Step aside, Hank

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A couple of days ago I promised to review some CBA nuances related to Hank in case he decides to retire after this season.

First, the notion of him retiring and taking up a job in any capacity within the organization while being paid whatever he is owed on his contract. Not going to happen. It will be viewed as pure circumvention. Not only it’s in the CBA, but also there is a precedent. When Luongo retired, there was a clear communication with Florida by Bill Daly warning them that any salary above the market value for Luongo will be viewed as  CBA circumvention. So that route is out of question.

As far as the second part of this retirement goes. Do the Rangers get hit by the cap recapture penalty? The answer is more complex.

First, I do not believe they will. That rule when it came out was only applicable to 7 or over year contracts signed prior to September 15, 2012. The reason I’m pretty confident it’s still the case is because it was published by the late Matthew Wuest, who was the founder of CapGeek. His site was heavily used by the entire league, and, because of that, Matthew was able to clarify everything with them before publishing anything he wasn’t sure about on his site. I saved a lot of his archives, you can see what he says about this here.

However, lately I’ve seen a few articles that mention NY will be hit with the cap recapture penalty if Hank retires. So I went back and looked at it. It’s not that clear.

I will publish this CBA article here, and I would like our resident attorneys to look at it. Specifically, is A related to B? If yes, no penalty. If no, the Rangers might get hit with a $3M, one year penalty. For CBA junkies, it’s page 265, Section 50.5 (d)(ii), A-B

(ii) “Averaged Amount.” For any multi-year SPC, for purposes of calculating
the Club’s Averaged Club Salary in any League Year, the Averaged
Amount of such SPC shall be used. That is, the Player Salary and
Bonuses for all League Years shall be “averaged” over the length of the
entire term of the SPC, using the stated amount, by dividing the aggregate
stated amount of all Player Salary and Bonuses to be paid during the term
of the SPC by the number of League Years in the SPC.

(A) For any SPC entered into prior to the execution date of this
Agreement (including any binding Memorandum of
Understanding) that has a term in excess of six (6) League Years
(“Long-Term Contracts”), the Averaged Amount of such LongTerm Contracts shall be calculated and included in a Club’s
Averaged Club Salary in accordance with Section 50.5(d)(ii) above
so long as the Player is playing or is injured and is being paid
pursuant to his SPC.

(B) For any period during which the Player under a Long-Term
Contract is no longer playing in the League during the term of that
Long-Term Contract by reason of retirement, “defection” from the
NHL or otherwise (but not death) (such that he is not playing and
is not receiving Salary pursuant to that Long-Term Contract), an
amount attributable to that Player shall nonetheless continue to be
included in his Club’s Averaged Club Salary as described below.

191 responses to “Step aside, Hank”

  1. James G Avatar
    James G

    Norm,
    My point of view on Kreider is merely a case of being rational or at least not a severe pessimist. I’ve heard what everyone else has heard. That he hasn’t re-signed yet, and the bottom line figures from both camps won’t be put on the table until we’re closer to the weekend and that’s usually how it works.
    I’m aware of the fact that there is a chance he can be traded and yeah other teams are going to have interest in him and yeah there will be internet reports about it.
    These things don’t get wrapped up weeks ahead of time. Too many moving parts – especially in this situation.

  2. bobbyo2019 Avatar
    bobbyo2019

    Would say no and Rangers hit with a $3M, one year penalty because its the Rangers and Bettman not gonna give them a break …..he obviously needs to develop a rash or back injury .

  3. cregg7 Avatar
    cregg7

    Ilb’d

    Pronman said he likes Gauthier a bit better than Keane

    I think this was a very good trade for Gorton. Turning a 3rd round pick with potential in keane with too many D in pipeline into a very good skating 6ft 4 former first rounder who’s 4th in scoring in the AHL is as good as we could have hoped for. I like the asset management here.

  4. cregg7 Avatar
    cregg7

    “But not death”

    What are you suggesting here ilb? You sicko

  5. Bdl Avatar
    Bdl

    Is it ok that I didn’t read that?

  6. ilb2001 Avatar
    ilb2001

    Blame Bettman, not me, cregg7 🙂
    “You want me to clear your cap? Hey, Paulie….”

  7. James G Avatar
    James G

    Cregg, It certainly gives both teams a bit more of what they need. If you want to play the association game people play with Hayes and Trouba you can say Keane and Fox get swapped and the Rangers wind up with a big power winger for the price of 2 second rounders.

    At the end of the day, the knock on Keane was that his defense wasn’t any better than DeAngelo’s and his offense didn’t project to surpassing DeAngelo’s. So you trade from a position of strength. I have no issue with that but I will say before it becomes Pionk/Graves 2.0 next year that Carolina knows a few things about finding talent in yound dmen.
    Power forwards take a while to develop and that’s probably part of the inconsistencies that Pronman mentioned yesterday.
    I like the trade. I like that he’s reporting straight here to NY even better.

  8. jpp Avatar
    jpp

    Regarding Kreider:

    If he has Boston in mind for personal reasons, and they want him, I get that. If he has another destination he really wants to go to, I get that too.

    But otherwise, how does he know how another situation will pan it: hockey wise, locker room/team wise, new lifestyle/home/etc…

    He kinda seems like he’s finally in a sweet spot here as a ranger. He’s established, the team has turned over and he is tight with the leaders and the younger guys look up to him. The fan base respects the player he has become and wants him here.

  9. James G Avatar
    James G

    ILB
    I won’t pretend like I know or understand the cap stuff. In fact when I try to read it all I hear in my head is the sound of waves crashing on the beach and sea gulls talking to each other.
    But hey that’s what you get when you work with radiation every day, right?

