236 thoughts on “Free Agency Tomorrow”

  1. I’m all for Anders Nilsson as backup for two main reasons, he’s Swedish and, unlike other backups on the market, has a save percentage greater than .900 (.923 last year, .908 career).

    Also, on the plus side, he’s going to cost under $1.5m

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  15. Not for nothing but if Shattenkirk goes to TB Yzerman will have Shatty, Stralman, G down the right side plus Sustr for depth and just drafted Foote’s kid who is another righty. With most teams in search of a RHD I’d say that’s a pretty damn good blueline on the right

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  21. I am happy that Girardi has found a place to play that he likes….although I cannot stand Squirrely Bowman and don’t ever want things to go well for Tampa. Boyle wants to go back there too.

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  29. It’s like a league wide game of “not it!” in regards to Antti Niemi. I guess they’ll have to consider Kuemper or Pavelec…Is Ryan Miller retiring?

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  30. Sustr is the RD2; Dan G will be on the 3rd pair where he belongs probably making $1.5M per.
    .
    They ain’t singing Shatty with Hedman making $7.85M for next 7 seasons.
    .
    FYI, Marc Staal is the 22nd highest paid D-man in the league. 2x the league ave.
    .
    With G out, NYR is still top 10 in D position spending including Smith @ $4.35M per with another signing (RD?) without shedding salary will be top 3.
    .
    Best D in the league according to some…

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  33. I know Carp, but honestly that’s still better than what a lot of teams have. Personally I would have been fine with Girardi if he were going to be a third pair guy which he never would be with the current coach. He’s not a top 4. Shatty would be with Hedman if he signs. That’s a guy who knows how to play a bit. think they’d manage with Shatty’s deficiencies.

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  39. SN that’s kind of a faux stat. Obviously Staal’s contract is the problem on the blueline now. without that I think the remaining Dmen are signed to appropriate deals. McDonagh would be making at least 6.5 elsewhere.

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  41. I’d say no to Bonino. He was fine with the Pens because Sid and Geno did the heavy lifting – Mika and Haze, not so much.

    I might be tempted on Hanzal at a reasonable contract as long as he is used properly – 3rd line center who takes all of the major faceoffs and is the shutdown center – like the Devils used Bobby Holik. If the Rangers use Hanzal like they did Holik – no thanks.

    Thornton or Marleau – maybe if they would agree to a one year deal I might sigbn one of them as a stop-gap.

    Gagner is interesting because it might be the reverse of his father Dave – a former Rangers 1st rounder who didn’t turn it on until Phil Esposito traded Dave and Jay Caulfield to the North Stars for Paul Boutilier and Jari Gronstrand. Ironically, the last player Espo ever acquired for the Rangers was soon to be ass’t coach Lindy Ruff.

    Ideally, the Rangers should try and find another Grabner-type free agent where they buy low and get high rewards. Not sure who that would be given the available ice time in the Top 9.

    Defensively, I am stumped. In a perfect world (no cap) the Rangers would sign Shattenkirk the second free agency started. But their is cap and his contract (years and dollars) will be a killer. Stone could be a nice Plan B, but he might be too pricey as well (made $ 4 million last year).

    As for goalies, if Nilsson and Johnson are truly gone you still have quality names like Niemi and Pavelec, as well as former starters Ryan Miller and Steve Mason (although I doubt they’d sit behind Hank). Rangers also need to sign a third goalie/AHl starter – someone like Reto Berra, Jhonas Enroth and Karri Ramo (if healthy and not on a Euro deal).

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  42. Kulikov (sp) Lefty mobile Dmen probably be had on the cheap. We know what Holden is (and isn’t), just not sure how the D pairs pan out without another natural RD.
    Minny trade? Nash for Dumba?

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  44. I don’t think Dumba is going anywhere now that Minnesota isn’t at risk of losing him.

    Can Kulikov be had on the cheap, though? I’m not so sure – he’s coming off of a $4.5M salary. He’s not getting that again, and had an awful, injury-filled year – but I’d say someone gives him a 1-year deal for $2M. At that price, no thanks. Also – no need for another lefty. Especially one that isn’t exactly beating out McD, Skjei, or Staal for a regular spot.

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  47. Rob – If he makes the team, I believe they’ll be able to transfer him over (it probably costs nothing but $$ to his team in Sweden). If not, he’ll go back over there and play under his contract.

    I’m sure they’ll have some sort of arrangement, if he’s impressive and makes the team out of camp, that if he goes down before the 10 game limit, he can go back to Sweden.

