Battle Of Hudson

Derick Brassard celebrates a goal with teammates Benoit Pouliot and Ryan McDonagh. His overtime winner allowed the Rangers to prevail over the Penguins in Game 1 3-2.
AP Photos/Gene J. Puskar

A day before their scheduled arbitration hearing, the Rangers and Derick Brassard beat the clock by reaching agreement on a new five-year contract worth a reported $25 million. New York Post beat writer Larry Brooks broke the story in a tweet.

Honestly, I hate the deal. Not because Brassard isn’t worth it but rather due to the term which includes an all too predictable no-trade clause. Sure. He’s been a good player since coming over as part of the Marian Gaborik deal on April 3, 2013. The 26-year old center followed up a strong postseason in which he led the Rangers with 12 points (2-10-12) by anchoring the third line comprised of Mats Zuccarello and Benoit Pouliot. After a slow start, the trio became Alain Vigneault’s most consistent scoring line. Without them, the club doesn’t reach the Stanley Cup Final.

In his seventh season, Brassard set personal bests in games played (81), goals (18), power play goals (7), power play points (18) and game-winners (4). He tallied 18 goals and 27 assists for 45 points. The second highest total of his career. The former Columbus ’06 first round pick had another good playoffs notching six goals and six helpers with a plus-four rating. He was instrumental during the team’s second round comeback against the Pens scoring and setting up big goals to climb out of a 3-1 series deficit.

This past year, he earned $3.7 million. A restricted free agent, Brassard was seeking in the neighborhood of $5 million. Rather than let him go to arbitration and become a potential unrestricted free agent next summer, Glen Sather opted to lock him up. The positive is that he won’t have to worry about Brassard and can turn his attention to Marc Staal, Mats Zuccarello and Derek Stepan, who should be in line for $6 million per year when his bridge deal expires in 2015. Stepan is the club’s number one center. With Ryan O’Reilly and the Avalanche settling on two years, $12 million his price has been set.

If you’re asking me point blank, I don’t think he’s worth that money. However, in what can best be described as a crazy market, Stepan will get paid. Under the old rules, I feel he’s worth $4 million. But he’ll make $3.85 million in 2014-15. At 24, he enters his fifth year. Coming off a postseason that saw him post five goals and 10 assists tying Martin St. Louis for second in team scoring, the sky’s the limit. It’ll come with a lot of expectations and a price. It would be nice to see him improve on faceoffs.

From the looks of it, the Blueshirts will have a combined $11 million tied up in their top two centers over the long haul. The question is where does that leave Staal and Zuccarello? Don’t forget St. Louis will also be in his final year. Who knows what he’ll decide. By next summer, he’ll be 40. Even with Sather gambling on Brassard, he’s faced with more questions surrounding the club’s future. This year’s cap is $69 million. He has enough room to re-sign John Moore with approximately $4 million left. How much will the cap increase for ’15-16? That will go a long way to deciding on which players stay.

Carl Hagelin also is restricted next summer. In other words, it’s time to find out about some of their prospects. They can’t keep spending. It’s now a matter of retaining key pieces to remain competitive and see which kids are capable of contributing. Is J.T. Miller ready or has he been mishandled by an organization that signed him after one year of junior? He’s already proven capable of performing in the AHL going 15-27-42 in 41 games for the Wolf Pack. He still must prove himself under Vigneault, who critiqued him. There’s also Oscar Lindberg, Jesper Fast, Danny Kristo and Ryan Bourque who all could be in play this September.

Personally, I don’t like where the league’s headed. The more you see irresponsible GMs throw money around like wildfire, the nuttier it’ll be. Zuccarello got over a 300 percent raise and was praised for taking less. At $3.5 million, it’s probably the right figure. But don’t forget he got it off one year. In the old days, you had to earn it. It just seems more and more, executives are gambling. There’s no right or wrong answer here. I can’t imagine what the market will become by 2021-22. I would rather not.

Chris Kreider scores a power play goal in Game 5.
AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

A day after coming to an agreement with Mats Zuccarello, the Rangers and restricted free agent Chris Kreider beat the clock avoiding arbitration by agreeing to a two-year $4.95 million contract. The deal will pay Kreider $2.35 million in ’14-15 and $2.6 million in ’15-16.

A former ’09 first round pick, the 23-year old Kreider completed his first full season posting 17 goals and 20 assists with a team best plus-14 rating in 66 games. The 6-3, 226-pound forward matured under Alain Vigneault, who emphasized the former Boston College standout utilize his size creating a net presence. He added five goals and eight assists in the playoffs.

After failing to make the roster out of camp, Kreider came back with a vengeance playing with more edge. Using his size, speed and strength, he became a thorn in the side of opposing goalies by netting six power play goals. When he wasn’t scoring, Kreider used his game breaking speed accidentally injuring Carey Price in the Eastern Conference Final. It led to Michel Therrien accusing him of wrong doing and former teammate Brandon Prust coining the phrase “accidentally on purpose.”