    Anyhow, I think there may be more that will unfold with Hank in the coming months. They’re making it very clear that he’s not part of the plan going forward. I’m sure he’s not going to be okay with that beyond this year.

  10. jpp Avatar
    jpp

    If they can bridge the financial gap to about 5mil instead of 10+. Does Kreider really want to give up what he has built here and has here. What’s more important over the next 5 years, being happy and comfortable and playing on a team you have fun in a place that’s home for you, or having an extra 5 million down the road while you don’t love the day to day of it. Plus if the rangers win big and Kreider is a part of that: the windfall and the way things work, he’ll make so much more money over his lifetime and he’ll be part of the fabric of the NYR/New York city. Think richter post career.

    Happiness over extra money (once you got enough where your setup well enough) ALWAYS

  11. cregg7 Avatar
    cregg7

    Agreed James.

    Yeh. Hard not to have pause when you think of Ryan Graves mismanagement

    I still think it’s better to have trouba than pionk. But it’s closer than initially thought.

  12. cregg7 Avatar
    cregg7

    Anyone else a little surprised Gauthier isn’t European ?

    I keep rubbing my eyes Reading that we actually got a lumberjack of a Canadian

  13. James G Avatar
    James G

    jpp,
    You’re kind of making it sound like he requested a trade. I think he wants to be a Ranger. I just think the numbers don’t work for him right now.
    But I get the feeling this situation will be more like the Zucc situation than the Callahan situation.

  14. James G Avatar
    James G

    Not really sure what happened with Graves. Never even got a sniff. Personally, I think that was AV and his “veteran” policy at work. The same idiot that played Girardi on the first pair all season with a fractured knee cap. Same guy that tried to put Staal on the right of Mac on the first pair when Girardi was gone.

  15. Bdl Avatar
    Bdl

    With Kreider it’s going to come down to if he’s willing to take less to stay. He shouldn’t, and I don’t think he will. I hope he does, but I’m not counting on it.

  16. jpp Avatar
    jpp

    I didn’t mean for it to sound that way at all. At all.

    Unless Kreider is already gift wrapped under his rangers jersey to the team he’s set on going to (and he knows they are willing to pay him). Then Kreider needs to make a decision in the next 2-4 days whether he wants to make and take the best deal he can with the Rangers, or whether he’s gonna takes his chances in UFA.

    I’m just posing a way to look at the situation if I were in Kreids corner

  17. James G Avatar
    James G

    If Buchnevich gets traded he will always be a Ranger in my heart. That wasn’t the case prior to leveling Marchand with that cross check the other night. But after watching it on a loop for a while I’ll miss the guy ; )

  18. James G Avatar
    James G

    BDL, we’ll see. But if I’m right you should change your name to “Everyone listen to James G from now on.” for like a week…

  19. James G Avatar
    James G

    And I don’t just mean here on the blog. I want to hear your son address you as that. The mail man, the UPS guy…

  20. Bdl Avatar
    Bdl

    James,
    First off,😂.
    Second, I hope you are right.

  21. tomk19 Avatar
    tomk19

    i get that every player has the right to go for the absolute top dollar he can get, but that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t. Whether he were to get the “C” on his sweater or not, he’s a leader here. He’s loved by the fans. Callahan wanted out. Maybe he or his wife didn’t like NYC? Maybe he didn’t want to be captain of this team? IDK. But when he left the way he did, he threw away a legacy as a great Ranger that he’ll never get back. Not saying he’d have gotten his jersey retired, but he’d be loved here.

    Kreider might want to stay and be a part of what Gorton and JD are building, contend for a cup with this team and be a great Ranger. How much of a compromise are we talking about? $500,000? 1 year of term? I’m not saying I know what Kreider’s thinking. But he might actually stay for a little less.

  22. Norm Merton Avatar
    Norm Merton

    James, thanks. So nothing new but tea-leaf conjecture. Like you, I’m not a pessimist either, and hoping for a good return for Georgiev! Waiting, waiting, waiting…

  23. tomk19 Avatar
    tomk19

    Ok. I totally botched my first sentence.

    I get that every player has the right to go for the absolute top dollar he can get, but that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t consider taking a little less. . .

  24. bobbyo2019 Avatar
    bobbyo2019

    Kreider and Georgiev to Avs for first and prospects including Newhook would be nice

  25. Wicky Avatar
    Wicky

    Anyone have any thoughts or info on the hank cap situation?

  26. Bdl Avatar
    Bdl

    I think Kreider wants to stay. The beats all say he does. But every man has a price.
    I floated this out there the other day, and as usual James yelled at me, but maybe the Rangers don’t actually want to sign him. They had made up there mind before the season they were trading him, and this negotiating with his agent is just a PR thing. We tried, but had no choice but to trade him. He wanted to much.

  27. Wicky Avatar
    Wicky

    Kreider, SkjeL, and Georgiev traded to avs for conditional 2nd round pick in 2022, 4th rounder this year, 7th rounder in 2021, and Ryan Graves.

    Ryan Graves assigned to Hartford immediately by Rangers.

    E5

  28. James G Avatar
    James G

    Norm you’re something else. Tea leaf conjecture? That’s why people call you a troll.
    Sorry I’m not a doom and gloomer freaking out about some imaginary writing on the wall.

  29. tomk19 Avatar
    tomk19

    Wick-LMFAO

  30. James G Avatar
    James G

    I haven’t yelled at you. When I’m yelling you’ll know it, mister!

    kidding aside, I believed that last year with Hayes. I think Gorton was okay with having to trade him. This situation is different. I think the Rangers know what he means in that locker room and that on the ice they aren’t replacing him overnight.

