On the New York Rangers …
Larry Brooks of the NY Post: Changes will be coming to the New York Rangers and their core of Henrik Lundqvist, Dan Girardi, Marc Staal, Ryan McDonagh, Derek Stepan, Chris Kreider, Rick Nash and Mats Zuccarello. GM Jeff Gorton will be aggressively trying to change the dynamic.
Brett Cyragalis of the NY Post: The Rangers will have their exit meetings today.
Defensemen Dan Girardi and Marc Staal are buy out candidates. The 33-year old Girardi has three years left on his contract at $5.5 million per season. The 30-year old Staal has four years left at $5.7 million per.
Brendan Smith is a UFA and will be looking for a raise from his $2.75 million.
Kevin Klein and Nick Holden are signed through next year but could be exposed in the expansion draft.
Forward Oscar Lindberg could interest Vegas if he’s left exposed. Goaltender Antti Raanta might also interest them.
The Rangers need to get stronger at center.
Forwards Chris Kreider, J.T. Miller and Kevin Hayes have been inconsistent and could interest some teams.
Rick Nash has a no-movement clause with a salary cap hit of $7.8 million and is entering the final year of his deal.
Larry Brooks of the New York Post: It’s safe to assume that the 35-year old Henrik Lundqvist can no longer make a difference by himself. He can’t make up for all their other deficiencies like he could in his first 11 years with the team.
Lundqvist has allowed at least five goals in his past 14 playoff starts.
He has a no-movement clause, but would the Rangers consider trading Lundqvist? If a team approached the Rangers, thinks that they might inquire if Lundqvist would be interested.
A team would have to consider themselves real close to winning a cup, and one that could afford his $8.5 million cap that expires after the 2020-21 season.
doesn’t really see any team that fits that bill.
Brett Cyrgalis of the New York Post: Derek Stepan is part of the Rangers core that is in question right now. Stepan admits that he couldn’t get it going this offseason.
“Individually, I’m disappointed and ashamed and flat-out embarrassed,” Stepan said. “It kills me I was not able to find my game. It is what it is, just have to live with it.”
Stepan will be 27 years old next month and carries a $6.5 million salary cap hit for another four years. It’s unlikely that GM Gorton would be able to move him for a big return. If movable, best return might be a deal similar to the Derick Brassard–Mika Zibanejad deal they made last offseason. Zibanejad was a restricted free agent at the time of the deal.
Stepan scored 17 goals in the regular season – 55 points in 81 games. He added two goals and six points in 12 playoff games.
Gorton has to decide if he sees Stepan in their long range plans.