- Larry Brooks of the NY Post: Rangers Rick Nash only made an impact in two of their seven games against the Lightning, which is not good enough. Brooks asks this question:
What does a team do when its leading goal-scorer three years running can’t be counted on to score goals at the most critical time of the year?
Nash carries a $7.8 million cap hit through 2017-18 and has a no-trade clause. Some Rangers staff think that the roster only needs some tweaks, but there is the belief that something bigger may be needed. Brooks notes that the Rangers should look at the Blues if they want to move Nash, as head coach Ken Hitchcock is a fan. A potential return would have to feature T.J. Oshie, Jaden Schwartz and Alex Steen.
The Rangers could look to trade Kevin Klein or Dan Boyle. The Rangers would then need to obtain a right handed defenseman or be willing to role with Dylan McIlrath. McIlrath is more likely to be included in a trade though.
It’s unlikely that the Oilers or Sabres would give up one of their first round picks for Cam Talbot. The Rangers would be better off keeping Talbot unless they can get a premium return.
- Larry Brooks of the NY Post: The Rangers need to add “size, strength and malevolence” on the wing. Players who can wear down the opposition and score some dirty goals. The Rangers need to add a physical defenseman who would deter the opposition from crashing the crease. Dylan McIlrath will need to be qualified and is now no longer waiver exempt. It wouldn’t make sense to lose him to waivers without seeing what he can do at the NHL level. That might mean buying out Dan Boyle if he won’t waive his no-movement or if nobody wants to trade for him. Boyle full $4.5 million cap hit would remain on the books as he signed a 35-plus contract.
- Tim Bontemps of the NY Post: It seems unlikely that Martin St. Louis will be back with the Rangers next season. He’s not thinking about his future just yet.
“I’m not even thinking about that right now,” St. Louis said.
- Brett Cyrgalis of the NY Post: There likely won’t be a lot of roster moves for the Rangers this offseason. Carl Hagelin is an RFA and has arbitration rights. He’s coming off a two-year, $4.5 million bridge deal. Derek Stepan is also a RFA with arbitration rights. J.T. Miller and Jestper Fast are RFAs with no arbitration rights. Miller will get a nice raise from his $833,000 on a two-year bridge deal. Fast earned top-six minutes and will get a raise from his $900,000. Martin St. Louis won’t be back. James Sheppard will likely get a bigger offer from someone else. Chris Kreider and Kevin Hayes will be RFAs next season. Kreider will becoming off a $2.6 million deal. Kevin Hayes will be looking for a raise from his $900,000.
- Brett Cyrgalis of the NY Post: Derek Stepan will be near the top of Glen Sather’s offseason priority list. Comparables for the RFA could start in the five year range at $6.5 million per season.