  31. Norm Merton Avatar

    James, what are you talking about? You’re reading tea leaves like everyone else, nothing wrong with that, and not an insult. I was wondering if you’d heard something is all, and you hadn’t. No. Big. Deal. And certainly no need for name-calling. You’re better than that.

  32. CCCP Avatar
    CCCP

    Hank needs to stop acting as if going to another team for just a fugging year is the end of the world. No need to “uproot” the family! Whatever the fugg that means. Help the franchise that gave you everything and go sit on someone else’s bench for a year, man.

  33. CCCP Avatar
    CCCP

    What if we trade Hank and he retires after this season as player of another franchise, can he come back and work with the Rangers without any restrictions?

  34. Bdl Avatar
    Bdl

    Norm,
    No he’s not!

  35. richinhagerstownbywayofbrooklyn Avatar
    richinhagerstownbywayofbrooklyn

    When your third string goalies most important recent event was fashion week…..perhaps he should be happy about the possibility of being traded.

  36. bobbyo2019 Avatar
    bobbyo2019

    What I find interesting with Hank situation is the the take that he is finished or wrong for wanting to finish out his contract and staying with his team which he has a right to do under his contract….at least some portion of the fan base has problem with him …not clear if thats because of wealth, fame, looks,the 2014 final etc but he’s Hall of Fame goaltender in an organization with 2 other quality goalies. While he may be 3rd from a talent level that doesn’t mean he’s washed up. Again all comes down to asset management and move of Georgie in the right deal Hank he wants take a shot at cup with Avs or Canes.

  37. James G Avatar
    James G

    Trust BDL Norm, I’m not! Didn’t call you anything btw. I said that other people sometimes do. See what I did there? 🙂

  38. James G Avatar
    James G

    Or is it “trust BDL, Norm, I’m not!!”…Where the hell is Coos the one lousy time you need him?

  39. Old Ranger Fan Avatar
    Old Ranger Fan

    Hopefully Gorton knows if they take a cap hit if Hank retires. Reading above it seems like they would be , but, the conventional wisdom is that they are not. I’m even more confused now. Either way it is better than a buyout or retaining half of his cap hit.

  40. Alex Avatar
    Alex

    TomK

    my understanding is Cally was traded because we were not going to give him the no move clause that he insisted on. so i don’t agree that he wanted to go. in fact I think he was shocked we actually traded him.

    having said that, we dodged a bullet by not signing him to the deal he got with Tampa. he was close to being done physically.

  41. cregg7 Avatar
    cregg7

    Im not thinking there is a market for Hank. Imagine being a fanbase for a team that trades anything including cap space for a 38 yo goalie who cant even crack his own lineup. the horror show

  42. Beezle Avatar
    Beezle

    Ilb – Can you elaborate on “Daly warning”? Wasn’t that just that they would get hit with a cap recapture penalty? From the clause I posted a few days ago, I don’t see anything to prevent NYR from hiring any ex-NYR player in management capacity at whatever salary they want.

    I’m actually shocked Canucks did not file legal action against the league as when the Luongo contract was signed there was no cap recapture penalty in the CBA – instead NHL has applied it retroactively. In the case of criminal behavior, that is a constitutional no-no. Even though it is collective bargaining, I would think it very shaky ground to say that a new CBA imposes new and different obligations on team/players for a contract signed under the prior?

    And even if there is a cap-recapture penalty for HL – it would be 3M and that shoudl be NYR only obligation to the NHL. NYR should then be free to pay HL whatever they feel like for his personal, non-player services thereafter.

    Are you also suggesting they can’t buy him out and pay him to be an MSG employee? Wouldn’t that again be a right to work, legal issue?

  43. cregg7 Avatar
    cregg7

    or is it, “Im thinking there is not a market”… sorry coos and norm.

  44. Beezle Avatar
    Beezle

    @James: from last thread, I’ve asked earlier too – where are you playing Trocheck? With Breadman? So then you are trading Strome and hoping Trocheck a) regains 17/18 form and b) has good juju with Panarin?

  45. tomk19 Avatar
    tomk19

    Alex-Completely agree that we dodged a bullet by not resigning Callahan.

    He,(and perhaps the Rangers), probably suspected that his health could be an issue on that next contract. Whatever it was, he had to right to ask for a NMC. But if he wanted to stay, he could have stayed. He was the captain, but he was not a 1st line player. What you’re describing makes it sound like he was blindsided. Maybe he was. I don’t buy it.

  46. Bdl Avatar
    Bdl

    Me neither Tom. He wanted out.

  47. Wicky Avatar
    Wicky

    I’d like to keep Kreider at a reasonable price. He’s on a roll recently which makes him more vital. He didn’t look great at the beginning of the season and most were down on him.

    I think he’s somewhere in between overall and shouldn’t have a blank check to name his salary.

    I also think syrome is more important to keep than Kreider, especially when you consider the cap.

    I can absolutely see a scenario where both sides are right and Kreider is no longer a ranger. No one has to be at fault.

    I’d like to see him stay but not sure how realistic that is.

  48. Beezle Avatar
    Beezle

    bobbyO – the contract obligation works both ways. Sure, HL can stay until the end of it as backup, at best. But then he can’t get upset if the team does a buyout or gives him a trade to consider either.

    HL is going to end his NYR career with something north of $95M of salary and bonus. I just can’t see how any fan can say NYR ‘owe’ him anything beyond a respectful announcement and a nice sendoff and eventually number retirement. Also don’t find it unreasonable for a fan to suggest HL should consider retirement over the buyout and foresake that last $1.5M to give the team who gave him his opportunities a little extra cap breathing room. Does he owe it to them? No, but it would certainly be a good gesture to team and fans.

