The New York Rangers had one goal this offseason which was making sure center Derek Stepan signed a cap-friendly long-term deal.
By Steven Cifuentes
Sather didn’t make it easy on Gorton, though. He left the team in a rough salary cap situation, needing to pay big money to 25-year old center Derek Stepan.
Every Rangers offseason move was made with an eye toward
From the trades at the draft, to only offering qualifying offers to their unrestricted free agents, Gorton always thought about that big fish in the pond.
Due to cap constraints, New York is no longer making huge headlines during the offseason. The days of announcing Scott Gomez and Chris Drury on day one of free agency are long gone.
Considering it took Gomez to leave town for Ryan McDonagh to make that day a success, I think I speak for every Rangers fan when I say I am happy those days are distant memories.
While the moves made this offseason were not sexy, they do deserve to be graded. Lets take a look at each move and see how the Rangers faired this offseason:
Trades
- Carl Hagelin, Pick 59 and pick 179 to Anaheim for Emerson Etem, pick 41 (all picks in the 2015 draft).
Grade: C
This move was a complete salary cap cutting move. I give it a low grade because after the move was made, it made the team worse.
Did the move have to be made to give the Rangers cap room to work with, yes, but that does not mean I need to like it. This trade will hinge on if Etem can take the next step in his development and become a solid Top-12 forward.
Oh Carl Hagelin how I will miss the flowing locks as you speed around the ice causing the other teams power play all sorts of problems. While I would love to still see you in a Rangers uniform, paying a lot of money for a role player is just not in the cards when you can be replaced for a lot less.
- Ryan Haggerty to Chicago for Antti Raanta
Grade: B
This move was made once the Rangers found a taker for backup goalie Cam Talbot. Instead of the Rangers getting into a bidding war for a backup veteran goalie, they took the cost certainty of Raanta and it is a smart move.
When you have King Henrik between the pipes for 60-plus games a year, there is no need to overpay for a backup.
- Cam Talbot pick 209 to the Edmonton Oilers for pick, 57, 79 and 184 (all picks in the 2015 draft)
Grade: B
Yes, I know every Rangers fan had visions of obtaining a first round pick or ever two second round picks for Cam Talbot, but considering he is a back-up goalie with a limited resume getting three picks is a good haul.
Glen Sather was trying to work his magic by floating out rumors that he had turned down major offers for Talbot. While I commend him for trying, Talbot was traded for his exact value.
The Rangers need to infuse the prospect pool and obtaining three picks for a back-up goalie is the correct move.
Free Agents
- Viktor Stalberg, One Year, $1.1 Million
- Raphael Diaz, One Year, $750,000
- Emerson Etem, One year, $810,000 qualifying offer
- Oscar Lindberg, Two years, $650,000 cap hit per year (one way contract)
- JT Miller One year, One year, $874,000 qualifying offer
- Jesper Fast, Two Years, $950,000 cap hit per year
Overall Grade: A
Jeff Gorton’s main goal when the offseason began was to make sure the bottom of the roster was not overpaid.
An overpaid bottom of the roster would have directly lead to the Rangers having to get rid a key piece to sign Derek Stepan.
If you had a blueprint on how to handle unrestricted free agents, do not look any further then how Gorton handled the Rangers this offseason.
Locking up young players like J.T. Miller and Emerson Etem to “show-me” one year offers is a perfect way to get the most out of players you need to step up during the season.
The Rangers lost a lot of production when Martin St. Louis retired and Carl Hagelin was traded. A Miller breakout season or Etem being given a shot to play in the Top-nine could be the players that fill that void.
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.