just weren’t the way they were in the past and you weren’t allowed to do some of the things for financial reasons, to be perfectly honest, and it really started to change a little. And I think that when Josh Harris and David Blitzer came in, they changed that and I just thought that maybe there was a change in a thought process as far as a transition and I decided to look that way…Then, when this situation came about, it just raised my level back to where it had been about five years ago.”

I’m still wondering what Lou means by the last part of that quote.  Did he feel stale here after nearly three decades?  Or was he being leaned on too much by owners Josh Harris and David Blitzer (most likely the answer would be yes in terms of off-ice matters at least)?  Clearly from 2010-13 there was an ownership black cloud with Jeff Vanderbeek’s financial difficulties, which is really what brought on the last few years of problems on and off the ice.  Lou himself didn’t help matters with a series of underwhelming drafts, spotty coaching choices and highly questionable FA signings and re-signings, but by the same token unfortunately we’ll never know what would have happened if ownership was able to pony up for Zach Parise in the summer of 2011 and Ilya Kovalchuk didn’t have time to go home during the 2012 lockout.

If this offseason hasn’t already been about a clean break from the past, this sealed it once and for all.  Lou didn’t even last three months as president without the GM title in New Jersey.  To their credit, ownership let Shanahan speak with Lou and to his credit Lou thanked them for doing so but clearly not all was peaches and cream behind the scenes here.  It’s just so surreal to realize how much has changed in one offseason and right now there isn’t much to hang onto in terms of hope as a Devils fan.

Forwards – still old and a thin prospect pool although this year’s draft definitely infused more talent on paper

Defense – okay there’s definitely hope for better days here but they haven’t fully matured and who knows how they’re going to play under the new ‘fast, attacking and supportive’ system, without much of a core of veteran leadership left around

Goalie – sure Cory Schneider’s great, but will he continue to be great long enough for us to benefit when (if?) things get better?

Coaching – so far, I like John Hynes…he seems like a dynamic leader that knows what he wants.  Of course so far, he hasn’t coached a game in the NHL yet

Owners – yes Harris and Blitzer ‘saved’ us from bankruptcy, but they still have to show they’re committed to winning.  People don’t want to hear this or think the comparison has validity but they also own the NBA’s Sixers, in the midst of perpetual rebuilding with a low payroll.  And now we’re rebuilding with a low payroll.  Granted there are some differences but I can’t exactly blame people for making that comparison…these guys have to prove not only that they want to win but that they know how, firing two GM’s in Philly and Lou here doesn’t exactly prove anything other than they make hair-trigger decisions

Ironically my biggest ray of hope (no pun intended) is Lou’s replacement, Ray Shero.  Unlike the owners’ Sixer hires, Shero is at least a professional GM with real experience.  And yes I do think it was time to rebuild to a degree, especially up front – with the rebuild on D already in the midst of taking place – it got old watching the Walking Dead skate up front.  Still, this is a very unsettling time for Devil fans who know nothing but Lou and success.  Although you shouldn’t care about how your rivals are doing when you have your own problems, it’s human nature to look at the fact that the Rangers are in the best five-year stretch they’ve had since the early ’90’s, while the Islanders are also on the upswing with a young, dynamic team going into a new building, and be worried that you’re going to lose the next generation of fans to the more successful NY teams.

New ownership, and many fans have gotten the change they wanted for years…now it’s time to follow the Missouri State motto and SHOW ME that change is good.

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A Comparison: Derek Stepan versus Ryan Kesler

Posted on July 17, 2015 by Derek
Derek Stepan battles Ryan Kesler last season. He should be rewarded with a similar contract to the extension the Canucks gave Kesler. Getty Images

Derek Stepan battles Ryan Kesler last season. He should be rewarded with a similar contract to the extension the Canucks gave Kesler.
Getty Images

Much has been made of what’s facing the Rangers with Derek Stepan. Having completed his fifth season as a Blueshirt, Stepan tallied 55 points (16-39-55) in 68 games and added 12 points (5-7-12) in the postseason. He earned $3.85 million in ’14-15 with a bridge deal expiring. With arbitration looming, the Rangers must get him locked up.

Since he entered the NHL as a 20-year old rookie, the 25-year old Hastings, Minnesota native has become a dependable two-way play-making pivot who plays every situation including power play and penalty kill. A former 2008 second round pick taken 51st overall, the former Badger ranks fifth from that class in scoring with 252 points (89-163-252). Steven Stamkos (498), Erik Karlsson (303), Jordan Eberle (284) and Drew Doughty (267) are ahead of him. If they redrafted, there’s no doubt he’d have gone much higher.

Despite struggling throughout his career on faceoffs (44.0 percent), Stepan’s one of the Rangers’ best players. A smart pass first center, he’s also been durable only missing 14 games which all came this past season with the first dozen due to a fractured fibula. Prior to the injury that sidelined him, he was an iron man having played in his first 294 games from ’10-11 thru ’13-14. In fact, the only game he missed was when he suffered a broken jaw on a illegal Brandon Prust hit during the 2014 Eastern Conference Final. He came back to help lead the team to a Stanley Cup Final finishing tied with Martin St. Louis with 15 points (5-10-15 in 24 GP).