    He knew what he was getting into these last couple of years and the team offered him an out, which he turned down. The current awkwardness is unfortunate but unavoidable.

  49. tomk19 Avatar
    tomk19

    I don’t really care about Cally right now.

    Kreider is Zibanijad’s best linemate. His presence takes pressure off of the younger players. He’s a leader. It makes sense to keep him. I don’t see the Rangers making a prosperous offer and saying “We tried.” I just think if Kreider wants to stay, they find a way to get it done.

  50. Wicky Avatar
    Wicky

    If there is any kind of retained $$$ or penalty in any sort of move with hank that is organizationally initiated, I think it’s a terrible idea.

    No more dead cap space dollars, too many already and it could be costing the rangers Kreider.

    I’d rather have the two you g guys than hank any day in goal, but if you have to move Georgiev to avoid retained $$$ ypu have to do it.

  51. cregg7 Avatar
    cregg7

    Gorton needs to make more moves sooner rather than later. There are more sellers out there which drives prices down. SO if he wants to remake the roster a bit and shed salary, he needs to do it sooner rather than later for the guys like Buch and Skjel. Those pieces are what will make or break whether cap space is available for kreider contract.

    Fast im not concerned with because it will be a minor deal or a cheap re-sign in offseason, or let him walk. No pressure.

    Strome and Tony D at least have some RFA control, so less pressure. But decision on strome future should be somewhat pressing as there is potential to sell high on him.

  52. cregg7 Avatar
    cregg7

    of note, I believe staal has played well enough this year to garner some interest to a team in need of defensive depth and experience heading into a playoff run. If you retain some salary next year that is less than what his Buyout would be, I think you pull the trigger.

  53. CCCP Avatar
    CCCP

    Hank:-” It’s Girardi’s fault I’m a third best goalie right now.”

  54. Norm Merton Avatar

    James, I would never do such a thing, of course, but people have been calling you a kumquat.

  55. Norm Merton Avatar

    Im thinking theres an apostrophe thats needed cregg. As well as a market.

  56. James G Avatar
    James G

    Beezle,
    I do like Trocheck quite a bit. I’m one of the few who want to retain Strome though. Tough call. I don’t know.
    Sorry for not seeing your question earlier. I rarely read back more than a few posts.

  57. ilb2001 Avatar
    ilb2001

    Beezle, I can’t find the article at the moment. But Daly clearly stated that there would more than just simple salary cap recapture penalty.

  58. CCCP Avatar
    CCCP

    Beezle 11:39 AM post

    Thank you. My thoughts exactly.

  59. Alex Avatar
    Alex

    Wicky

    To me it was the signing of a Shatty and not the buyout that killed our cap. If we didn’t buy him out we’d still have him on the books for similar money to next years buyout. Or we’d have traded him along with a major sweetener (a first plus really good prospect if done a year ago).

    I blame the Shatty signing if we lose Kreider.

    Others to blame of course. Henrik, Staal to name 2. I think we can get out of Smith with a smaller sweetener (2nd or a guy like Hajek)

    We should have let Girardi’s contract run out. Not signed Shatty. And this summer bought out Staal. We’d then be in position to keep Kreider.

  60. James G Avatar
    James G

    Well at least I can be made into a delicious jam/jelly, Norm.

  61. ilb2001 Avatar
    ilb2001

    If we lose Kreider it’s because he either doesn’t want to stay or they don’t want to keep him. Just because they would’ve had much more money to offer shouldn’t be the reason to give him exactly what he wants. That snowball has to stop somewhere.

  62. bobbyo2019 Avatar
    bobbyo2019

    Difference Beezle is this isnt a Girardi or Shattenkirk situation this is a Hall of Fame /franchise goaltender getting bought out …just dont see that happening

  63. James G Avatar
    James G

    Oh zip it, C3!

  64. St Pete Eli Avatar
    St Pete Eli

    Wicky
    I would only do that trade if Andersson was included in the deal 😎

  65. James G Avatar
    James G

    Giants fans didn’t think they’ d bench Eli for the year for the draft bust either.

  66. cooscoos Avatar
    cooscoos

    Love to see ‘re-sign’.

  67. bobbyo2019 Avatar
    bobbyo2019

    On the other hand if Shatty not bought out maybe Fox is on 3rd pair and/or getting less minutes, Tony D is not on PP or has been traded already and Lindgren is still in Hartford

  68. Alex Avatar
    Alex

    I don’t think 7 by 7 is unreasonable for Kreider. If we say the 7th year is the line in the sand then we really didn’t want him anyway. If we say that 6.5 is acceptable but not 7 then again in my opinion we didn’t want him anyway.

    And I truly think that next years cap problems are a big reason why the management will say we don’t want him. Which, in my opinion, was the plan (trading him) from last summer on.

  69. CCCP Avatar
    CCCP

    Never, James!!!

  70. Beezle Avatar
    Beezle

    @Wicky: A buyout of HL results in a cap hit of 5.5 (instead of 8.5) in 20/21 and 1.5M in 21/22.

    -Keeping HL and Igor gives goalie expense of 9.4M in 20/21 and 0.9+NHL backup in 21/22.
    -If Georige signs a new contract for $3 per (perhaps high given RFA status) plus Igor, goal expense in 20/11 is 9.4M and 5.4 in 21/22

    So it comes down to keeping your two young goalies at a cost of 1.5M plus difference between what you pay Georgie vs what you pay the new backup. That last would be at most about 2.1M (3.0 less an ELC) and more likely order of 1M.

