With their playoffs now over, what’s next for the New York Rangers and Anaheim Ducks?
Latest Rangers Rumors.
Could the Rangers shake things up by trading Rick Nash?
NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks speculates over possible offseason moves by the New York Rangers, wondering if management will consider moving first-line winger Rick Nash, who has consistently failed to be a consistent postseason impact player. If they do, Brooks suggests the St. Louis Blues as a trade partner, noting they’re in desperate need of changing their own failed playoff narrative. He feels “the conversation on a return package would have to feature T.J. Oshie, Jaden Schwartz and Alexander Steen.” Brooks also doubts the Rangers will re-sign fading star Martin St. Louis and doesn’t believe the Edmonton Oilers or Buffalo Sabres will part with one of their two first-round picks for goalie Cam Talbot.
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS: Pat Leonard provides a ten-step plan for the Rangers to win the Stanley Cup next season. Among his suggestions is letting restricted free agent Carl Hagelin go rather than re-signing him to a significant raise as it could be more affordable to put Jesper Fast (like Hagelin, a restricted free agent) into a third-line role. He also believes the fading St. Louis shouldn’t be re-signed and Dan Boyle (one year left on his contract at $4.5 million) should be moved via trade or buyout. Leonard speculates the Dallas Stars could have interest in Cam Talbot and wonders if wingers like Antoine Roussel or Ryan Garbutt, along with draft picks, could be on the table.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’m assuming Brooks means Oshie, Schwartz or Steen will have to be part of the return for Nash. If he believes the Blues will give up all three, he’s dreaming in technicolor. They won’t part with Schwartz and I doubt they’re keen to move Steen. Oshie, who lacks a no-trade clause, is the more likely candidate, but he also has a middling playoff record.
It’s possible the Rangers might be able to tempt the Oilers or Sabres into parting with the lower of their two respective first-round picks for Talbot. The precedent was set two years ago when the Devils parted with their first-rounder for Cory Schneider. Yes, Schneider had a better pedigree but Talbot showed considerable promise this season. As for Hagelin, the Blueshirts could surprise by trading him this summer but I’m guessing they’ll re-sign him. They can buy out Boyle, but as Leonard notes, the full cap hit remains because he was over-35 when he signed his current deal. (I stand corrected, as per WHS’ note in the comments section below.)
Latest Ducks Rumors.
LA DAILY NEWS: Mark Whicker notes the Anaheim Ducks haven’t been able to win without a world-class defenseman since Scott Niedermayer retired. Given the club’s internal salary cap, however, Whicker doubts they’ll trade for one, believing Cam Fowler or Hampus Lindholm must grow into that role.
LOS ANGELES TIMES: Lance Pugmire reports the Ducks must find a reason for their failure to advance to the Stanley Cup Final, especially for their losing three consecutive Game 7s in as many years. He speculates GM Bob Murray could pursue more experienced defensemen, suggests it will be expensive to re-sign pending UFA winger Matt Beleskey while loyalty could keep veteran blueliner Francois Beauchemin in Anaheim. Pugmire claims Murray has a history of bold moves to replace those players who disappointed.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: There aren’t any world-class defensemen the Ducks can bring in via free agency and none via trade without gutting a chunk of their roster in the process. Even then, the picks are very slim. The Boston Bruins might consider trading Zdeno Chara, but he’s 38, possesses a full no-movement clause and has definitely slowed in recent years. I expect Murray will tweak his lineup instead of making major changes. The Ducks have made consistent improvement since 2012. It might be a good idea to give the current group another season.
Seasonal scoring has never been a problem in recent years for the St. Louis Blues. It’s playoff hockey where they falter. So, why on earth would they relinquish players of that caliber for a notorious playoff non-show like Nash?
There’s no way I would trade only Jaiden Shwartz for Rick Nash. Nash is one of the most overrated/ overpaid players in the league and Shwartz is getting better every game. Shwartz plus those other 2 decent players is such gigantic over payment and should never even be considered. That trade helps the Rangers have much better chances at a cup it kills the Blues chances all together. Nash is an average player in the regular season and a ghost in the playoffs.
