Staple Mailbag: Could Rangers Keep Tarasenko and Kane? What Will RFA Contracts Look Like?

[Phil]

On what next contracts might look like for RFAs:

 

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Best guess: Chytil gets four years and somewhere between $4.4-5 million per. Miller gets 2×4.5. And Lafrenière goes for 2×3. At this point, unless the Rangers are actively looking to move on from one of their veterans, you’d think bridge deals for Miller and Laf are the way to go. If Miller wants to take something reasonable (starts with a six, maybe?) on a longer-term deal, the Rangers might jump at that.

 

On keeping Tarasenko and/or Kane:

 

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I can’t see how it’s both Tarasenko and Kane sticking around. It’s hard to see how even one of them would fit, but if there’s a discount out there it seems much more likely Kane would offer to take it than Tarasenko, especially if Kane gets his hip surgery done after the season and isn’t quite ready for the start of 2023-24.

Both players chose the Rangers, so it could stand to reason they would choose to do so again. But Kane seems to be more concerned with fit and a chance to win soon than Tarasenko, so perhaps there’s a way.

 

On Gallant's possible future:

 

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I would wonder about Gallant most of all, though it would be incredibly difficult to move on from a coach with the best win percentage in team history. Would Drury and Rangers ownership try for a bigger name in the summer to get this group over the top — maybe a certain Cup-winning coach who needs to be reinstated before he can work in the league again? That would be the biggest name on the coaching market for sure.

Drury seems quite safe, by the way.

 

https://theathletic.com/4355142/2023/03/28/rangers-mailbag-kane-tarasenko-contracts-lafreniere-chytil-miller/

[Sod16]

Kane is an interesting situation.  He obviously would only be interested in signing with about a half dozen prime contenders, who are precisely the teams with the least cap space to sign him.  He could get full $ and term in Buffalo, and they are finally an improving team, but messing around at the playoff bubble is not how Kane wants to spend his last few years.  It all adds up to time for Patty to make concessions.  But how much?

[RJWantsTheCup]

Kane to Buffalo with him thinking he’s the piece that makes them a playoff team.   Can’t see either Kane or Tarasenko taking enough of a discount that the Rangers can afford either one of them.  

[RichieNextel305]

Sadly, I don’t see anyway Tarasenko sticks around. He’s going to get big money offers and is young enough to get a long term deal somewhere.

 

Kane I think is a good bet to stay. He wanted here. Bad. He has a chance to win here. He seems to want the big market. He doesn’t seem to love change, seeing as how he had more than enough time to mentally prepare for life here as this is the only place he wanted to come and is still adjusting, though seems to be on the up and up.

 

I don’t see him forcing his way here, knowing the cap situation here (you know he did his homework on the Rangers) and it only be for a few months. I brought up Shanahan in another thread but I think it’ll be a similar situation; take care of what you gotta take care of and circle back and we’ll talk. 

[Ozzy]

7 hours ago, Phil said:

I would wonder about Gallant most of all, though it would be incredibly difficult to move on from a coach with the best win percentage in team history. Would Drury and Rangers ownership try for a bigger name in the summer to get this group over the top — maybe a certain Cup-winning coach who needs to be reinstated before he can work in the league again? That would be the biggest name on the coaching market for sure.

Drury seems quite safe, by the way.

 

"Mr. Queneville, will you please pick up the blue courtesy phone?"

[Valriera]

I think with how good Buffalo is Kane is going there in the off-season

[4EverRangerFrank]

50 minutes ago, Valriera said:

I think with how good Buffalo is Kane is going there in the off-season

Yeah, but it’s Buffalo. They only have one good steakhouse. (Chart House) Oh, and a decent cigar lounge on the trolley run. A bit of snow too. Not enough reason to move there. 

[jsm7302]

I think Kane wanted to fit here in the worst way but with his slow acclimation, I am in agreement that Buffalo will be his landing spot. I'd be happy for them if that happened. 

 

Tarasenko on the other hand seems super happy here and is enjoying his time. If we move Goodrow and Kakko, could we have the $$ to retain him?

[Br4d]

Moving Miller is probably key to retaining either of them.  He's the guy who is going to wind up with a higher bridge deal or a longer deal at a high number.

 

We'd be absolutely nuts to move Chytil when he's on the verge of a breakout season.

[lefty9]

10 minutes ago, 4EverRangerFrank said:

Yeah, but it’s Buffalo. They only have one good steakhouse. (Chart House) Oh, and a decent cigar lounge on the trolley run. A bit of snow too. Not enough reason to move there. 

They don't have a Longhorn steak house there ,the outlaw ribeye 

[Br4d]

Longhorn?  Outlaw?  Kane just came out of Chicago.  He's probably looking at Peter Luger's as a penny ante joint.

[RangersIn7]

I don’t think Buffalo is as great a possibility as some people make it sound. Yes they’re improving and he’s from there, but not every guy wants to play at home and as of now, they’re still just a bubble team.

 

Plus he really is a big city, big market kind of guy. 

 

[4EverRangerFrank]

Keene’s for Kane

[Br4d]

4 minutes ago, 4EverRangerFrank said:

Keene’s for Kane

 

Maybe the Harvard Club if he can find somebody (like Jimmy Vesey) to get him in.

[RichieNextel305]

34 minutes ago, 4EverRangerFrank said:

Yeah, but it’s Buffalo. They only have one good steakhouse. (Chart House) Oh, and a decent cigar lounge on the trolley run. A bit of snow too. Not enough reason to move there. 