Under coach Alain Vigneault, Stepan has become a team leader. An alternate captain who’s formed a deadly penalty killing combo with Rick Nash, they combined for six of the Blueshirts’ nine shorthanded goals in ’14-15. Not surprisingly, both ranked 1-2 on the team in plus/minus with Nash plus-28 while Stepan went plus-26. For his career, he’s a plus-85. Even better, Stepan stayed disciplined only totaling 22 penalty minutes. In fact, his five season total is 94 PIM. Considering that Vigneault trusts him in every situation, that’s essential. He led all Ranger skaters in ice-time with an average of 18:10 per game. Nash checked in at 17:27 with retired Martin St. Louis second (17:33).

Looking closer at Stepan in ’14-15, 40 of his 55 points came at even strength with 10 on the power play (3-7-10) and five (2-3-5) shorthanded. The 40 points at even strength is more impressive when you consider who his linemates were. Chris Kreider just completed his second full year. A strong possession player, 38 of his 46 points came at even strength with the other eight (7-1-8) on the power play. He doesn’t kill penalties. Vigneault went with a combination of J.T. Miller and Jesper Fast down the stretch. Basically, Stepan was asked to mentor two young players while Brassard got to play with Nash and Mats Zuccarello who missed the final two rounds due to a brain contusion. Brassard also doesn’t kill penalties.

Of the Rangers’ top six, only Stepan and Nash are asked to play penalty kill. That gives them more responsibility and extra shifts. Among forwards, Nash ranked 20th in average shifts per game with 25.4 while Stepan was 28th with 24.9. Fast also killed penalties but it remains to be seen if he’ll be asked to play on the top two lines. He’s more suited for a checking role on the third line with Kevin Hayes and potential Carl Hagelin replacement Emerson Etem. Miller could start on the USA Line with Stepan and Kreider.

When you factor everything in, it’s easy to see why Stepan will get a significant raise. Especially with the Ducks extending Ryan Kesler for six years, $41.5 million. That averages out to $6.875 million per year. The 30-year old second line center will earn $5 million in the final year of a deal he signed with the Canucks. He plays a different style using his bigger 6-2, 202 pound frame to protect the puck on the cycle. More physical, Kesler plays with edge and will mix it up. He also is money on faceoffs going 53.4 percent for his career. In his first season with Anaheim, he registered 20 goals and 27 assists for 47 points in 81 contests with 75 penalty minutes. He picked it up in the postseason totaling 13 points (7-6-13) and 24 PIM in three rounds.

Once his new contract starts in ’16-17, he’ll be 32. Kesler turns 31 on August 31 sharing a birthday with former Devils and Ducks Hall Of Famer Scott Niedermayer. A gritty American who’ll enter his 12th season, the former Canucks’ 2003 first round pick who was selected 23rd overall in one of the best drafts ever, Kesler has totaled 440 points (202-238-440) in 736 games. His best years came with Vancouver. In ’09-10, he posted a career high 75 points (25-50-75) with 104 PIM in a full 82 while adding 10 points (1-9-10) in the postseason. The following season, he established a career best 41 goals with 73 points and a career high plus-24 rating. That year, he was an integral part of Vigneault’s former team that went to the Stanley Cup Final. Kesler posted 19 points (7-12-19) and 47 PIM during that run. But the Canucks fell short losing to the Bruins in seven.

Those two seasons were by far his best. Since, his production has dropped. Injuries cost him 31 games of the shortened ’12-13 season. Kesler hasn’t reached 50 points since ’10-11. He’s still a good performer scoring 20-or-more the last three full seasons while putting up point totals of 49 in ’11-12, 43 in ’13-14 and 47 in ’14-15. To his credit, he made Matt Beleskey a much better player allowing him to set career highs in goals (22) and points (32) while going 8-1-9 in the playoffs. That allowed him to cash in on free agency signing with the Bruins where he’ll make an average of $3.8 million over the next five seasons. Kesler will probably play with Jakob Silfverberg and either Hagelin or Patrick Maroon. He’ll remain a key cog for the Ducks centering the second line. If they win a Cup, no one will care that his new contract takes him until he’s 37.

While it’s true Stepan and Kesler are two different style centers, notice Stepan’s production. His 252 points in 362 games is a better pace. To be fair, Kesler took time to develop. He also played as a 19-year old getting into 28 games before the lockout. If you take his five best seasons between ’07-08 thru ’11-12, he totaled 293 points. He was 27 by the conclusion which ironically began his decline.

With the Sabres overpaying Ryan O’Reilly, Stepan could get anywhere between $6.5 to $7.5 million. There’s a small contingent of Ranger fans who don’t want to see Stepan make $7 million. They cite his ‘lack of toughness.’ Toughness is a word that can be misconstrued. You don’t have to be the biggest or strongest in stature. Stepan is listed at 6-0, 196 pounds. He isn’t a big center who barrels over the opposition. However, he makes up for it with relentless checking that often leads to turnovers. How many times have we seen him force an opponent into a mistake that leads to a quality scoring chance or goal? Whether it be shorthanded or on the forecheck, he outworks the opposition.

