Biggest Impact Move
- Derek Stepan, 6 years, $6.5 Million per year cap hit.
Grade: A+
From the grade above you can tell how much I like this move. Growing up a pre-salary cap Rangers fan it was amazing waking up on day one of Free Agency knowing your team would be in the running for all the top Free Agents.
Sadly, once the year started Wade Redden forgot how to play defense, Theo Fluery decided he would rather drink and fight mascots and Bobby Holik enjoyed cashing his check more then playing first line minutes.
This move of locking up a homegrown 25-year old player to six year deal just reinforces how the culture has changed in Rangers-Town. They look to sign young player that have the potential to improve, then older players in the decline stages.
Should Stepan have come in around $6 million? Maybe, but if he blossoms into a 70-point center over the next six years this contract will be a steal. When he is 32-years old at the end of this deal and he is paid big money by another team for his declining years, it will just go to show how smart the Rangers have become.
While everyone enjoyed whipping Glen Sather for all the lean Rangers seasons, they need to give credit where credit is due. He has left the team in a better place and found a great replacement in Jeff Gorton.