    To me, the advantages for the team of keeping both for next season and possible trade of one in 21/22 or 22/23 is worth the small cap penalty cost. Normally I don’t like buyouts because they are four or more years and usually at greater cost. This one is one year at small cost and much greater flexibility.

    I’d also toss out there – what happens if HL gets frustrated and retires mid-season? Ilb says there would be a prorated cap recapture of $3M and the cost of a new backup.

  71. CCCP Avatar
    CCCP

    Fans will blame and hate Hank forever for losing Kreider. I bet my head on it.

  72. cooscoos Avatar
    cooscoos

    I prefer my Captured Caps Uncaptured to begin with. Sort of like John McCain.

  73. Admiral Akbar Avatar
    Admiral Akbar

    I hate this salary cap garbage.

    I miss being buyers at the trade deadline. Losing Kreider, Buchnevich, Beverly or anyone else to become “cap compliant” is downright depressing communism.

  74. Norm Merton Avatar

    Are you insinuating, James, that I can only be used to collect bridge tolls? That nobody wants to smear my remains on pumpernickel and have at it?

  75. St Pete Eli Avatar
    St Pete Eli

    Prediction
    With the deadline tension going on the Rangers will easily lose to the Hawks tonight.

  76. Beezle Avatar
    Beezle

    AA – would prefer they go to something more like baseball, semi-hard cap with known penalty for exceeding. You can even do a tiered penalty structure to make it prohibitive to go really crazy with the benjamins.

  77. James G Avatar
    James G

    Tollbooth Willy!

  78. Old Ranger Fan Avatar
    Old Ranger Fan

    We miss Stepan when the moms are on the road trip.

  79. bobbyo2019 Avatar
    bobbyo2019

    Fans will blame and hate Hank forever for losing Georgie

  80. cooscoos Avatar
    cooscoos

    Is she aging well?

  81. cooscoos Avatar
    cooscoos

    Smith looks like he should be on tonight’s debate stage.

  82. Admiral Akbar Avatar
    Admiral Akbar

    Beazle:

    Soft cap like baseball with heavy fine “for going over the threshold…”

    Or — teams should get a break from the full cap cost when trying to retain the services of “home grown” players like Kreider, Buch, Hanka, Beat Wide, etc., are for the Rangers.

  83. Wicky Avatar
    Wicky

    Ilb
    Re your 12:04
    Exactly what I was saying!!

  84. Wicky Avatar
    Wicky

    Alex
    I just think getting rid of shattenkirk would have been best handled with a major sweetener.

    They signed him so the solution from there was the sweetener route imo, not making matters worse with buyout.

    Just my version of revisionist history though.

  85. CCCP Avatar
    CCCP

    Don’t think fans will hate Hank for losing Georgiev as much as they will definitely hate him for losing Kreider.

  86. CCCP Avatar
    CCCP

    Especially since losing Kreider means taking steps backward.

  87. Admiral Akbar Avatar
    Admiral Akbar

    JD repeatedly and pointedly referred to the rebuild as a “build” — let’s see if he puts (Dolan’s) money where his mouth is and retains the services of Chris Kreider and Anthony DeAngelo.

    It definitely isn’t a “build” if one of the league’s best power forwards and/or offensive defenseman are traded away.

  88. CCCP Avatar
    CCCP

    From a hockey page. I thought this was interesting since we always give a lot of crap to the Rangers for poor drafting. Look at another storied original six franchise.

    This is BAD! lol

    “In 2007 the Montreal Canadiens took Ryan McDonagh (12th), Max Pacioretty (22nd), PK Subban (46th) with their first three picks…

    …one of which they traded for Scott Gomez and they other two were chased out of town for trying to help Carey Price win games.

    Top 60 Picks since:

    Danny Kristo (56th, 2008) – 0 NHL Games
    Now: SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers (NL)

    Louis Leblanc (18th, 2009) – 50 NHL Games
    Now: Retired/Analyst – CMA Strategy Consulting

    Jarred Tinordi (22nd, 2010) – 71 NHL Games
    Now: Nashville Predators (NHL)

    Nathan Beaulieu (17th, 2011) – 360 NHL Games
    Now: Winnipeg Jets (NHL)

    Alex Galchenyuk (3rd, 2012) – 538 NHL Games
    Now: Minnesota Wild (NHL)

    Sebastian Collberg (33rd, 2012) – 0 NHL Games
    Now: Graz99ers (EBEL)

    Dalton Thrower (51st, 2012) – 0 NHL Games
    Now: Jacksonville IceMen (ECHL)

    Michael McCarron (25th, 2013) – 69 NHL Games
    Now: Milwaukee Admirals (AHL)

    Jacob de La Rose (34th, 2013) – 227 NHL Games
    Now: St. Louis Blues (NHL)

    Zachary Fucale (36th, 2013) – 0 NHL Games
    Now: EHC Red Bull München (DEL)

    Artturi Lehkonen (55th, 2013) – 283 NHL Games
    Now: Still with Montreal 😱

    Nikita Scherbak (26th, 2014) – 37 NHL Games
    Now: Traktor Chelyabinsk (KHL)

    Noah Juulsen (26th, 2015) – 44 NHL Games
    Now: Laval Rocket – Last played in November due to migraines/post-concussion syndrome

    Mikhail Sergachev (9th, 2016) – 218 NHL Games
    Now: Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL)

    Ryan Poehling (25th, 2017) – 28 NHL Games
    Now: Laval Rocket (12 P in 30 GP)

    Josh Brook (56th, 2017) – 0 NHL Games
    Now: Laval Rocket (12 P in 51 GP)

    Joni Ikonen (58th, 2017) – 0 NHL Games
    Now: Unsigned – Missed all of 2019/20 and all but 13 games in 2018/19 with knee/leg injuries.