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  49. Honestly I can’t see the Rangers committing to another UFA dman. There just isn’t a top pairing guy to be had. That being said if they go into the season with Zib-Hayes as the 1C-2C and Smith as McD’s partner….woof

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  50. If we want a top-pairing D for McDonagh – it’s not happening via free agency. I’m one of the few that likes Shattenkirk, and would gladly take him if he would budge on term a bit. But even then – is he really the ideal guy to have on the ice with McDonagh?

    For the right player – we’ll need to trade either Kreider or Miller. I’d gladly trade Hayes, but we’re not really in any position to even discuss our centers at this point. I’m even hesitant to give up Miller being that he can play center in a pinch.

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  52. Only trouba can save this defense. No to stone at 5 mil plus.

    Ryan Miller likely headed to Anaheim as backup. Wife is a California girl does acting.

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  53. Need to trade ‘surplus’ forward depth for RD; not happening via FA – already signed Smitty and until Stall is off the books, not signing another 1 dimensional Dman for long term.
    .
    McD – Smith
    Staal – Shea
    Holden – The Angel

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  60. I’ll puke, Eric. Miny just traded Marco Scandella and Pominville to the Sabres for Ennis and Folingo. Guess that means BUFF out of the Shattenkirk sweepstakes

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  62. A friend of mine is a Penguins fan (not a bandwagon jumper, his first favorite Pen was Syl Apps) and he asked me about a deal for Duchene. I think it was Daniel Sprong, Olli Maatta and a first round pick. If the Pens did get Duchene it has to be a rental given he has one year left and even with MAF gone, can the Pens afford it? At some point they are going to have to spend more than two bucks on d-men, don’t they?

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  68. I am guessing the Wild was looking to clear cap space. They dumped $9 million and take on Ennis at about $3.7 and Foligno is RFA. Pominville has two years left and Scandella three years.

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  69. Scandella ($4M x 3yrs) for Foligno (RFA – last yr $2.25M; Buff gets more blue line help and Minny gets a meh forward and some cap space
    Ennis ($4.6M x 2 yrs) for Pominville ($5.6 x 2yrs) – one circus act for another..
    Sabres picking up $10M in contracts

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  77. Ryan Murphy was a Flame for less than a few hours before getting bought out. Was he so busty? It wasn’t THAT long ago that we were talking about him as a trade target in Carolina.

    He might be a decent low-risk, high-reward guy to think about bringing on. If we didn’t trade for Tony DeAngelo, I’d be even more all-over him.

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  81. Please Gorton – Do not bring aboard the winger-of-questionable-work-ethic-and-hockey-sense brother of our center-of-questionable-work-ethic-and-hockey-sense.

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  92. I am BDL

    we’ve gotten rid of too many draft picks in recent years and 1 guy not named mcdavid or crosby or the like will not make the difference.

    remember the 5 year rule. it bumps up the compensation level 1 or 2 spots.

    why are you so afraid of missing the playoffs 1 year.

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  96. Not into the offer sheet thing yet BDL but I’m sure as hell hoping Gorton puts his hat in the ring for Duchene. Dreger reporting that Columbus and Nashville both trying to get a deal done

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  104. Rangers have enough cap space to do some damage with an offer sheet. Gorton looks like he’s stuffed a few kids into lockers in his hay day. Time to bully some GMs?

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  111. Sam:
    “Shattenkirk..to Mcdonagh…to Zuccarello..back to Shattenkirk…Looks for the shot doesn’t have a lane feeds it back to Mcdonagh…Here’s Mcdonagh..gets it back to Zuccarello…now to Shattenkirk its blocked and sent out of the zone”

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  116. 6/30/17 | 11:48AM: During a conversation on Sportsnet 590 this morning, Elliotte Friedman said that he thinks Shattenkirk “really wanted” to go to the Rangers and “is he willing to come off a huge number to play where he wants?”

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  129. LOL Booby. At least he was a starter and has played some decent hockey here and there. Guess the goalie whisperer has some whispering to do

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  133. James
    Staal would be my first choice (but you can’t)

    Holden would be my second but you wouldn’t get value for him like you would for others

    SkjeL would be my next choice (trade value there and due for a new contract next season)

    Lefty prospect (graves, day, Finnish kid) but they probably wouldn’t have the value of skjeL in a trade and will be less of a cap hit than him next year.

    Mcdonut a lot of value but the only 1st pair D man we have. And my 5 year old would be pissed.

    How’s that for the breakdown?

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  138. I think duchene moves next couple of days.

    The jets just need goaltending and they are pretty good.

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  141. Either Stone REALLY wanted to stay in Calgary or he needs to fire his agent. He was in line to get overpaid next year. Now if Shattenkirk is truly willing to take less to go where he wants, let’s see him pull something similar to Stone in taking less years and money.

