The New York Rangers roller coaster ride of free agency started with rumors and speculation, leading to the signing of Kevin Shattenkirk.
As the morning began, the anxiety was building in Rangerstown. For the better part of the last week, Ranger fans were flooded with potential free agent signing and trade opportunities. Twitter was relatively quiet until 10:54 am, when Kevin Weeks dropped the atom bomb.Unofficially,what I'm told is Shattenkirk signing with @NYRangers 4yrs 6.9 Million per year. @NHL @NHLNetwork .
— Kevin Weekes (@KevinWeekes) July 1, 2017
While Twitter was still exploding with excitement, other sources were struggling to find any truth to the rumor. Larry Brooks came out and said that it was not a done deal and Shattenkirk was still weighing his options. Weekes quickly retracted his statement as said the New York Rangers were still talking with Shattenkirk
Fluid situation but told that Shattenkirk has not decided to sign with Rangers and is weighing all options.
— Larry Brooks (@NYP_Brooksie) July 1, 2017
Chatter back and forth of Kevin Shattenkirk continued for about 20 minutes until free agency officially begun. At this point, all talk of Shattenkirk stopped. His aura was being blocked by official deals that were actually taking place with all other 31 teams around the NHL.
Rangers nation was in disarray arguing he would never leave so much money and/or years on the table to play in New York. Then, Larry Brooks hit the scene with a tweet that would change everything.
Told that Shattenkirk is in fact willing to leave millions on table to play for Rangers.
— Larry Brooks (@NYP_Brooksie) July 1, 2017
After more than an hour of radio silence, the news officially broke. Kevin Shattenkirk would be returning home to New York. Better yet, he would indeed be taking the hometown discount. The official deal is four years with an annual cap hit of $4.65 million, less than the original “unofficial” deal Kevin Weekes reported.
Needless to say, Gorton pulled off a miracle. Not only did Shattenkirk leave money on the table, he also left a few years off the contract. Shatty truly did want to play in New York after all.
The singing will have an enormous impact on the Rangers upcoming season and will also affect the rest of the offseason. With Shattenkirk signed and Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau a package deal, it’s unlikely the Rangers will be able to come on the Sharks duo.
NYR were in on Marleau/Thornton but out on both now that Shattenkirk has signed in NY.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) July 1, 2017
Other Ranger News
Per Bob Mckenzie, the Rangers have signed G Ondrej Pavelec