LYLE
From Wikipedia:
The 35 rule clarified. In an email to CapGeek, the NHL informed them (prior to the 2013 CBA – and now in the 2013 CBA) – a player who signs a contract as a 35 plus can be bought out as a compliance buyout, or, as a regular buyout. As a regular buyout, only the buyout portion of that contract counts towards the cap.
Good catch, thanks for pointing that out.
Isn’t the buyout portion equal to the salary?? If so, that means the entire salary counts against the cap….
i remember a thread about anaheim needing a guy like chara around deadline time. seems to me like moving one of their young Dmen (theodore and/or a roster player) for chara makes a bunch of sense. i do believe chara will be served well playing with one of their young, quick dmen. he has slowed down a bit in his old age but can still help the team a lot. boston gets younger dmen and salary cap relief.
The Ducks lost to a great team in 7. and yes a Keith on the other side would of put them over the top. They can dangle a goalie in a package for a top pairing D.
Crazy stat about Anaheim. 7 players on their playoff roster are their own 1st round picks. That is impressive. Tampa 4, Chicago/NY 3.
Rangers should not trade Nash as I cannot see them getting close to the same player back in a trade. Oshie…no thanks. But (gonna get the replies) Kessel for Nash? It is true like the 2012 Conf Finals they lost a close series because of the lack of clutch scoring when needed the most.
Hagelin resigning could depend on the cap space after the Stepan deal.
Why would the Leafs want Nash?
Nash had a chance to come to Toronto but wanted to be in NY. No thanks.
Leafs have a pretty decent (younger cheaper) top line left winger….not sure how Nash makes sense, and if people question Nash production how does Kessel make any sense? Imo Kessel would have the same issues in NY as he does in Toronto, he needs a bigger stronger shooting center to play with, Stepan is not that guy. Stepan last I looked was not even in the top 50 players in shot attempts for during the playoffs.
If NY were to trade Nash, it would be to free up cap space. Why would they want Kessel in return who makes 200k more for an extra 4 years? I don’t see a fit for either team to be honest.
You cannot easily replace Nash’s regular season production or his SOG in general. Kessel is one of the few who shoots first…
I personally would still keep Nash
Agreed. The only way I’d give up Nash is if we can get an elite scorer in return and I don’t see that happening.
I wouldn’t trade Talbot for a draft pick. The Rangers are in a win-now mode, with Lundqvist not getting any younger. Lundqvist is turning into the Dominic Hasek of his generation. The best goalie in the league, but he simply doesn’t have the supporting cast around him to win the Cup. The Rangers have GOT to add CLUTCH scoring if they want to win with Lundqvist.
Not that I see it happening, but perhaps NYR kick the tires on Justin Williams? He’s pretty damn good when the game is on the line
I still can’t see Nash for Kessel. Basically the same offensive production minus Nash’s 2 way game/PK etc. And adding 200k more for an extra 4 years? They’d be better off getting a guy like JVR (….not saying it happens) a prospect and or pick.
I just cringe getting Oshie+a 2nd rounder for Nash… Sather wanted Nash and still do not see him going
Nash isn’t going anywhere, unless he’s part of a package for, say, Alexander Ovechkin or Jonathan Toews or Patrick Kane. I have more of a chance of sprouting wings and flying off to the land of candy canes than of me seeing the aforementioned scenario happening.
I heard around the trade deadline that the ducks and leafs were talking about a deal where the principal players were phaneuf for nic ritchie. Does anyone think that this may be re-explored at the draft?
Absolutely, Phaneuf for Ritchie and a salary dump.
would have to be stoner, he’s the only one that could be moved. would have to be a dman coming back so i imagine the deal would be a tad bigger than a few players.
just go crazy and move phaneuf and JVR for theodore, richie 2015 1st and two thirds. throw in stoner for some cap relief and maybe toronto’s 5th, 6th and 7th
Yeah, JVR, I would imagine would be very enticing given his excellent cotnract and some decent term left. Would take a lot for them to give up Theodore, with Ritchie being easier to pry given they already have size.
Dion makes sense for the need. If Leafs are cleaning house JVR gone too?
I would do Ritchie & salary dump for Phaneuf. Nash for Kessel. Prefer Leafs n Rangers keep their own problems. Contracts aside Kessel 4 years younger.