    I have seen Tarmo Reunanen’s name mentioned a couple of times and I wonder what the attraction is with him? I am a little down on the Rangers pumping up theiur Euro d-men prospects. Calle Andersson was going to be the best thing since sliced bread – and they were right about the sliced part because they cut him.

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  144. I have a cold and came here to read the comments for some cheer me up anti-sneeze cough medicine and instead leave hacking at the thought of what tomorrow will bring (if anything). Hope not to get feverish as then I might start seeing double Haze with original and cool ranch doritos on the side

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  146. In Gorton, we no longer trust….. Yeah, let’s bring in Thornton and Marleau as they’re nearing 40. I really hope “I got beat up at the bus stop” Brooks is clueless on all of this, because this plan makes me want to projectile vomit. Reminds me of the dark days from the late 90s thru the mid 2000s…

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  147. Thornton Marleau Shattenkirk Pavelec. The Dream Team ! Let’s sign Hartnell and Cammalerri too. Throw in DeAngelo for a youth injection. We’re so good to go.

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  157. Hey Shattenkirk – we love you. You love us. But we won’t even sniff a Cup if you don’t check yourself and give us a break. So let’s say 4 years, $22m. We’ll actually be able to afford to keep up the team competitive that way, and you might actually have a shot at the Cup wearing your childhood dream jersey. What says you?

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  160. The Thornton-Marleau thing is more drivel from Brooks who is apparently just living out his Ranger fan fantasies today. Let’s sign them and Kovalchuk. Then all we’ll need is a time machine

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  161. This team is a disasta! Pavelec? Allaire is pulling out what’s left of his hair! Please no jumbo, please no marleau I couldn’t take it. But than again neither one of them will last a lifetime! I need a drink!

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  163. Pittsburgh, Chicago & LA all had at least one true 1C. Until someone grows into that role or we aquire one, this is still work in progress.

    I’m ok with that, but let’s not do anything foolish tomorrow.

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  164. I will say this – if one of Kreider, Miller or Zuccarello is traded for the righty defenseman of our dreams, we probably will need to sign someone to occupy the traded players spot. Being that everybody thinks we need a center even before such a trade (Jumbo Joe?), we might be short a winger after said trade (Marleau?). If both want to come over on 2-year deals…sure, could be worse. Especially if it means we traded for Trouba.

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  181. I think Stepan was liked by the Wisconsin boys (McD and Smith)

    looked like he was liked by others with his Stepan behind the mike

    don’t think it was the like of the level of the bromance with Zucc-Brass and Hags

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  189. C, once the Lundqvist era is done (like when he literally isn’t a Ranger anymore) I’m down for that. For now I’d like to see them do whatever they can to win. W my luck I’ll get hit by a bus w an islanders logo on the back of it on draft day

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  194. You know reading through the last twenty years of draft picks must be the Ranger fan equivalent to Red Sox Fans watching the Buckner game..

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  204. Would McElheney, (who blew a lead for Torts Blue Jackets against the RangersZ), be better than Pavelec? Even Enroth seems like a better choice than Pavelec.

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  205. I’ll put up a post tomorrow, but quick thoughts:

    1) the more I think about it, the more I want Thornton, even if that means adding Marleau, too.

    2) conversely, I do not want Bonino under any circumstances.

    3) I hate Pavalec if that’s what they are really going to do.

    4) I could take or leave Shattenkirk since I figure in four years we will have another amnesty buy out.

    5) my dream move would be an offer sheet to Parayko.

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  206. this team is missing a lot more than 1 piece unless it’s a mcdavid or crosby type.

    so heck no on offer sheets. i trust gorton knows that and that the draft is the way to go. build our own.

    if nothing else the 5 year rule should dissuade him as the draft compensation and the cap hit would ruin us for many years to come.

    this is not a cup contender even adding in the offer sheet guy of your choice.

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  207. 12 hours.

    maybe we should stay away and then trade for a center or defenseman from a cap crunched team.

    or take a 1 year mildly bad contract via trade and a draft pick (not lower than a 2nd) for our troubles.

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  208. Rangers big signings tomorrow will be Ondrej Pavelec and Jussi Jokinen, who will fill a top 6 spot with Jesper Fast by December while Buchnevich is Prucha’d.

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  210. LOL I had a dream that we offer-sheeted Draisaitl, but in typical Rangers management fashion… screwed it up and came in too low at 7 million LOL.

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  215. Happy Canada day kids. Doodie has a new post that will go up closer to noon. Bob McKenzie’s twitter account is already on fire linking names to teams. Looks like Rangers will indeed sign Pavelec as Hank’s back up (our new number 1 via the first Hank slump). Going to be a busy day. I’m sure we’ll have plenty to discuss

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  218. I guess we are about to find out if there was an actual plan with trading Stepan, or if Gorton is making it up as he goes along. I would much prefer they trade Nash and Zucc ( more rebuild moves), that sign Thornton and Marleau.

