Free Agent Conundrum

[jsm7302]

Who you keeping? About 12.5 mil of cap space; all except Braun expecting a raise. Use the money wisely and justify it!

 

Strome- 4.5 mil currently

Copp- 3.64 mil currently

Vatrano- 2.53 mil currently

Motte- 1.225 mil currently

Rooney- 750k currently

Braun- 1.8 mil currently

 

I'm going: 

Strome- 5.5 mil

Vatrano- 3 mil

Rooney- 1 mil

 

I said good bye to Copp, Motte and Braun. Like the guys but at the end of the day; tough decisions need to be made and the team was better with Strome. Our divisional games since the deadline without Stromer have been ROUGH.

 

If Reaves and Nemeth go then maybe some other options open up?

 

EDIT: RFAs- wasn't sure how this worked but looked it up after being brought up.

 

Blais- 1.5 mil

Kakko- 925k

Gauthier- 775k

Hajek- 875k

Georgiev- 2.425 mil

 

I retain Kakko at 1.5 mil and Blais at 1.5 mil. I let the rest of em walk!

 

Truthfully once I added the RFA's I recognized what a problem this is going to be. Near impossible because I'm not sure anyone accepts the monies I just laid out.....Good luck Drury!

Edited April 5, 2022 by jsm7302

[LindG1000]

Don't forget our RFAs here too. Kakko, Blais, Georgiev, Gauthier, and Hajek also RFAs that should be considered in that budget.

[RichieNextel305]

I prefer Copp to Strome. I love Strome, but I really like Copp and his versatility. I think long term, he can be a 25 goal guy who can play up and down your lineup, with anyone, in any spot.

[Ozzy]

I don't know how, but if we can find a way to keep:

 

Strome

Copp

Kakko

Vatrano

Blais

Motte

 

The rest can go or go play in the AHL.

 

..probably have a better chance of pulling my bottom lip over my head!  LOL

 

I'm no capolgist, but I sure as hell do not envy Drury's job this summer! 

[jsm7302]

15 minutes ago, RichieNextel305 said:

I prefer Copp to Strome. I love Strome, but I really like Copp and his versatility. I think long term, he can be a 25 goal guy who can play up and down your lineup, with anyone, in any spot.

I dont hate it. Copp over Strome probably let's you retain Motte too if you wanted. 

[josh]

UFA re-signings will be based on their playoff performances.

 

Kakko is the priority, then Blais. Followed by Strome or Copp.

 

[RichieNextel305]

It’s not a knock on Strome. I love what he’s become here. But I do think I’d prefer to hand that money to Copp just because I feel he can help in many more ways. And I also see him being able to excel come playoff time and being a tough guy to play against.

[Phil]

14 minutes ago, josh said:

UFA re-signings will be based on their playoff performances.

 

Kakko is the priority, then Blais. Followed by Strome or Copp.

 

 

You have that precisely backwards IMO.

 

Strome or Copp are the priority. Kakko will sign a short-term bridge. Maybe even a one-year deal. Same with Blais. Both have spent far too much time on IR this year to warrant any real investment.

[BlairBettsBlocksEverything]

3 minutes ago, RichieNextel305 said:

It’s not a knock on Strome. I love what he’s become here. But I do think I’d prefer to hand that money to Copp just because I feel he can help in many more ways. And I also see him being able to excel come playoff time and being a tough guy to play against.

I have been leaning that way but we also need to see an extended run.

 

Hell, Chytil has looked really good the last few games. I think we all expected him to eventually challenge Strome for 2C and he hasnt really done that yet, minus some stretches of good play here and there. 

 

just can't see us being in a position to make the call of next year's 2C just yet. 

 

 

[BlairBettsBlocksEverything]

3 minutes ago, Phil said:

 

You have that precisely backwards IMO.

 

Strome or Copp are the priority. Kakko will sign a short-term bridge. Maybe even a one-year deal. Same with Blais. Both have spent far too much time on IR this year to warrant any real investment.

I agree but getting their contracts signed early will put us in a better spot to know how much we have to use on our 2C + a backup goalie, depth, etc.

 

I'd rather not end up overpaying for Strome/Copp and then we can't find a way to fit the rest. If we can get a stress free, easy, short term contract for those guys you gotta take care of that business first in my opinion

Edited April 5, 2022 by BlairBettsBlocksEverything

[Phil]

2 minutes ago, BlairBettsBlocksEverything said:

I agree but getting their contracts signed early will put us in a better spot to know how much we have to use on our 2C + a backup goalie, depth, etc.

