General manager Jeff Gorton goes into the offseason with a mandate to change the core, even if doing so might create a scenario under which the Rangers take one step back next season in order to be in position to take two or three forward in the following season or two.
Because, while the Blueshirts’ accomplishments over the last six years are laudatory, coming close doesn’t and won’t mean anything, anymore. Beginning with ownership, the franchise must be invested in achieving one objective only, and that is winning the Stanley Cup.
Henrik Lundqvist is the incumbent whom you can etch in for approximately 55 starts next season. If the price is too high to dissuade Vegas from claiming Antti Raanta in the expansion draft and the Blueshirts lose the valuable Finn, there is a pool of netminders likely to feature Brian Elliott, Chad Johnson, Jonathan Bernier, Ondrej Pavelec, Anders Nilsson, J-F Berube and Keith Kinkaid who might
cardinals Jersey thrive working under Benoit Allaire. Magnus Hellberg is an impending free agent. This too: Raanta has only one more season remaining on his contract, so it is possible that he could be part of a package to land a top-pair right defenseman. The Blueshirts are loaded with young draftees in the pipeline in Igor Sheshtyorkin, Adam Huska and Tyler Wall.
The first, second, third and fourth priority is to obtain a top-pair right defenseman who might actually enhance Ryan McDonagh’s game. All indications over the last two years are that the Rangers do not believe impending free agent Kevin Shattenkirk fits that description, certainly not at the expected market rate of $6.5 million per for six or seven years, so Gorton is going to have to acquire his target by trade. Winnipeg’s Jacob Trouba
http://www.officialavalancheauthentic.com/ (23 years old, $2.812 million for next season) and Carolina’s Justin Faulk (25, $4.833 million per through 2019-20) are the guys to hone in on, but they would be available only at a premium cost. The Rangers probably have no choice but to meet it. Anaheim’s Sami Vatanen (26 next month, $4.875 million per through 2019-20), and Minnesota’s Jonas Brodin (24 in July, $4.167 million per through 2020-21) are other interesting top-pair options.
It is important for the Rangers to keep impending unrestricted free agent Brendan Smith, who was impressive through most of the playoffs and is perfect for the second pair on the right across from Brady Skjei, the freshman
Authentic avalanche Womens Jersey who is probably the most untouchable asset on the roster. Figure four or five years at between $4 million-$4.5 million per for the 28-year-old Smith.
The cost in dead cap space of buying out both Marc Staal and Dan Girardi is prohibitive, ranging from approximately $4.74 million next year to approximately $5.74 million the following season to a high point of approximately $6.74 million in 2019-20 before sliding down gradually for another five years.
But the Rangers cannot bring both of these estimable men back. It is impossible. It is essential that the defense become more mobile in order to trigger the fast game demanded by coach Alain Vigneault. Staal struggled mightily
Authentic avalanche Womens Jersey through the playoffs. He started the year well, but was never the same after returning from his most recent concussion following the All-Star break. If it is an either/or proposition, the Rangers probably would buy out Staal, even though his comes at greater cost and over an extra two years.
Derek Stepan, a very good player who had a very bad playoffs, does everything for the Rangers but he may have to go if he is part of the asking price for a top right defenseman. Mika Zibanejad, who needs to be re-signed as a restricted free agent, showed flashes
http://www.officialbaseballcardinalsstore.com/ throughout a mildly disappointing first year on Broadway that was obviously impacted by the broken leg he sustained in November. He’s not going anywhere, though it is an open question whether he would be able to fill the void up top if Stepan is dealt. Kevin Hayes rebounded from his slothful sophomore season, but the Rangers need more and more consistently from No. 13.
