Rangers very much in win now mode, but enter the offseason cash strapped. I may not be a Rangers fan, but I think what I did here is kind of shrewd.
Moving Goodrow less than ideal, but necessary. Worst case scenario is the buyout, but I beleive that can be avoided.
FA signings:
Donato: has been an analytic darling over the last few years, but never seems to stick. With the Rangers, adds an offensive element on a very different looking 3rd line on what should be a cheap contract. See a 30 point winger here who is defensively sound. With increased ice time, maybe tops that, but given his track record I will keep it modest.
Hinostroza: victim of numbers in Buffalo imo. Has proven to be an effective 30-40 point player when given the icetime. Hoping that being buried in Buffalo, this is a guy some GMs will overlook and give Drury the ability to sign him on the 1 year show me deal.
Suter: nothing flashy here. A player that fills a role in a reasonable contract. Will be taking significantly less than his previous $3.25 deal, but pencils in as a 4th line C here who can play more minutes if needed.
Pitlick: a body that can play 4th line and the 13th forward. Signed to add a "physical" element when a game mat require it. This doesn't need to be Pitlick, but I think we get the just.
Nedelijkovic: yeah, a bit of a gamble here given her played himself out of Detroit. But, there is a track record here of very good goaltending behind a very good defense - which the Rangers have. With Sheshterkin handing more than the bulk of the workload, I see this as a low risk high reward situation. If he can post a .910 sv%, he can handle a few more games making Sheshterkin more playoff ready (as in nor burnt out). If not, a $1 million deal can be buried and try again next year. There simply isn't much on the market that financially fit the Rangers, so taking a risk is what I did..... keep8kg in mind, going back to Halak at this point is a risk as well.
RFA:
Miller: would love nothing more than to sign him long term, but that simply isn't going to happen. The 1 year deal gets the Rangers to a point where the cap goes up and they can sign Miller to the deal he is likely to get: around $8 million (Trouba is awefully comparable) with term. Now, if he has a better season, that likely approaches $9 million (he won't get more than Fox).
Now, given this scenario, does this further handcuff the Blueshirts? Maybe. But this buys a year on Othmann (who shouldn't make the team imo), see what Cuylle is going to be, and further develop other kids in the system (Sykora and McConnell-Barker are two I note).
I am sure some will hate what I did on the 3rd line - it's a gamble for sure. But where the Rangers are cap wise, gambles are what need to be taken.
As much as it would be ideal to keep Goodrow, to properly fill out this roster, the Rangers simply cannot afford to keep him either.
Now although the Rangers cannot really afford to keep him, I would call Goodrow a cap dump either - what he bring to the table has positive value; but this value is diminished by the Rangers cap situation.
I would say that realistically, Goodrow's trade value sits around a late 2nd rounder that this stage (taking into account ability, contract and age). But given that the Rangers are up against it here, getting a 4th I think is close to what may happen.
Other fits for Goodrow may include Pittsburgh and Toronto, but I think a preference is getting Goodrow our of the East - providing 15 team NTC doesn't list the west (the number fits that thought process).
I see the Blues in the market for a 3rd line C, and Goodrow certainly can fill that roll. Sure, they could hut the UFA market, but I think they may opt.going the trade route after seeing that Athanasiou extension..... especially seeing how thing things are at centre in the UFA market.
So, either completely overpay for a 3C, or trade. For a 4th rounder, I see great value in Goodrow and see that longer term as well.
Even though the Blues went on a total retool, that retool is more than highly effective - it maybe the best I have seen in 20 years. 3 1st rounder in the deepest draft in a decade!!!!
Goodrow fills a need, bridges a gap..... I see a fit.
I think its going to be hard to get an asset back for Goodrow. I know he a capable player and I actually rather like him, but he is expensive for his role.
He's owed 15m real dollars over the next 4 years, I feel like there are enough options out there where you can spend less on bottom 6 pieces and see similar results without giving up a pick. Everyone knows the Rangers need to move some money around, and that's going to hurt them in negotiations. I feel like GMs are just going to tell the Rangers to buy him out if they don't like what teams are willing to pay/ ask.
Blues decline. We have little cap space and Goodrow doesn't fit the age range we are looking for. Might as well bring back Sundqvist on a cheap deal to be our 3C instead of committing salary and term to Goodrow
Blues decline. We have little cap space and Goodrow doesn't fit the age range we are looking for. Might as well bring back Sundqvist on a cheap deal to be our 3C instead of committing salary and term to Goodrow
Can see your point here, but moving beyond next year, Bolduc should get a very long look at camp in 24-25. Vrana and Kapanen are off the books (possibly brought back) with the cap going up.
Where he may not fit the age range, having that kind of very presence on what will be a young team isn't a bad idea. The guy is pretty versatile.
Bringing back Sundquist is an option, but also one that exists bringing Goodrow on.... which maybe overkill on the 3rd line, but it would be awefully good.
As for little cap space..... actually it is there. About $3.5 million worth after a Scandella buyout and this deal. I would argue that is enough to find a split time tender to go with Binnington.
I respect the opinion. And it is fair to suggest the Blues go another direction. But there is a fit currently. Whether the Blues take it or not is another question.
I think all 3 can be useful players but yes all 3 provide less value than they are laid/cap % they take up
Intersting.
Not about to disagree on Goodrow at this stage (that I think changes if the cap goes up as much as projected in 24-25, and why this might make sense for the Blues).
But I have always found Krug and Leddy rather effective - and their respective cap hits fair for what they do. So, to hear a Blues fan say they are not worth the contract has some shock value.
Makes me want to rethink the way I am looking at the Blues offseason. Really thought a Scandella buyout and moving in Perunovich was how this may play out. Wait and see what he does on the 3rd pairing before moving on from either Krug or Leddy on the left side.
Both are useful. Krug is still one of the best power play QB’s in the league. Leddy and him being in same lineup is tough though from a defensive standpoint when Blues don’t have true #1 dman. Perunovich is also basically the same player as Krug so them playing in same lineup is also tough… just not good combination all around. Maybe it can be solved internally but believe goal is to move one of them. We’ll see..
Both are useful. Krug is still one of the best power play QB’s in the league. Leddy and him being in same lineup is tough though from a defensive standpoint when Blues don’t have true #1 dman. Perunovich is also basically the same player as Krug so them playing in same lineup is also tough… just not good combination all around. Maybe it can be solved internally but believe goal is to move one of them. We’ll see..
Gotcha. Yes, the game styles are similar, and that can limit what Parayko and Faulk can do - being more focused on the stay- at- home aspects.
Will definitely look at that when I get to the Blues.
swinny a aimé ceci.
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