Anaheim doesn’t need Phaneuf. Nor are they moving Ritchie to get him. Ritchie will step in to replace Beleskey when he walks as a UFA & Theodore may well replace Beauchemin if he can’t be resigned as a UFA which I think Anaheim would like to do if the money is agreeable to them. Anaheim has Wisniewski waiting in the wings to take Beauchemin’s spot & help buffer Theodore’s transition into the NHL if he’s ready. He will be brought along slowly.
Anaheim has no cap issues. 22 players signed at 53.809. 10 forwards, 8 Dman & 2 goalies. This is the most well built cap team in the NHL, they are young & will get better just allowing their current crop of young players to develop. Silverberg, Rackell, Sekec, Palmieri, Etem, Lindholm, Fowler, Despres, Vatanen, Anderson & Gibson are just kids & their adding in Ritchie & Theodore to the mix very soon. Possibly as soon as next season & they have more prospects coming, Kerdiles, Soerensen, Manson & possibly Helgesen.
The future is very bright & Anaheim has the roster to compete for the cup for the next decade & Phaneuf isn’t needed. Is Phaneuf really any different than Wisneiwski?
Nash had what 14 points in 19 gp the playoffs this year, and was very good at both ends of the rink….not sure how that is failing consisently, Not like the Rangers are a run and gun hockey team as a whole they dont score much. Is he worth the money would be a fair question, but sayimg the guy consisently fails to be an impact player when this year his ppg is around on par or better with the Crosby and Datsyuk Hossa ….while being better defensively than alot of the p,ayers above him in points is odd. Id say Nash was actually pretty consistent in this years playoffs.
Yes I agree hard to put blame on Nash.
Final 4 top line centers
Chicago-Toews/Richards
Tampa-Stamkos/Johnson
Anaheim-Getzlaf/Kesler
NY-Stepan/Brassard
Ranger fan here and fan of both centers but the other 3 top centers win this comparison.
@Ds,
I Agree overall. But Brad Richards? I don’t see it.
Ehh not so much top 2 lines because honestly as a top 2 I think Stepan and Brassard match up pretty well against anyone, depending on last shift and how you want to match up, just top line center is what I am getting at…that 1 guy who can change the game to relieve some pressure off a guy like Nash.
Technically Richards is the #2. My point was Stepan/Brassard very good but they are also not Toews, Getzlaf, Kopitar, Stamkos etc
Agreed about the centers, The rangers are very well ballanced down the middle, but are any of them the caliber, of the top line centers found on the other Semi final teams? Its almost the same arguementas the Leafs have with Kessel (I realize their all around game is not even close to the same but…) its easy to blame wingers playing with good but not superstar centers.
Agreed Shticky. Anyone saying Nash didn’t show up in this years playoffs, obviously didn’t watch a single game he played in. As far as blame goes / failing to advance, there is plenty to go around. Injuries to Zuccs and McDonagh didn’t exactly help matters either.
I don’t believe the defense was the problem for the ducks, yes the first goal toews got, he should’ve been moved out of there. I believe they lost because of goaltending. Anderson last four games were under 900 and games 5 -7 his save percentage dropped each game finishing with and 806 in game 7. Chara would be a good fit though when your this close to the cup and he has at least 2 good years left in the tank.
Sometimes you go up against players who can’t seem to do no wrong. Those players were on Chicago. That is all that it was. Toews ability to score goals and produce at will is the reason he is viewed as one of the best players in the game and some even think he is better than Crosby. He has the ability to score from anywhere and in the end I think it was simply the best players won the series. No shame in Anaheim being 2nd best. They are improving each year they simply lost because Chicago is better.
I fail to understand why Nash is bei referred to as a non show at the playoffs this year. his team made it to the conference finals. He put 14 points on the board, 5 are goals and I guess more could of been wanted but why?
Kilhorn has 16 pts,
Palat has 15 pts. which puts me n another rant as why Tampa is viewed as only
having three offensive players.
Nash Has 14 pts
Hosea. Has. 13 pts
Kesler. Has. 13 Pts
Sharp. Has 12 pts
Stephan has 12 pts. Only 12 and I love Stepan.