    Jesperi Kotkaniemi (3rd, 2018) – 115 NHL Games
    Now: Laval Rocket (7 P in 7 GP)

    Jesse Ylonen (35th, 2018) – 0 NHL Games
    Now: Unsigned – Lahti Pelicans (22 P in 51 GP)

    Alexander Romanov (38th, 2018) – 0 NHL Games
    Now: Unsigned – CSKA Moskva (7 P in 40 GP)

    Jacob Olofsson (56th, 2018) – 0 NHL Games
    Now: Unsigned – Skellefteå AIK (9 P in 24 GP) – Last played in December – Shutdown for Season

    Cole Caufield (15th, 2019) – 0 NHL Games
    Now: Unsigned – Univ. of Wisconsin (32 P in 30 GP)

    Jayden Struble (46th, 2019) – 0 NHL Games
    Now: Northeastern Univ. (10 P in 21 GP) – Last played in February – Shudown for the season

    So, we will call everything from Ryan Poehling down as TBD.”

  89. Alex Avatar
    Alex

    I don’t like the idea on giving teams a competitive advantage cap wise regarding their own drafted players (or very early signings of undrafted players). Gives a team like Pitt (Crosby, Malkin) a bigger advantage than they already do. That’s one example only. See also Ovechkin, McDavid and the Toronto guys.

    Plus it would hurt the free agency market so maybe even a Panerin type would never reach ufa status.

    A lot of our cap problems are due to overpaying our own. Plus outsiders like Shatty or Trouba. Just like Toronto made their own bed cap wise with Marleau and Tavares.

  90. cooscoos Avatar
    cooscoos

    Could they possibly have seen and see Gauthier as THE’s immediate replacement?

  91. James G Avatar
    James G

    I agree with C3. Same way Callahan tarnished what could have been a respectable Rangers career wearing the C and Messier will always have a star by his name for taking the Vancouver money.

    Plus you need to keep in mind that while he’s adored by so many, he’s also never won a Cup.

  92. cregg7 Avatar
    cregg7

    Gauthier is Buch replacement. Maybe Fast replacement. Or somewhere between the two. Or at least there to challenge for playing time.

  93. James G Avatar
    James G

    TRADE SOMEONE!

  94. James G Avatar
    James G

    Wondering who sits if this kid plays tonight. It’s not Di Giuseppe. Not with the way he’s played.

  95. Bdl Avatar
    Bdl

    He won’t play tonight.

  96. CCCP Avatar
    CCCP

    Exactly, James. He never won the cup and now he’s taking his time to move on. Fans are getting antsy…

  97. Wicky Avatar
    Wicky

    You sit howden or fast tonight to see what you have and if he ends up being AHL bound for more development or he’s nhl ready.

    Imo

  98. Wicky Avatar
    Wicky

    Or mckegg

  99. Wicky Avatar
    Wicky

    Cccp
    Those same people that will hate hank for Kreider leaving are the same people that thought Kreider sucked earlier in the year and couldn’t wait to trade him

  100. Norm Merton Avatar

    Where is Gauthier at the moment? He’s on Hartford’s books, it appears, but on the R’s roster.

  101. Bdl Avatar
    Bdl

    I suspect Gauthier is with the big club in case a trade is made. I don’t think he plays in either game unless somebody is moved.

  102. Bdl Avatar
    Bdl

    Norm,
    He’s in Chicago with the Rangers.

  103. Admiral Akbar Avatar
    Admiral Akbar

    I hate the idea of Gauthier as a stop-gap to replace a traded player. I would like to see him as an improvement for the team.

  104. Norm Merton Avatar

    Is his Mom there?

  105. Admiral Akbar Avatar
    Admiral Akbar

    I have nothing wrong with teams like Pittsburgh being able to retain services of Crosby/Malkin.

    I have problems with letting players go from big market teams like NyR in order to promote “parity”

  106. Bdl Avatar
    Bdl

    Martinez to Vegas.

  107. Alex Avatar
    Alex

    Admiral

    If we didn’t sign Trouba or shatty we’d have much less cap issues

    So a lot of it is self induced

    And giving competitive advantages to team re their own gives them an advantage in going after ufas

  108. Wicky Avatar
    Wicky

    Couple of second rounders

  109. Bdl Avatar
    Bdl

    Fair deal.

  110. CCCP Avatar
    CCCP

    Buchnevich to Boston.

  111. bobbyo2019 Avatar
    bobbyo2019

    No trades this week James….you want someone’s mom to cry on the trip? Heartless!

  112. Bdl Avatar
    Bdl

    Fast to Philly.

  113. James G Avatar
    James G

    Blog to trash 🙂

  114. James G Avatar
    James G

    I’m with you AA. This is a doom and gloomer strategy. They acquire a guy and it’s like ‘oh he must be a stop gap for someone we have to trade away.’ instead of like ‘ok cool another 22 year old kid with some size and snarl on the right side. needed that. Di Giuseppe has been a nice addition to the bottom six going in the right direction here’

  115. James G Avatar
    James G

    Alec Martinez was on the trade block for about 3 years. They’re probably just happy to be rid of him at this point.