Under the new contract, Kreider’s average cap hit is $2.475 million over the next two seasons. After re-signing Zuccarello ($3.5 million) and Kreider, Glen Sather is left with approximately $6.3 million for RFA’s Derick Brassard and John Moore. Brassard has filed for arbitration while Moore isn’t eligible. With two-thirds of the key forwards out of the way, Slats will turn his attention to Brassard, who earned $3.7 million last year. Figure between $4.5 and 5 million leaving enough wiggle room to fit Moore in.

As for Kreider, he’s a building block who should only improve. What can he do if he’s able to play a full 82? Expectations will be higher with a spot on either the first or second line possible. His most success came playing with former WJC linemate Derek Stepan, who also teamed with Rick Nash. It’ll be interesting to see if Vigneault keeps them together or decided to separate his top two left wings and moves up Martin St. Louis.

Don’t forget Carl Hagelin is entering the final year of his contract and will earn $2.4 million. Like Stepan, he’s restricted next summer. Stepan is in the last year of a bridge deal and set to make $3.85 million. With Marc Staal in the final year of a contract making $5.45 million before turning unrestricted in 2015 and the potential of Zuccarello and Brassard also possibly UFA’s, Sather will have his work cut out for him next year.

Mats Zuccarello sports the Broadway Hat in a Rangers win last season.
Getty Images/rangers.nhl.com

Yesterday, the Rangers and Mats Zuccarello avoided arbitration. They reached agreement on a one-year $3.5 million deal. This is the first bit of good news in weeks. In what’s otherwise been an all too predictable disappointing July, at least Glen Sather was able to get Zuccarello at a reasonable cost.

The 26-year old Norwegian set career highs in goals (19), assists (40) and points (59) while contributing five goals and eight assists in the postseason. One of their most consistent performers, Zuccarello broke out playing on the third line anchored by Derick Brassard and ex-Ranger Benoit Pouliot. It was the play of that scoring unit which was instrumental in helping the team make their first trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 20 years. The creativity of Zuccarello was on display along with a willingness to mix it up despite his smallish 5-7, 179-pound frame.

A fan favorite, he heard chants of “Zuuuccc,” from MSG. A year away from unrestricted free agency, Zuccarello settled for less than a million after reportedly asking for $4.5 million. Rather than go to arbitration which can be an ugly process, he came down and took one for the team. Though I’d hardly call a $2.35 million raise following one big season chopped liver. He earned $1.15 million in ’13-14.

What this does is give Sather approximately $8.8 million to re-sign Brassard, Chris Kreider and John Moore. With Brassard reportedly seeking in excess of $5 million and Kreider and Moore due raises, the Rangers should just have enough to fit them in. The more dicey scenario is if Brassard goes to arbitration and only gets a year he, Zuccarello and Marc Staal would all be UFA’s next summer. Along with Derek Stepan entering the final year of a bridge deal that will pay him $3.85 million in ’14-15, it promises to be another challenging year for Sather.

The organization is faced with some tough decisions. It makes sense for them to try locking up Stepan before next summer. At least he’ll still be a Group II. Of course, Staal will be top priority. Either they extend him during the season or move him. There’s no in between. Combined with Zuccarello and Brassard, who could put themselves in position for big paydays, that’s a lot of green.

In the meantime, let’s see if Slats can settle with Kreider. I wouldn’t count on that scenario playing out with Brassard. Moore doesn’t have arbitration rights, which means Sather will squeeze him. September can’t come soon enough.

On Saturday, the Rangers signed veteran forward Lee Stempniak for one year, $900,000. Similar to Matthew Lombardi, it’s an inexpensive move that creates depth.

Interestingly, the 31-year old right wing once teamed with former ’03 first round pick Hugh Jessiman at Dartmouth. Unlike him, Stempniak made it. After getting taken by the Blues in the fifth round of the same draft, he’s bounced around playing with five different teams including Calgary and Pittsburgh in ’13-14. He put up a combined 34 points and posted two goals and a helper for the Pens in the playoffs.

While he won’t blow you away, Stempniak is a solid third liner who can play every key situation including penalty kill. He’s also a righty shot which is never a bad thing. Especially on a roster mostly made up of left-handed shots with the exception of Derek Stepan. Figure Alain Vigneault to give Stempniak a look on the second power play unit. Maybe he sees some of departed Benoit Pouliot’s time.

At this point, the West Seneca, New York native is capable of 10-15 goals and 30-35 points. If he can perform to expectation, that puts him right in line with what Pouliot did. However, I’m not suggesting he’ll automatically play with Derick Brassard and Mats Zuccarello. The big difference is unless something unforeseen happens, Brassard will center the second line.