You mean Chophouse? Because that place is fucking fantastic.

[BrooksBurner]

Drury ignored the Kane chatter and aggressively went out and got Tarasenko, well before the actual deadline. I know the cap hit to keep will be higher than Kane, but this guy just oozes the kind of qualities that I assume Drury absolutely loves (who wouldn’t?). I wouldn’t be shocked at all if Drury makes a tough call or two in order to keep him.

[Sharpshooter]

If it came down to one or the other, I'm keeping Tarasenko. He's a bit younger and provides a bit more of what this team needs over Kane. Kane has been fine here so far, but nothing great. (I know it hasn't been a ton of games) I just think Drury prefers Tarasenko's game to Kane's as far as long-term contributions to the team. Having said that, Kane would probably be easier to retain money and years-wise. He's not making ten million anymore or something like that. Either way, someone is going to have to get moved.

[Br4d]

Tarasenko is more of a GG type player also although there have apparently been some miscommunications between them at times.

 

I'd be really happy keeping Tarasenko at the top of the RW depth chart.  The real question is how do you keep the kid line together as line 3?  I think that line has to be line 2 on the depth chart next season and that puts Panarin on line 1 next to Mika and Tarasenko.  Line 3 becomes Kreider, Trocheck and a RW to be named later.  Maybe they put Jimmy Vesey there.  Maybe they find a way to move Kreider for the RW to be named later and bring up one of the kids to play LW.

Edited March 29, 2023 by Br4d

[Keirik]

Honestly, if you want to keep one or both, you have to try and mo e Panarin. It’s the only way it makes sense. Movement clause says it won’t happen so just enjoy the ride now lol

[siddious]

1 hour ago, Keirik said:

Honestly, if you want to keep one or both, you have to try and mo e Panarin. It’s the only way it makes sense. Movement clause says it won’t happen so just enjoy the ride now lol

Good luck with that. He has so many clauses in his contract he basically owns half of the organization. And also kane might not stay if you move Panarin. 
 

my best guess is kane takes a super team friendly deal and stays. Tarasenko gets paid and goes to the devils (total guess)

 

we trade Goodrow.

 

15% chance of happening. 
 

 

[BrooksBurner]

I'd be surprised if Drury and co. aren't looking ahead at expiring RW contracts next summer to guesstimate the trade market next year. There might be some surprises that pop up, but I think he can get a general idea if it will be strong or weak. That might dictate whether he's good doing what he's done the past two years, and just fill the Buchnevich hole at the deadline again for the 3rd year in a row. This past summer you could look ahead and say Kane was definitely going to be available (and knew he wanted NY), and Tarasenko would be a possibility depending on how the Blues performed. There was high end talent for rent that was going to be there.

 

Here's the top 20 RW contracts that expire as UFAs after next season:

 

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1. William Nylander TOR

2. Joe Pavelski DAL

3. Mats Zuccarello MIN

4. Tyler Toffoli CGY

5. Jake DeBrusk BOS

6. Jonathan Marchessault VGK

7. Viktor Arvidsson LAK

8. Blake Wheeler WPG

9. Jordan Eberle SEA

10. Sam Reinhart FLA

11. Alexander Barabanov SJS

12. David Perron DET

13. Tom Wilson WSH

14. Tyler Johnson CHI

15. Jakub Voracek ARI

16. Victor Olofsson BUF

17. Kasperi Kapanen STL

18. Anthony Beauvillier VAN

19. Justin Danforth CBJ

20. Kevin Labanc SJS

 

Most of these names are either on contenders, or not really top 6 wings. I'd expect slim pickings. Maybe Zuccarello, but it'd require Minny taking a step back.

Edited March 29, 2023 by BrooksBurner

[Pete]

2 hours ago, Br4d said:

Moving Miller is probably key to retaining either of them.  He's the guy who is going to wind up with a higher bridge deal or a longer deal at a high number.

 

We'd be absolutely nuts to move Chytil when he's on the verge of a breakout season.

Actually this would be the best time to move him. His value will never be higher and he has expressed wanting more ice time. He's not going to get it, here. He's not a guy some may want to move, but he might be the guy getting you the best return.

 

I mean he's not going to stay here with his ice time and numbers limited, driving what his next contract will be with little opportunity to earn.

 

The other option is he move to RW.

[BrooksBurner]

4 minutes ago, Pete said:

Actually this would be the best time to move him. His value will never be higher and he has expressed wanting more ice time. He's not going to get it, here. He's not a guy some may want to move, but he might be the guy getting you the best return.

 

I mean he's not going to stay here with his ice time and numbers limited, driving what his next contract will be with little opportunity to earn.

 

The other option is he move to RW.

 

Ottawa said that about Zib.

[Sharpshooter]

I still can't believe Drury was actually able to get both of these guys. Maybe he can work some more magic and keep both of them? lol No chance, really, I know.

[Kevin]

3 hours ago, jsm7302 said:

I think Kane wanted to fit here in the worst way but with his slow acclimation, I am in agreement that Buffalo will be his landing spot. I'd be happy for them if that happened. 

 

Tarasenko on the other hand seems super happy here and is enjoying his time. If we move Goodrow and Kakko, could we have the $$ to retain him?

9 points in 13 games isn't necessarily a slow acclimation and I'm sure however anyone wants to judge it, will play absolutely no factor in his decision to go somewhere else after the season is over.