  116. St Pete Eli Avatar
    St Pete Eli

    Wicky 2:17
    I was one of them, but I was wrong the Rangers need what he brings to the ice even if he doesn’t pot 30 to 35 goals. Vets that need to stay in the top 6
    Bread
    Stromeo
    Kreidsdale
    The DJ

  117. Wicky Avatar
    Wicky

    Damn Toronto traded marchment to Florida

  118. St Pete Eli Avatar
    St Pete Eli

    James to Bdl 😎

  119. St Pete Eli Avatar
    St Pete Eli

    Gorton fishing with Slats again!

  120. Wicky Avatar
    Wicky

    Bdl
    Regarding your 2:57, if he gets dealt anywhere the organization will fold and we all have to pick a new team to be a fan of.

  121. Bdl Avatar
    Bdl

    I think you guys are misinterpreting what I was saying. AA I’m a little surprised that you did. James not so much. I don’t think he’s a stop gap at all. I like the trade, and what looks like may be there strategy. I was only speaking of these next two road games. If someone were to be traded during this trip, with out Gauthier being with them they would have to use Smith at forward again. I expect he will be a regular from the 24th on, regardless of trades made.

  122. Bdl Avatar
    Bdl

    Wicky,
    If Fast is traded there will be a meltdown on par with the Zuccarello trade meltdown.

  123. Wicky Avatar
    Wicky

    Anyone on the roster not have a mom on the trip?

  124. Wicky Avatar
    Wicky

    Bdl
    And the team will miss him even less than zucc, and it doesn’t miss zucc.

    Won’t matter, franchise closing move.

  125. Bdl Avatar
    Bdl

    Staal, I think. Saw her at the Canes game. They are also having their mom trip.

  126. Bdl Avatar
    Bdl

    Panarin is what Zucc fans thought Zucc was. Have not missed him at all.

  127. ilb2001 Avatar
    ilb2001

    Beezle, ilb didn’t say that. In fact, I firmly believe that the Rangers will not get a penalty. Funny, you mentioned mid-season retirement. There is a provision for that in the CBA too. Wait until you hear this. If a player retires in the mid season of the last year of his contract, there is no prorated recapture penalty. Nothing is charged that year, but THE FULL amount is charged for the season immediately following such retirement.

  128. richinhagerstownbywayofbrooklyn Avatar
    richinhagerstownbywayofbrooklyn

    I know it seems that sometimes I seem disrespectful of Henrik. I respect him a great deal. A sure first ballot hall of famer and his number goes right to the rafters. Without him the Rangers would not have been anywhere near as successful as they have been since he came aboard.
    However sports is a cruel business. And now the Rangers have two very good young goalies that are the future for NYR. There really is no more room for him anymore it is time for him to gracefully waive his no movement clause and accept a trade. It would probably be of great benefit to him if he still wants to add a cup to his accomplishments.
    Lastly he needs to remember this well….the name on the front of the jersey is way more important than the name on the back…..no one should be immune to a trade.

  129. Bdl Avatar
    Bdl

    Rich,
    Yup, thank you for all you did, now move out of the way.

  130. cregg7 Avatar
    cregg7

    I vote no more fake trade announcements. It’s messing with my brain 🧠

  131. Fat Guy Avatar

    the problem as I see it is that there is no team with realistic Cup aspirations that improves with the current version of Hank. This is not a Dominic Hasek situation where he was clearly still the worlds best.

  132. Beezle Avatar
    Beezle

    Ilb – cba question: is the retained money limit of 50% just salary or salary+bonus? Just wondering as so many of the big contracts now are mostly bonus to get around high state tax situations. If it is the latter, that could severely hamper ability to trade a player even if they don’t have a nmc

  133. Wicky Avatar
    Wicky

    You’d think Kreider ends up in Boston or Colorado if he’s traded…right?!

  134. Fat Guy Avatar

    to be honest, Kreider in an episode of Cheers would be much funnier than Kreider in a Coors Light commercial

  135. tommyG Avatar
    tommyG

    If Kreider is traded, I’m hoping it’s to colorado and that’s because they have allot more to offer.

  136. James G Avatar
    James G

    BDL,
    It’s getting to the point where you’re putting me in the dog house more than my wife does. And this is happening on a daily basis now.
    I didn’t take aim at you saying he wasn’t going to play. Just the tone today that he’s a stop gap. SHEESH.

  137. James G Avatar
    James G

    Good call on Marchment, Wick. You’re en fuego this week with the predictions.

  138. ilb2001 Avatar
    ilb2001

    Beezle, if a player is traded after July 1st, the money is only 50% of his salary for the remainder of this year because the bonus was already paid. If it’s before July 1st, it’s 50% of both the bonus and the salary. Either way, the AAV for the purposes of salary cap calculation is 50% of total salary ( bonus plus base ) regardless whether a player had already received his bonus or not.

  139. richinhagerstownbywayofbrooklyn Avatar
    richinhagerstownbywayofbrooklyn

    This salary cap thing is annoying. I thought be a hockey fan only required math for player statistics.

  140. Bdl Avatar
    Bdl

    Wicky,
    Have had a funny feeling Kreider ends up with Florida. They have the forward prospects to get it done.

  141. James G Avatar
    James G

    Supposedly there was a rumor that Edmonton was interested in Gauthier and there was talk of Puljujarvi the other way. No idea what other parts it would have included but if Holland liked the kid that’s good enough for me.

  142. James G Avatar
    James G

    Florida has to trade Hoffman. They may move Trocheck too. If they were to acquire Kreider that would be quite a deadline day for them.

  143. James G Avatar
    James G

    Then they just need a goalie. You know…other than the one they gave 11.5 million dollars to last summer.