That means someone else must step up and replace Brad Richards. Candidates include youngsters J.T. Miller and Oscar Lindberg along with a combination of Dominic Moore and Lombardi. There’s also Chris Mueller, who was basically a point-per-game with the Stars AHL affiliate and got into nine games without a point in Dallas. In other words, the biggest question when camp hits in less than two months.

At the very least, Glen Sather has added depth at forward which should mean competition. Even if I’m no fan of Tanner Glass, his role is pretty defined on the fourth line. That’s where Moore should also be unless Miller and Lindberg disappoint. No. I don’t want Lombardi in a top nine role. Miller and Lindberg will have every chance to make the team. To put it bluntly, if Miller can’t stick this time that would be a huge disappointment. He’s a former first round pick who can play down the middle and on the wing. He also is 6-1, 205 and plays with jam. There is skill too but he must gain Vigneault’s trust.

Jesper Fast and Ryan Bourque should also get chances along with Ryan Haggerty and Danny Kristo. I’m also curious to see what Anthony Duclair can do. The 2013 third round pick lit up the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) tallying 50 goals and 59 assists for 99 points in 59 games for Quebec. He doesn’t turn 19 until next month. The 5-11, 177 pound left wing is someone to keep an eye on. We’ll see if he impresses enough to get into a preseason game.

The good news is most of the prospects will get their first opportunity at Traverse City in September. Per a Red Wings press release, the tournament will run from September 12 to 16. Eight teams will participate including the Rangers, Red Wings, Sabres, Hurricanes, Blue Jackets, Stars, Wild and Blues. It’s always fun to follow. Once August hits, start counting down.

In what can best be described as a depth move, the Rangers signed forward Matthew Lombardi. Interestingly, he got a two-year deal worth a reported $1.6 million. The 32-year old veteran spent last season with Geneve-Servette of the Swiss League where he posted 20 goals along with a league-leading 30 assists and league best 50 points in 46 games.

Lombardi spent the first decade of his career with five teams including Calgary, Arizona, Nashville, Toronto and Anaheim. He had two stints with the Coyotes including a career best 34 assists and 53 points in ’09-10. Since that point, injuries limited him to 26 points in 92 games. He spent ’11-12 with the Leafs tallying eight goals and 11 helpers in 62 contests. During the 2013 shortened season, he returned to Arizona posting four goals and four assists in 21 games. He was moved to Anaheim and had no points in seven contests.

If healthy, Lombardi can play on one of the bottom lines. Listed at center, he can take faceoffs but isn’t good at it going 49.4 percent for his career. He had two seasons where he was over 50.0 but they came a while ago. The Rangers never replaced Brian Boyle, who was more capable in the faceoff dot. Lombardi has speed and is capable of killing penalties. For his career, he’s scored 12 shorthanded goals. Almost all the production came with Calgary where he notched 11 between ’03-04 to ’08-09 before he was packaged to Arizona for Olli Jokinen. Yeah. That guy.

Most notable is that according to a post from Blue Seat Blogs writer Dave, the Rangers were supposedly in on Mike Ribeiro, who signed with Nashville yesterday for a bargain basement cost of $1.05 million. TSN’s Ryan Rishaug tweeted more on it last night.

No state tax in Music City helped sway Ribeiro, who reportedly picked up the phone and spoke to Predators GM David Poile and coach Peter Laviolette. It sounds like his mind was made up. It’s probably a good landing spot for the troubled 34-year old pivot who had marriage issues off the ice that contributed to the Coyotes buying him out after only one year of a four-year $22 million contract.

Reading more about the situation, it makes one understand why it didn’t work out. Ribeiro was late for team meetings and was buried by Don Maloney, who cited “behavioral issues.” It wasn’t a healthy situation. With him and his wife back together, he can spend more time with his family and get back to focusing on hockey. Hopefully, it works out for him.

Ribeiro is a talented player who could’ve helped the Rangers. They haven’t replaced Brad Richards. With a little over $13 million left to re-sign Derick Brassard, Chris Kreider, John Moore and Mats Zuccarello, it’s looking more likely that Glen Sather won’t add anyone else. There just isn’t enough room. The organization is hoping J.T. Miller can become a regular. The former first round pick will get competition from Oscar Lindberg. If either can stick, that could prove crucial to team success. Clearly, they’ve downgraded losing Boyle, Benoit Pouliot and subtracting Derek Dorsett. The Tanner Glass addition remains puzzling. But he’s played for Alain Vigneault before.

I’d prefer seeing Ryan Bourque slot in on the fourth line. But Lombardi is an inexpensive addition who they can plug in. He only makes $800,000. There’s always the option of assigning him to Hartford. I would’ve taken him a few years ago. Maybe Sather knows something we don’t.