- Larry Brooks of the NY Post: The Rangers may have been hoping to re-sign RFA Derek Stepan to a deal in the $6.2 to $6.5 million range, but that likely changed when the Sabres signed Ryan O’Reilly to a seven-year deal worth $7.5 million a season.Stepan will likely file for salary arbitration and could be awarded a two-year over $7 million per season.
If the Rangers need to create extra cap space to fit in Stepan, Rick Nash and Keith Yandle could be trade candidates, with Yandle the most likely to be moved.
They could also consider moving Stepan if they think Kevin Hayes is ready to be a No. 2 center. They could get a package that included a legitimate, physical checking line center. Brooks brings up David Backes as an example.
There is no evidence that the Rangers are considering trading Rick Nash. There has been nothing from around the league saying that he could be available.
Yandle will be a free agent after next season and there is little chance of the Rangers re-signing him. Yandle carries a $2.625 million cap hit, with the Coyotes picking up the over half and would be on their third pairing.
The Rangers could look to move Kevin Klein and his $2.9 million cap hit, but that would weaken right side.
- Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News: The Stars have been sitting around patiently. Jamie Benn’s contract ends after the 2016-17 season, so they are thinking ahead to that.GM Jim Nill tried to trade for Cam Talbot before he was dealt.
They could look at trading defenseman Trevor Daley.
Heika wonders … “Should Nill wait for the perfect trade in trying to change his defense? Should he sign a free agent and take the summer to sort out the extra bodies? Johnny Oduya is still out there. Same with Cody Franson. Are those guys going to be overpaid? Would they make the Stars better?”
Cody Franson, Johnny Oduya or Dion Phaneuf would make the Stars better. The same could be said for Keith Yandle or Kevin Shatterkirk if they are available. Teams like the Flames, Oilers and Avalanche have all improved.
The Stars seem to be going with the “win now” with their forwards and goaltenders, but are holding out with the “we’ll get better” agenda with their blueline.
