I was out on a leave of absence
From any resemblance to reality
I felt like a rocket launched to the great blue yonder
From the boys down at Kennedy
I was driving by his majesty's court hotel
Where the sign said 'Praise his name'
I was tired and alone I couldn't see too well
But I don't think that he was to blame
Thank God the tiki bar is open
Thank God the tiki torch still shines
Thank God the tiki bar is open
Come on in and open your mind....
----John Hiatt
There are plenty of warm days and sultry evenings ahead for the pool, the beaches, the squash court (where did my game go?), for family and friends, and for thinking about the draft and next season.
The illusion is that of a sudden finality; not so; we're not departing. The inn isn't closed----it just won't be cookin' 24/7. But we'll be here posting in the coming months with Rangers and NHL news and observations, so be sure you swing by this ol' tiki bar as often as you'd like.
Before we drive off to the rink for the final time for a few months, here's my story in today's editions, which takes a quick stab at the salary cap situation:
After physicals and farewells today, the off-season turns into a numbers game for the Rangers.
"It should be an interesting few months," said Chris Drury, who will leave with his family to California for the summer before returning in September as possibly the Rangers' elder statesman at 32.
Sunday's disappointing finale in Pittsburgh served to highlight the holes (defense, size, power play) that the franchise will attempt to fill in the summer through free-agent signings and in training camp from within. It also illuminated the increasing presence of young players---11 of the 20 who dressed were under 25.
The NHL's salary cap is expected to rise to between $55 million and $56 million next season, up from $50.2 million, and the Rangers should have plenty of space to maneuver---especially if the front office sheds most of their over-30 free agents, or signs one or two to reasonable short-term deals.
By not re-signing captain Jaromir Jagr and unrestricted free agents Brendan Shanahan and Martin Straka (who are likely to retire), and defensemen Paul Mara and Marek Malik, the Rangers would lose an estimated $19 million in cap space. That would leave room for a younger replacement for Jagr---although the Penguins' Marian Hossa is the only true free agent sniper available and will command $8 million on the open market.
The cap hits of Scott Gomez ($7.3 million), Drury ($7 million) and Henrik Lundqvist ($6.9 million) lock in $21.2 million. On defense, the Rangers have committed just $5.5 million in cap space to five defensemen, with the most to Christian Backman ($2.3 million). The remainder: Fedor Tyutin ($988,000), Dan Girardi ($750,000), Marc Staal ($827,000) and Thomas Pock ($685,000). Pock spent most of the season in the AHL
Among the forwards, Brandon Dubinsky ($633,000) and Ryan Callahan ($575,000) will be restricted free agents in 2009-10 and could be extended. Petr Prucha ($1.6 million) and Dane Byers ($608,000) are under contract. Other forwards under contract are Blair Betts, Colton Orr, Ryan Hollweg (a total cap hit of $1.66 million).
Add backup goaltender Stephen Valiquette, who could be resigned for about $700,000, and that's another $5.8 million, for an estimated total of $32.4 million in cap hits for 16 players. More could be cleared, of course, if some of those players begin next season with the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack.
Of the team's top restricted free agents, the Rangers presumably will sign Nigel Dawes, and possibly Fred Sjostrom and Greg Moore. The future of defenseman Ivan Baranka and forward Pierre Parenteau is uncertain. Prospects Lauri Korpikoski, who scored the Rangers first goal Sunday on his second career NHL shot, and center Artem Anisimov, will get long looks in camp.
One of the biggest decisions, of course, is whether Jagr wants to return---and at what price. The 36-year-old right wing, whose $8.36 million salary resulted in a cap hit of just $4.94 million because his former team, the Washington Capitals, was still on the hook for some of the money, is an unrestricted free agent who said he wants to play for several more years, possibly in the NHL or his native Czech Republic.
After Sunday's game, he indicated that he would discuss the situation with his family and play where it makes him happy, but that it would not be a quick decision. Jagr, who scored 71 points and stepped up his game in the last six weeks, has said privately that he understands that the Rangers, whose focus and offense has shifted away from him, may not be the right fit after three and half seasons.
