UPDATE: Anton Stralman has filed for arbitration so it looks as if he is going to play in the NHL this season at least and not return home to Sweden so I would expect the Rangers to take the 2 year option. That helps the Rangers that were looking for a 2nd pair dman on the right side. It also seems as if the Rangers have had enough of Columbus and Howson (who gave the Rangers a shot across the bow by signing J.A. Marchessault), and are moving on to other options. As mentioned below, Bobby Ryan, Keith Yandle, and Shane Doan (after his decision after July 9th will be known if he going the UFA option to all teams or staying with the Coyotes), but watch out for the players nobody is mentioning like Martin St. Louis, Patrich Sharp, or even make a smaller trade with Columbus for R.J. Umberger( an American player that fits into Tortorella's game well).
Has anyone else noticed that of the 21 players up on the N.Y.Rangers official website, 10 are born in the U.S.A. ? If J.T. Miller was to round out as the 12th forward mix, that would make the Rangers roster 50% born in America. Who would have thought that would ever be possible. I guess that says something about the growth of the Hockey In America movement started years ago, it seems to be a success. Let's GO RANGERS!!
Since the start of free agency, Rangers G.M. Glen Sather has keept his checkbook in order. The biggest names he has signed is Rangers backup goalie Martin Biron (2 yrs. at $1.3 per)and Taylor Pyatt(2yrs. at $1.55 per). It seems that Pyatt will somewhat fill the shoes of Brandon Prust who left for a4 year $10 million dollar payday that the Rangers were not willing to spend on a fourth liner, but was a good team player. Also signed to fill the toughness lost by the exit of Prust ($2.5 mil per for 4 years)were Stu Bickel, Arron Asham, Kris Newbury, and Mike Haley for a combined $2.950 per for the next 2 years. (That is like 4 players to equal what 1 player could do on the 4th line for the Rangers.) All 6 players signed have been for 2 seasons. It would seem that G.M. Sather is going for it all within the next 2 years.
Looking at who else becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2 years, it seems like G.M Sather is about to make a huge trade, signing or offer sheet to "Go For It" now. Marian Gaborik, Ryan Callahan, Dan Girardi, Henrik Lundqvist, Brian Boyle, and Mike Rupp are all UFA's in 2 years. Next season Carl Hagelin, Derek Stepan, Chris Kreider, Artem Anisimov, Ryan McDonagh, and Michael Sauer all become Restricted Free Agents. This offseason, Sather is dealing with Michael DelZotto and Anton Stralman as both are Restricted Free Agents that Sather is trying to work multi-year deals with. Sather wanted to sign J.A. Marchessault but didn't want to pay the full price, so he let him walk away as he signed with Columbus. Sather is being fiscally responsible, which Rangers fans are happy to hear. With all of the "core" Rangers to sign, let's spend the money on the players that can take us to the next level.
The Rangers have added three players from outside the organization which can make up a solid 4th line among the players, but they have lost 4 to date in John Mitchell, Chad Johnson, Jeff Woywitka, and Ruslan Fedetenko with Fedetenko being the biggest loss going to the Flyers but can easily be replaced. So far so good for the Rangers. The Rangers youth can easily step into a lineup spot with a solid preseason.
There are alot of rumors of Bobby Ryan, Rick Nash, Keith Yandle, and Shane Doan as possible players the Rangers are looking to add for a possible cup run, but the Rangers organization won't do it at the cost of actually making the team weaker in the long run.
Let's see what magic Sather can do in the trade network. Where will the dominos fall? LET'S GO RANGERS!!!!
