On the New York Rangers …
Chris Nichols: Pierre LeBrun:” I think (Vigneault) will come back for next year. That’s my sense. No one’s told me that w/ #NYR, that’s just my own gut feeling.”
Larry Brooks on the NY Post: The Rangers will have to decide if they should re-sign Chris Kreider to a big deal or whether he’s more valuable on the trade market. Keith Yandle will get at least $6 million a year.
The Rangers front office believes that a Derek Stepan and Derick Brassard pairing down the middle may not work anymore. The best would be to trade the one that can get you the most return, which would likely be Stepan.
The boldest move for the Rangers would be to trade Ryan McDonagh as he would be their biggest trade chip. The 27-year old carries a $4.5 million cap hit through 2018-19 – his limited no-clause trade kicks in on July 1st.
The Oilers are looking for a defenseman, and if they were interested in McDonagh, any talks would have to include the Oilers first round pick, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Taylor Hall. (he’s not all those pieces just for McDonagh, just names and picks that would come up)
Looking at the Kings – Tanner Pearson and/or Tyler Toffoli and more for McDonagh.
Would the Avs include Matt Duchene in a package for McDonagh?
Would the Maple Leafs include Mitch Marner to get in on McDonagh?
Have to think around 20 teams would be interested in Ryan McDonagh. If the Rangers traded McDonagh, would assume that they’d re-sign Yandle. Odds are they will keep McDonagh.
Larry Brooks of the NY Post: Change will definitely be happening in New York.
“I think we’re at the stage now that we need to look at some changes,” Vigneault said days after the crash-and-burn, five-game first-round defeat to the Penguins. “For any NHL team, status quo is not possible and it is not what’s needed.
“We want to bring in different players to add to the dynamic. The core guys have been together for a while. Certainly it’s time to look at what we can do to improve.”
Rick Nash admits he’s a bit worried about what could happen this offseason.
“It’s hard not to worry about it,” said Rick Nash, a prime candidate to go in an overhaul. “I love the city, I love the organization, but the realistic side to it is that you don’t know what’s going to happen over the summer.”