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  222. On this day in hockey history, Bob Frose was born in St. Catharines Ontario. Bob was Pelle Lindberg’s backup when Lindberg was killed in an automobile accident. Frose was so affected by the tragic loss of his friend that he decided to trade in his hockey career for a religious calling, going from a goal savior to soul savior.

    Mentoring came easy to Bob Froese, almost as easy as a kick save. In 1989-90, his final season, the New York Rangers asked him to look after their prize pupil, Mike Richter. Froese hadn’t had a roomie in years, but the two goalies bunked together and Froese passed on his knowledge. In short, he prepared Richter to take his job.

    Helping the next generation is a role he embraced toward the end of his career. “I would be spending time with the young guys – that was my responsibility,” Froese said. “I was good at it. I encouraged these guys to get them to play hard. At the same time, I warned them about the dangers and gave them the hope of keeping your nose clean, your life in order.”

    It’s a talent that led him into his next career as the pastor at Faith Fellowship Church in Clarence, N.Y. After his 18 years as a goalie – struggling with bad junior teams (St. Catharines Black Hawks and Niagara Falls Flyers), getting thrust into the spotlight in Philadelphia following the fatal car accident of Pelle Lindbergh in 1985, playing backup with the Rangers and acting as a goalie coach on Long Island – Froese broke away from the game. He was raised Mennonite Brethren in St. Catharines, Ont., and after hockey he earned a B.Sc. in religion from Liberty University, then a master’s degree in religion at Liberty’s Baptist Theological Seminary and finally a doctorate from Trinity Theological Seminary. In Froese’s eyes, the two professions aren’t as conflicting as one might think. “I became a pastor and I’ve got my PhD in biblical counseling,” he said. “But I cut my teeth in the locker room.”

    Motivational speeches can be parlayed into sermons and with 242 NHL appearances, Froese has a lot to draw upon.

    He recently got to speak in Denver for a group of biblical counselors and shared details of his second season with the Flyers. He was in great shape physically following a pretty good rookie season and was armed with a fresh four-year contract with Philadelphia. But things didn’t go as planned initially. “I couldn’t stop a beach ball,” he said. “We had round-robins in the first week of camp and probably the third day in, I’m telling you, I was Swiss cheese. I was frustrated to the hilt.”

    That carried over into the season until then-GM Bobby Clarke took him out for lunch. Froese had lost his focus and Clarke pointed out the differences in the goaltender from his rookie season. “He said, ‘The referee would be flipping the puck in his hand, waiting to drop it and your eyes would just be going up and down, wherever that puck was,” Froese recalled. “ ‘Now you’re concerned about where the TV cameras are, where the fans are. You’ve got your eyes on what the defensemen are supposed to be doing, all these different things.’

    “He handed me a puck across the table and said, ‘All I want you to do is just keep your eyes on this thing.’

    Froese took Clarke’s advice, kept his eyes on the puck and turned his season around, finishing fourth in wins (28) and fifth in goals-against average (3.14). It is lessons like those that he has taken into life after hockey as a pastor. “To me, it’s easy to parlay that as a Christian – you keep your eyes on Christ,” Froese said. “It is so easy to get your eyes off on all these other window-dressings. Just do what you’ve been called to do.” (From The Hockey News 3-17-13)

    vintage hockey

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  224. If Hanzal goes to Dallas, maybe we trade Nash for Spezza? I believe Nash liked Hitchcock in Columbus. Salaries similar. Spezza a year older with 2 years left on his deal.

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  226. Don’t we trust Allaire? Not a chance they would’ve signed Pav without assurances that he’s workable.
    We’re a backup goalie destination. Allaire has produced two starting goalies from nothing. Not a chance we’re settling for scraps here.

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  229. Bob McKenzie‏Verified account @TSNBobMcKenzie

    Girardi was scheduled to get $4M from NYR pre-buyout. NYR will pay him $1.1M buyout this season. Add expected $ from TB and he’s likely $4M+
    To say nothing of Girardi’s favourable tax rates moving from NY to FLA.
    As always, seeing term/AAV today fascinating. Dan Girardi, BTW, if rumoured numbers out of TB accurate, may earn more post buyout than pre.

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  236. I’m VERY happy for Girardi that he’s obviously going to land on his feet and make out very well. But I would’ve bet my house that he was in line for a $1m deal somewhere to be a 6/7.
    So…he lines up with Braydon Coburn? Those two will be a combined minus-800 on the road.

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