Then there is the question of Sean Avery, the controversial and unpredictable left wing/irritant who earned $1.9 million and endured an injury-filled season, and broke off contract talks this winter when he said the two sides were far apart on financial issues. Both sides must determine how much can Avery---who likes the bright lights and wants to stay in New York---contribute, and again, at what price?
On defense, Michal Rozsival's cap number was $2.1 million this season, and that could double for the Rangers or whichever team signs the unrestricted 29-year-old defenseman. The Sharks' Brian Campbell, an unrestricted free agent who will command $6-million-plus per season, could quarterback the power play, but the Rangers also could hand that job to Staal and perhaps wait a year for prospect Bobby Sanguinetti and opt for toughness in a player such as Pittsburgh's UFA Brooks Orpik.
See ya later....
Comments (26)
you did a great job all season, zipper, especially for us out of town ranger fans. so thanks, man. hope you enjoy your ragtop summer.
Now the Rangers can do what they should have done at the deadline. Fill the holes.
I think size and scoring up front and toughness and experience on D is the right way to go. No need to pay Campbell 6 mil a year with Sanguinetti coming up. If Sanguinetti can adjust like Staal did we're looking at a number one pair for a long time.Brooks Orpik and Jason Smith would be awsome signings.
They'll have to trade for a power forward since Hossa ain't worth the money he'll be asking. I think they should move Drury to the wing and sign a good checking center for the third line.
None of this will matter though if the coaching staff doesn't wake up. I know we're stuck with Renney but new assistants should be a no brainer.
I hope the Flyers destroy Cindy and Malkin and then get swept in the finals.
Kocur,
1. Jason Smith is 33 and slow as hell. Not a good idea
2. Renneys assistants are well thought of throughout the league and other teams are trying to pry them away. Perry will be heading to Florida.
The Rangers do not need to sign any centers though.
Personally I see no reason to break up the Dawes-Drury-Callahan line at all.
Although he had some bad games, Drury's strength is faceoffs, he is going to remain a center.
With Korpikoski and Anismnov, I see no reason to worry about about center.
if Straka, Shanny and Jagr don't come back, we need help on the wings
If any of the Rangers assistants leave, I think both Shanahan and Strudwick should be given those jobs immediately.
I just don't think Drury gets enough ice time with us being stacked at center. I think all three of them are number one centers. Why not spread them out so they all get lots of minutes.
As for Smith, he's a great leader and tough as nails. He can be the sixth D man. He's no slower than Malik or Strudwick.
If Straka and Jagr don't come back good luck trying to make the playoffs you ingrates...
Yeah ok Gil.
Drury gets a lot of ice time though
between penalty killing and powerplay, he still played between 20-23 minutes a night all the time.
If they signed Rolston, he could play any forward position, very versatile.
I think Korpikoski might be better as a winger
Drury is not a great playmaker and therefore better off as a winger.
I hear ya. I just don't think any of our three centers should get third line ice time. Rolston is a solid player and would be a smart pickup. How fast is he? We definitely need speed.
Here's my idea... sign a combination of any of these players (assuming Jagr, Straka, Shanny, Blozsival, Malik, Mara don't come back):
Forwards:
Avery (or Malone), Hossa (or Rolston)
Defense:
Orpik, Streit, Liles, Redden
Cherepanov and Sanguinetti will need a year to develop, so they can be on entry level contracts for 3 years at a very low cap hit.. we have the space.
We need a tough-arse d-man, a pp qb, and a sniper. Do it, Slats!
That was my thinking on Drury, Bob. I like him as a finisher more than a playmaker. It's alot easier to get a third line center than a top six forward too.
I just don't see any reason at all not to already pencil in the Dawes-Drury-Callahan line as a set line ready to go next October in Prague.
They play great together, I don't care what # line they are, they have chemistry.
We have no need for another center, even with the idea of moving Drury to LW, there is no need to waste the money on July 1st.
