On the New York Rangers …
Craig Custance of ESPN: Looking at three offseason priorities for the New York Rangers.
1. Roster moves to get ready for the expansion draft: The Rangers currently will have to expose a good player in all three positions – Michael Grabner, Nick Holden and Antti Raanta. They are going to lose some that they’d like to keep.
2. Restructure their blueline: Dan Girardi and Marc Staal have no-movement clauses, term left on their deals and a good salary cap hit. Ryan McDonagh is the other defenseman they’ll protect in the expansion draft. Could buy out Girardi.
3. Sign Kevin Shattenkirk – Re-signing Brendan Smith would be a cheaper option than signing Shattenkirk, but if they are going to take another run at the Cup, GM Jeff Gorton should go big.
Larry Brooks of the New York Post: Looking at each position and where the Rangers stand.
Goaltending – Could lose Antti Raanta in the expansion draft. If they do, available goalies could include Brian Elliott, Chad Johnson, Jonathan Bernier, Ondrej Pavelec, Anders Nilsson, J-F Berube and Keith Kinkaid. Raanta could be packaged in a deal for a right defenseman
Defenseman – Offseason priority should be a top pairing right handed defenseman to be paired with Ryan McDonagh. Kevin Shattenkirk may not fit that need, especially for six or seven years at around $6.5 million. Jacob Trouba and Justin Faulk could be trade options, but expensive ones. Sami Vatanen and Jonas Brodin could be other options.
It might take a four or five year deal at $4 to $4.5 million to re-sign Brendan Smith.
Buying out both Dan Girardi and Marc Staal would be really costly. They can’t bring both back though. The Rangers may buy Staal out over Girardi if they only do one.
Forwards – Down the middle Derek Stepan might have to be part of the package to land a top defenseman. Mika Zibanejad is a RFA and likely isn’t going anywhere. Kevin Hayes needs to be more consistent.
It’s not the time to move Chris Kreider, unless it’s for a player like Trouba.
The Rangers aren’t going to be shopping winger Rick Nash and they won’t move him at a reduced cost. They would listen to any offers that would make sense.
