Battle Of Hudson

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.

Marc Staal is an important piece to the Rangers future cap situation.
Getty Images

A week into July, the Rangers find themselves with a few players left to re-sign. Key restricted free agents Derick Brassard, Chris Kreider and Mats Zuccarello have all elected to go to salary arbitration. In doing so, it guarantees that each will be signed in time for training camp. At the very least, they won’t have to worry about any holdouts such as Derek Stepan’s last year before finally agreeing to a bridge deal that pays him another $3.075 million this season.

The likely candidate to get squeezed by Glen Sather is John Moore. Coming off a season in which he made $810,000 with the Rangers charged $965,000 completing his rookie contract, the 23-year old defenseman finished his third season establishing career highs in games (74), goals (4), assists (11) and points (15). He played on the third pair teaming with Kevin Klein, who came over for Michael Del Zotto. Moore made strides defensively but is still a work in progress. He was okay in the postseason registering two assists in 21 games. Alain Vigneault scratched him once in favor of Raphael Diaz and Diaz subbed for a suspended Moore in Game 7 of the Conference Final and Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.

Currently, the Rangers are approximately at $55 million according to capgeek.com. However, they’re counting depth additions Chris Mueller and Matt Hunwick with both likely ticketed for Hartford. Each is earning $600,000. So figure another $1.2 million saved. Assuming Jesper Fast makes the team, that’s $805,000. That gives Sather $15 million to work with. Most of it will go towards Brassard, Kreider and Zuccarello, who all figure to do well. Still, arbitration is tedious and Sather has always been a tough bargainer. You never can predict. Maybe something gets worked out between the agents of the players and Slats.

Sather would like to fit one more forward in. Whether it’s a bargain basement center (Carter, S. Koivu, Loktionov, Ribeiro) or a depth forward (Booth, Morrow, Penner, Setoguchi, Winnik), the Rangers can use another player capable of playing in the top nine to help offset the departures of Brad Richards and Benoit Pouliot. Assuming Slats waits it out, he should be able to get someone on the cheap. In house, prospects Fast, Oscar Lindberg and J.T. Miller have the inside track on spots while Ryan Bourque and Ryan Haggerty could also be in play. Once Brassard, Kreider and Zuccarello are done, here’s what you got:

Kreider-Stepan-Nash

Hagelin-Brassard-Zuccarello

???-???-St. Louis

Glass-Moore-Fast

It’s easy to conclude that someone must be added. I threw out some choices above. For now, I penciled in Fast. Of course, there’s no guarantee he makes it. Figure a combination of him, Miller, Lindberg and maybe Bourque are options. I have no idea about Mueller. At 28, he’s spent parts of four seasons with Nashville and Dallas totaling eight points in 46 games. His best output came with the Predators notching two goals and three assists over 18 contests in ’12-13. In ’13-14, he spent most of the year in Texas with the Stars’ AHL affiliate tallying 25 goals, 32 assists and 57 points in 60 games. Fifteen of his 25 markers came on the power play. In nine games with Dallas, he had no points, eight shots and 11 hits.

If they learned anything, having four lines is important. Look what the trio of Moore, Brian Boyle and Derek Dorsett were able to do. You can’t go into 2014-15 with Moore as your number three center. As versatile as he is, Dom’s best suited for that fourth line checking and penalty killing role. Since Tanner Glass is getting $1.45 million, you may as well stick him with Moore. Even if I hate the signing, he’s here because Vigneault is familiar with him from his stint in Vancouver.

Unless Sather is setting up for a trade, maybe this is the year they finally give kids a shot. Sink or swim with Miller instead of beating around the bush. Though if you read between the lines, Vigneault wasn’t thrilled with his maturity. At 21, the former 2011 first round pick possesses size and strength which should be pluses under AV’s system. At 6-1, 205, he is a capable forechecker who’s not afraid to go to the net. In Year 1, Vigneault preached the net presence of Kreider, who developed into a physical left wing who played with edge. Perhaps Miller can be that guy next season.