 

I'd rather not end up overpaying for Strome/Copp and then we can't find a way to fit the rest. If we can get a stress free, easy, short term contract for those guys you gotta take care of that business first in my opinion

 

I mean, that's fine. Order of signing, to me, isn't the same thing as "priority," in this case, even though the words can be used somewhat interchangeably. Kakko/Blais, to me, are guys you can maybe just sign and get out of the way in order to truly focus on what matters — Strome or Copp.

[jsm7302]

1 minute ago, Phil said:

 

I mean, that's fine. Order of signing, to me, isn't the same thing as "priority," in this case, even though the words can be used somewhat interchangeably. Kakko/Blais, to me, are guys you can maybe just sign and get out of the way in order to truly focus on what matters — Strome or Copp.

I agree if they agree to small bridges. Problem is if they expect more. Then we will have to reprioritize.

[RichieNextel305]

I know people have talked about the potential of someone like Kakko being poached with an offer sheet. But come on, who is offering him a stupid contract off another disappointing season in which he’s going to miss virtually 4 months of action? I agree with Phil; you can likely get him and Blais under contract fast just for the sake of doing it and then key in on the Strome/Copp situation. 

[Phil]

9 minutes ago, jsm7302 said:

I agree if they agree to small bridges. Problem is if they expect more. Then we will have to reprioritize.

 

If they expect more, they can fuck off. They're RFAs. Sure, an offer sheet looms, maybe, but that "threat" isn't one I'm taking seriously. Sammy Blais turns 26 this June. If he goes, he goes. He may not be long for the team anyway. And Kakko hasn't shown shit. If someone wants to Kotkaniemi him, by all means. I'll take the picks.

 

Again, I'm most concerned with guys who actually produce.

[Pete]

46 minutes ago, RichieNextel305 said:

It’s not a knock on Strome. I love what he’s become here. But I do think I’d prefer to hand that money to Copp just because I feel he can help in many more ways. And I also see him being able to excel come playoff time and being a tough guy to play against.

I'm not really seeing Copp hard to play against at all... Well not the end all be all his hits totals certainly don't dictate that. 

 

The difference between Copp and Strome simply comes down to personal preference and ultimately money. And to this point, no one has outlined why Copp would take less money than Strome to do the same job as Strome. 

 

And then no one has answered how the team gets better when you just replace your to see with a Strome-like object and have no 3C. 

Edited April 5, 2022 by Pete

[Zuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuc]

Sign Strome, Copp, Kakko, Blais (and Rooney if he wants league minimum ish). Let the rest go. Trade Nemeth and Reaves if we need the extra cap. Would like to keep Vatrano, but I could see him wanting to cash in as much as possible now as a 28 y/old UFA. Vatrano's been good for us so far, but he's not a 3.5-4m winger in my eyes. Too close to the danger zone.

All depends on the playoffs tho, if Strome or Copp goes 0-1-1 and -6 in 6 games I would let them walk.

[BrooksBurner]

If the Rangers can get Copp and Strome to really buy in to the team at longer contracts in exchange for term (7-8 years? 4M for Copp and 5M for Strome?), they could afford both. It’s a long shot and requires other concessions also: trading Nemeth and Kakko, and filling a few gaps with ELCs. It’s also obviously pretty risky giving those guys a contract until they are 36.

[josh]

1 hour ago, Phil said:

 

You have that precisely backwards IMO.

 

Strome or Copp are the priority. Kakko will sign a short-term bridge. Maybe even a one-year deal. Same with Blais. Both have spent far too much time on IR this year to warrant any real investment.

C is a priority. Not necessarily Strome or Copp, unless they prove otherwise in the playoffs. The price has moved them down on the priority list. 

[josh]

2 minutes ago, rmc51 said:

If the Rangers can get Copp and Strome to really buy in to the team at longer contracts in exchange for term (7-8 years? 4M for Copp and 5M for Strome?), they could afford both. It’s a long shot and requires other concessions also: trading Nemeth and Kakko, and filling a few gaps with ELCs. It’s also obviously pretty risky giving those guys a contract until they are 36.

Copp or Strome for 8 years?

we really want to see this team for another 8 seasons??? 