  144. Beezle Avatar
    Beezle

    James – BDL has you being traded to the LAK blog. Do you have a NMC? 😉

  145. Beezle Avatar
    Beezle

    Ilb – thanks for clearing that up. So an in-season trade, they can only retain 50% of that season’s salary but future years they can retain 50% of bonus+salary.

  146. Bdl Avatar
    Bdl

    The Kings blog needed more anger, and this blog need less. It was a easy deal to make. What did receive in return you ask? It was James, for no James.

  147. St Pete Eli Avatar
    St Pete Eli

    Sounds like a hockey trade Bdl?

  148. bobbyo2019 Avatar
    bobbyo2019

    is Gauthier playing tonight?

  149. Norm Merton Avatar

    You don’t trade James when he’s in the doghouse. Wait until he writes a great game write-up, then Sell High.

  150. Beezle Avatar
    Beezle

    Coos, you’re a stock guy right? https://xkcd.com/2270/

  151. cooscoos Avatar
    cooscoos

    Soup Stock, Beez. 🙂

  152. Wicky Avatar
    Wicky

    Bdl
    That’s be quite a move as James pointed out.

    St. Louis May still be an option, I wonder if Edmonton or Calgary has the interest still?

    With Vancouver adding, they may feel the need.

  153. Wicky Avatar
    Wicky

    Arizona could be a dark horse as well imo.

  154. E3 Avatar
    E3

    Hank might be Prucha’d tonight.

  155. Norm Merton Avatar

    It might be easier at this point to conjecture places Kreider does NOT end up.

  156. Admiral Akbar Avatar
    Admiral Akbar

    Bubblewrap Hanka

  157. bobbyo2019 Avatar
    bobbyo2019

    Dallas has been very low key trade rumor wise….another dark horse

  158. Norm Merton Avatar

    I predict Kreider will either be traded to a team that wants a power forward (for a player or players who are available to be traded) or that the Rangers will re-sign him for 6 to 8 years. Book it!

  159. E3 Avatar
    E3

    Norm is way out in a limb on this one….

  160. E3 Avatar
    E3

    On**

  161. Alex Avatar
    Alex

    lemieux mom.

    wow.

  162. E3 Avatar
    E3

    NYR trade Hank to Vogue for 3 models to be named later….

  163. E3 Avatar
    E3

    I’d tap that

  164. Norm Merton Avatar

    You know I’m right, E3, and don’t forget you heard it here first.

  165. ilb2001 Avatar
    ilb2001

    Any BYFUGLIEN lawyers can look at what I posted? Are A and B related/ a continuation of each other?

  166. Wicky Avatar
    Wicky

    BobbyO
    If that’s the case, I want rupeeeee

  167. Beezle Avatar
    Beezle

    I don’t think Hank’s hair has a NMC. TSN says it may go to Arizona.

  168. Beezle Avatar
    Beezle

    So is Olga going to be a split personality tonight?

  169. cooscoos Avatar
    cooscoos

    Olga presently studying my old jokes and looking for the opportunity to insert same.

  170. E3 Avatar
    E3

    Here’s hoping the new guy plays tonight

  171. cooscoos Avatar
    cooscoos

    I hope he’s as tough as Lindgren. After that I hope he buries some pucks.

  172. CCCP Avatar
    CCCP

    So who’s gonna cry when Kreider is traded? $10 on Mika…

    Any takers?

  173. Norm Merton Avatar

    coos, you haven’t stolen my stolen joke for quite a while. Get on it.

  174. cooscoos Avatar
    cooscoos

    Buch and Georgie might want to go with him. Doubt Georgie wants to sit and cheer for Igor for very long.

  175. James G Avatar
    James G

    Gauthier in. Hi BDL!

    Mckegg out. Tony D and Igor return.

  176. cooscoos Avatar
    cooscoos

    You had a joke? Been reading your stuff for a decade, but must have missed it.

  177. James G Avatar
    James G

    Beezle
    BDL can’t pull the trigger on that trade. He has too much invested in me. Plus the price he thinks other teams will pay is never realistic:-)

  178. Admiral Akbar Avatar
    Admiral Akbar

    Gauthier, Beverly, She’s Twerkin all IN?

    Yes!

  179. Norm Merton Avatar

    (Chain link fence, coos. It’ll come to you.)

  180. Norm Merton Avatar

    Who’s out, Admiral? That’s the big one if Gauth is in.

  181. Admiral Akbar Avatar
    Admiral Akbar

    Looks like McKegg is out, Norm

    Thus far nobody has been bubble-wrapped.

  182. Norm Merton Avatar

    McKegg, eh? So not a big deal then. He’s been good, I think, but not much of a threat to score, worth scratching.

  183. James G Avatar
    James G

    Howden back to Center between Lemieux and Gauthier.

  184. James G Avatar
    James G

    Zibanejad= the next contestant on will they or won’t they get a deal done.

    I hear 10 teams are already interested. Isles and Boston the early front runners.

  185. Pete Avatar
    Pete

    Ilb, think Hank signed his contract in 2014 and if so shouldn’t be considered a Long Term Contract subject to recapture, but sure there is some other clause buried somewhere Bettman could use to get the Rangers

  186. ilb2001 Avatar
    ilb2001

    Pete, that is if B is a continuation of A. That’s not very clear to me. Again, it was clearly stated by Matthew Wuest, as I posted above. But if he was incorrect, any contract of over 6 years might be a subject to the cap recapture penalty.

  187. ilb2001 Avatar
    ilb2001

    He did sign his contract during the current CBA, but it’s a seven year deal, so it’s a long term contract.

  188. ilb2001 Avatar
    ilb2001

    Carped myself

  189. ilb2001 Avatar
    ilb2001