Does he have to hit to be effective in the playoffs? Yes. He’s proven he’ll do it when necessary. He’s a high quality character who is a team guy. Perception isn’t always reality. If you want to find something to critique with the Rangers, look at their cap management. Throwing away $1.1 million on a fringe player like Viktor Stalberg a year after handing Tanner Glass three years at $1.45 million per season. They also are locked in long-term with Dan Girardi and Marc Staal who both have no-movement clauses. It would be refreshing if the organization changes their philosophy and gets Kreider to sign an extension before next summer. Bridge deals backfire because it increases the likelihood of overpayment. With Stepan two years away from unrestricted status, they’ll have to pay up.

Whatever he gets, Stepan will remain a big part of the present and future as a Blueshirt.

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Rangers re-sign Fast and Miller, Stepan on deck

Posted on July 15, 2015 by Derek
The Kids Are Alright: Jesper Fast congratulates J.T. Miller on his goal during the Rangers' 5-2 win over the Flyers. AP Photo by Bill Kostroun/Getty Images

The Kids Are Alright: Jesper Fast congratulates J.T. Miller on his goal during the Rangers’ 5-2 win over the Flyers.
AP Photo by Bill Kostroun/Getty Images

Over the course of a couple of days, the Rangers have gotten everyone re-signed except for Derek Stepan. A day after re-signing Emerson Etem and Oscar Lindberg, they signed restricted free agents Jesper Fast and J.T. Miller. Former first round pick Dylan McIlrath also re-signed for one year $600,000.

In essence, new GM Jeff Gorton was able to save as much money as possible. Fast agreed to a two-year deal at $950,000 per season and Miller signed his one-year $874,000 qualifying offer. Daily News reporter Pat Leonard tweeted out the information on both.

With just enough wiggle room, they shouldn’t have any problem fitting Stepan in. With approximately $8 million left, Gorton can now turn his attention to getting the team’s number one center signed to a long-term contract. Considering that the Ducks doled out an average of $6.875 million for 30-year old center Ryan Kesler, Stepan’s price range is set. It could be anywhere between $6.5 to $7.5 million. That all depends on whether the two sides can reach agreement before the July 27 arbitration date.

Let’s not forget that Stepan is two years away from unrestricted free agency. Obviously, they don’t want to let an arbitrator award another bridge deal. Clearly one of their best players, the Rangers must lock him up and buy up free agent years. Assuming it gets done, it should be a six-year contract with a seventh year option along with the standard no-movement clause. A big investment for sure. But what other alternative is there? At 25, Stepan continues to improve and is one of the locker room leaders. A smart two-way playmaking pivot, he’s a big part of the present and future.

Having a top three of Stepan, Derick Brassard and either Miller or Kevin Hayes should keep the Blueshirts a serious Stanley Cup contender. If Lindberg makes the team and becomes a reliable fourth line center, it’ll solidify the center position with Dominic Moore unlikely to return once his contract expires the following summer. Center prospect Adam Tambellini is also part of the future and already signed an entry level deal. Only 20, there’s no reason to rush the big scorer. His estimated arrival probably isn’t until 2017.

As long as they do the right thing, the Rangers should be set at center. They also could be much deeper at the position. A positive outlook for the future.

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Rangers re-sign Etem and Lindberg to one-way contracts

Posted on July 14, 2015 by Derek

With less than two weeks until D Day with Derek Stepan, the Rangers re-signed forwards Emerson Etem and Oscar Lindberg.

Etem accepted the Rangers’ qualifying offer for one year $850,000. He was acquired from the Ducks for valuable third liner Carl Hagelin, who they couldn’t afford to keep due to Stepan’s next contract. He remains unsigned with an arbitration date on July 27. If it gets there, it won’t be good for either party. The Rangers must sign Stepan long-term. At this point, it’s a anyone’s guess what it’ll take. The figure of $39 million over six years has been tossed around. We’ll have to wait and see.

The Rangers are banking on Etem to fill the void on the third line. A former first round pick in 2010, he’s yet to establish himself. In 112 career games, he has 31 points (15-16-31). He’s never posted more than 11 in a season going 5-5-10 in 45 contests this past year. Etem did score three goals in the playoffs. He has a year to prove himself.

Lindberg signed for two years and will earn $650,000 per season. The Daily News Rangers’ beat writer Pat Leonard responded to my tweet indicating that both Etem and Lindberg’s deals are one-way contracts.

Acquired from the Coyotes for Ethan Werek on May 8, 2011, Lindberg has spent the past two seasons fine tuning his game in Hartford. He was second in scoring with 56 points (28-28-56) and tallied 16 points (3-13-16) in the postseason. He was recalled for one game and made his Rangers debut. At the very least, he’s finally in their plans. It’s time to find out what the 23-year old Swedish center is.

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