[Cash or Czech]

Top upcoming free agents by points

 

Nazem Kadri

Patrice Bergeron

Claude Giroux

Vincent Trocheck

Ryan Strome

Evgenii Malkin

Ryan Getzlaf

Sam Gagner

Marcus Johansson

Nick Paul

Jason Spezza

Colin Blackwell

 

It's slim pickings. It would be a huge risk to let both of them hit the market and not have a replacement lined up. Unless we have a trade at the draft in the works, and one that will help our cap situation is unlikely, I have a feeling it'll be one of Strome and Copp being re-signed alongside our RFAs Kakko and Blais.

[BrooksBurner]

21 minutes ago, josh said:

Copp or Strome for 8 years?

we really want to see this team for another 8 seasons??? 

Maybe? We’ll see how the playoffs go.

 

Just spitballing since it’s pretty unlikely, but it’s one angle Drury might be looking at. If you keep the best players together and ride ELC progress out of Lafreniere/Miller for another year, Schneider for another 2, then inject Cuylle/Othmann ELCs, a nice ELC piece back in a Kakko trade, you could potentially be looking at a really good 4 year window through the end of Panarin’s/Trouba’s contracts. Then at that stage, you’ve got Panarin’s 12 million and Trouba’s 8 million in cap coming off to pay the next core…Igor next contract, Lafreniere, Miller, Schneider, etc., and open another window built around those guys.

 

 

Edited April 5, 2022 by rmc51

[Pete]

2 minutes ago, rmc51 said:

Maybe? We’ll see how the playoffs go.

 

Just spitballing since it’s pretty unlikely, but it’s one angle Drury might be looking at. If you keep the best players together and ride ELC progress out of Lafreniere/Miller for another year, Schneider for another 2, then inject Cuylle/Othmann ELCs, a nice ELC piece back in a Kakko trade, you could potentially be looking at a really good 4 year window through the end of Panarin’s/Trouba’s contracts. Then at that stage, you’ve got Panarin’s 12 million and Trouba’s 8 million in cap coming off to pay the next core…Igor next contract, Lafreniere, Miller, Schneider, etc., and open another window built around those guys.

 

 

Igor's next deal is .... I mean are we going to pay the goalie 8-10 million? We shouldn't...But...It'll be interesting. Maybe injuries keep him cheap.

[josh]

8 minutes ago, rmc51 said:

Maybe? We’ll see how the playoffs go.

 

Just spitballing since it’s pretty unlikely, but it’s one angle Drury might be looking at. If you keep the best players together and ride ELC progress out of Lafreniere/Miller for another year, Schneider for another 2, then inject Cuylle/Othmann ELCs, a nice ELC piece back in a Kakko trade, you could potentially be looking at a really good 4 year window through the end of Panarin’s/Trouba’s contracts. Then at that stage, you’ve got Panarin’s 12 million and Trouba’s 8 million in cap coming off to pay the next core…Igor next contract, Lafreniere, Miller, Schneider, etc., and open another window built around those guys.

 

 

This core has been together 4 seasons and it’s taken a hart performance from Igor to get them in the post season. 
milk invest in parts of the team, but they can’t handle out long-term blank checks just because guys have been around. 

[BrooksBurner]

1 minute ago, Pete said:

Igor's next deal is .... I mean are we going to pay the goalie 8-10 million? We shouldn't...But...It'll be interesting. Maybe injuries keep him cheap.

It’ll be a tough call, but a Bobrovsky like result could crush the next window down the road. Florida is fucked once they have to start paying their forwards real money.

 

The Rangers should probably invest in drafting another goalie or two now and keep developing. I know they drafted a couple of goalies in 2020 and one last year, but I don’t know anything about any of them.

[RichieNextel305]

53 minutes ago, Pete said:

I'm not really seeing Copp hard to play against at all... Well not the end all be all his hits totals certainly don't dictate that. 

 

The difference between Copp and Strome simply comes down to personal preference and ultimately money. And to this point, no one has outlined why Copp would take less money than Strome to do the same job as Strome. 

 

And then no one has answered how the team gets better when you just replace your to see with a Strome-like object and have no 3C. 

I think what makes Copp harder to play against doesn’t come down to physicality but more the fact that he can play in more situations. He’s someone you can benefit from on the PP, the PK, face offs, and can play wing or center on any line.

 

I agree, it will all come down to money. And listen, if it winds up being Strome over Copp, I won’t complain. I think Strome has more than proved his worth here. He’s been a soldier since Day 1. I just like Copps versatility.

 

But again, like you said, boils down to contract demands and where middle ground can be found.