Orpik, Cooke and Hainsey from the UFA market.
Jagr and Avery must return.
Then that would be the line that gets the second most minutes a game. Now Dubinski gets third line playing time. I have no problem with that line I would just like to see our best players get all the ice time they can. I think stacking your top six forwards is more affective than spreading them out like Renney does.
I want the icetime spread around because then everybody is much fresher and has more energy and jump in their game and think clearer and make fewer mistakes.
Dawes-Drury-Callahan was a nice line and they can always go back to it, but I think there might be even better combos if they experiment.
if we can find someone who is relatively cheap & as good as drury then maybe (big maybe) move him to the wing. otherwise don't even bother. sather needs to leave cap room for a trade mid-season so they actually add someone who makes a difference by coming over (a la avery).
the more i think about it, the more i dont want Campbell if he's going to command $6-7million like I've been hearing about. and no way rosi gets re-signed after his lack of growth this year. if you go to foxsports (i think) and read the latest article on the rangers you see the author proclaim that rosi was the best defenseman they had all year.....yea enough said
but back to campbell, how does someone making $1.5 million all of a sudden command so much more after doing modestly since being traded to SJ? its not like he's winning awards or putting up bobby orr type of numbers. any thoughts?
if Avery re-signs we only need to sign 1 forward (and of course we need to dump Betts, Hollweg, Backman and likely Prucha and Sjostrom--if we don't dump them then no point signing anyone. We aren't going anywhere with Betts as the 4th line center.) so my order would be:
Malone
Prospal
Fedotenko
Rolston
on defense:
Redden
Orpik
Commodore
"if we can find someone who is relatively cheap & as good as drury then maybe (big maybe) move him to the wing. "
I found...Dubinsky he is our top 2 center with Gomez. 3rd and 4th center should go to Moore, Anisimov, or Korpikoski
Campbell is 4th among defensemen in scoring, so he will get over 6 million.
But Redden now can be had cheaper after mediocre season.
Two tough veteran D men and a scoring winger with some size would be enough to balance out the lineup. There is plenty of that on the FA market. A proven sniper thats not past his prime is a must and will cost us in a trade. They will have to give up someone good but it has to be done if their serious about making a legit cup run next season.
Baranka, Anisimov, Korpikoski, Moore, and Byers need to make the team from the beginning of the season. They are NHL ready and are good players.
Sauer too, but it will take him a while after the surgery. Sanguinetti can start in Hartford at first. Potter might make the team as a 6th/7th defenseman.
Betts, Hollweg, Orr, Backman, Prucha, Sjostrom need to go to make room for those prospects mentiones above because those prospects are already better.
Well Orr can stay as a goon and play in at most 25 games.
Sjostrom can stay as an extra in case of injury.
I was Prucha's #1 fan (yes even more than Rodent) and for his sake I want him to have a fresh start and a clean slate, and it will only happen on another team.
i understand he's 4th in scoring for D, but i mean its just a huge jump, and tying up another player for 6-7 million is not financially smart at all. which is why im hoping redden wants a moderate amount
i havent seen campbell or redden or anyone we're all talking about play that much (see where i am there's barely any hockey on TV and i listen to the rangers on the radio). are they physical in front and can actually shoot/pass on the PP?
and who does everyone got in the finals? i'm hoping flyers in 7 but reality says to me penguins in 6 if philly continues the trend of constantly taking penalties. and im thinking dallas in 6. everyone in the press seems to have written them off against the ducks and sharks, and look what happened. so i think they are gonna do it again.
actually Redden made 6.5 mil this season, and what are the chances he will settle for 5? So try to get either Commodore or Orpik.
Drury and Gomez don't deserve anywhere near 7+ million, but somebody was stupid or desperate enough to give it to them.
http://www.nhlnumbers.com/overview.php?team=NYR
above shows Girardi and Tyutin at much higher numbers they both signed extensions. I did not check others but I knew those were wrong.
did Shanny's bonus hit this yr or is most of it carried over.