Some local bloggers have extolled the virtues of Lindberg, who had a good first pro season with Hartford placing second in scoring with 44 points (18-26-44) in 75 contests. The 22-year old former Coyotes’ second round pick might be ready. We’ll get a better idea in September. The same goes for Bourque, who could become a fixture on the fourth line. He scored 21 goals and 16 assists for 37 points with a plus-16 rating in 74 games. Listed at 5-9, 178, the son of Ray Bourque is undersized but a diligent worker. Older brother Chris signed with the Rangers after splitting last year in the KHL and Switzerland.

Organizational depth is something they addressed by also bringing in Nick Tarnasky, Steve Kampfer and Cedric Desjardins for Hartford. It’s nice to have experienced players for development. The Wolf Pack missed the playoffs. More success can help.

As for team defense, Dan Boyle replaces Anton Stralman. Of course, the veteran is a different player who will contribute more offensively where he’ll be asked to quarterback the power play. The Rangers lose defensively in search for more offense from the blueline. That can prove beneficial helping out Ryan McDonagh. John Moore is capable of contributing. A superb skater with offensive instincts, he boasts a good shot. It’s just about harnessing it.

There’s no way Dan Girardi should see power play duty. Let him focus solely on 5-on-5 and penalty kill. Marc Staal isn’t a good option either but must produce better than 14 points in the season and five in the playoffs. He enters the final year of his contract earning $3.975 million. A defensive defenseman, the 27-year old former ’05 first round pick has been a fixture in our top four. He’s battled serious injuries and is one of the team leaders as an alternate captain. After returning from a concussion, he settled back in teaming with Stralman on the team’s second shutdown tandem. His best play came against the Pens during the second round. He struggled against Montreal and Los Angeles.

For Sather, the Staal dilemma remains. A year away from unrestricted free agency, he’s a valuable player who could command at least $6 million if he hits the open market. The Rangers must decide if he’s worth keeping. I’ve always been mixed on him. Part of me feels he’s too important a piece. A key part of the core, he’s extremely popular and a good teammate. Offensively, I’d love to see more but wonder if we’ve already gotten the best of him. Committing long-term will only further damage their cap. However, with Brady Skjei hinting at returning to Minnesota for one more year, the options are limited. One thing Slats wants to do is decide on Staal. Either re-sign or trade him. There’s no in between.

Currently, the Rangers’ top four are McDonagh, Girardi, Staal and Boyle. Once Moore re-ups, he and Klein are numbers five and six. Mike Kostka is the extra. Keep an eye on Conor Allen and Dylan McIlrath. Hopefully, we get to see one eventually. I like what I saw from Allen in his brief stint. McIlrath got into two games as an emergency recall and had his first fight.

McDonagh-Girardi

Staal-Boyle

Moore-Klein

In goal, there’s no reason to worry. As long as they have Henrik Lundqvist, they’re fine. Even in a down season, King Henrik recovered from a poor first half and carried the team to its first Cup appearance in 20 years. He did everything in his power to get them there and never should face criticism again. Cam Talbot is recovering from a broken right hand suffered during warm ups in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final. He didn’t need surgery. Signed for one more year at a bargain cost of $562,500, the just turned 27-year old proved to be a steady backup winning 12 games with three shutouts, a 1.64 goals-against-average and .941 save percentage. Talbot is here for at least this year.

In assessing the cap situation, the Rangers have eight players signed for $36.85 million through 2015-16. Broken down further, that includes three forwards, four defensemen and one goalie. The forwards are Rick Nash ($7.8 million), Dom Moore ($1.5 million) and Glass ($1.45 million). The defensemen are Girardi ($5.5 million), McDonagh ($4.7 million), Boyle ($4.5 million) and Klein ($2.9 million). The goalie is Lundqvist ($8.5 million). Depending on what happens with Brassard, Kreider and Zuccarello, that could change. Also factor in John Moore, Staal and key 2015 RFA’s Derek Stepan and Carl Hagelin, who are due raises. Martin St. Louis is unrestricted. He earns $5.625 million this season. That money could be freed up if he retires.

It’s hard to figure out what the future holds. The Rangers remain without a top line center and lost offense with the subtractions of Richards and Pouliot. They should remain competitive. Continued improvement from Brassard, Stepan, Kreider, Hagelin and McDonagh should stabilize them. The unknown dynamic are the kids. How ready are they and how soon will they be able to play pivotal roles? It’s why Slats must add a piece to a tricky puzzle. Don’t expect it anytime soon.