That is a good group to be associated with but perhaps it is goals people are talking about. Johnson has 12, Kane and Perry have 10 each, Toews has 9. Tampa, Anaheim and Chicago all are better offensively while the rangers are built on Defense and Nash ends up with 5. Perhaps I am suppose to believe Nash is as good as the first 4 guys but I never thought he was. I’m sure some will think the Rangers are more offensive than other teams using their stats but they play a defensive style. I don’t agree Nash was a no show this year.
I wonder if EDM would trade its 16th pick for Talbot and Dan Boyle? EDM gets their goaltender and some experience on the backend, if only for a year.
Possible but I think they can have Talbot for a 2nd and pick guys up on free agency for D at the cost of only money. I am not sure Boyle would be enough to push the price up to a first rounder.
I don’t think Talbot is worth a 1st rounder. But I think it’s possible. But weren’t you suggesting Lehner may possibly bring back a top 6 forward a few days back? I think a low 1st rounder is less valuable than a proven top 6 guy ….no?
There you go again making stuff up.
I never said that. I think I will just say go back and read.
You’re right….you just used Lehner as the centerpiece of a package for a top 6 forward….LOL. Sorry for misquoting you, But honestly I wasn’t that far off.
Its all good. I was being a bit of an ass towards you with that response.
But I am on record of saying that Lehner isn’t ready to be a starter from the start of the season when everyone said they should trade Anderson and go with Lehner. I was the one who said it was smart of Ottawa to sign Anderson for 3 more years to allow Lehner to develop and wait till he is around 26-27. Like Hammond and Bishop are now.
Perhaps if Lehner performed better this season but no nothing has changed. He is likely worth a 3rd and a mid level prospect. I am hoping Ottawa can get more as the only up side of Lehner right now is he is brimming with Potential but any hockey observer who can ascertain talent can see there are a ton of holes in Lehner’s game right now. One being his tendency to go to his knees way to early.
Over all if a top 6 forward is to be had a package is needed. As well as a 1rst round pick unless the receiving team is willing to bet on his potential.
So I guess you are not far off if you mean at the same time not near the same postal code.
Talbot may not be worth a 1st rounder, but you also have to look at the organization making the offer. Edmonton almost always has to overpay, otherwise they’ll never get any sort of talent outside of the draft
Overall, I think it would be a bad idea to trade Talbot at all. Where are they if they do? Right back at signing a guy like Neuvirth, Enroth, or Budaj for the same or even more money? I don’t think Skapski is ready next year. Unless of course he can play Buffalo 15 times?
Jaysin,
Edmonton does not need to overpay for a trade. They like most other Canadian teams overpay for free agents.
Wrong, Oilers don’t need to over paid for Talbot, Oilers can sign a Goalie and there’s some decent ones, the Oil might over paid if it’s a Number ONE Goalie no a back up.
I don’t think it’s so much about Nash’s #’s in the playoffs but has more to do with his style of play, you don’t see that desperation, killer instinct or getting involved in the dirty areas. The Rangers should have known this when they obtained Nash.
I offered the opinion a few days ago that Nash is the type of scorer a team needs in order to get TO the playoffs as he scores most of his goals off the rush and there’s lots more opportunity to do that over an 82-games season – especially when 3 or 4 teams in your conference are dogs. But scoring off the rush is not something you see as much in playoff hockey where the checking is often like a blanket.
Question remains what changes to the Rangers where they come out on top vs the Lightning. To me it was the lacking spark in Game7.
AV? Team leaders? Healthy Zuc and Mac =game 7 win? MSL too many failed passes on the power play?
I can foresee a healthy Columbus team giving the Rangers, Tampa etc fits in a 7 game series next season.
To me, It was that 1st goal that Lundqvist let in. From there out they were deploying their d-men down low and taking too many chances. That 1st goal was terribly soft. Just not a goal you can give up in any game. Never mind a game 7 to go to the SC finals. I’m also looking at guys like Kreider, Hagelin, St.Louis, Staal for a little bit of the blame.
That goal did seal the deal for sure.
Staal was a -8…
After just reading the entire injury list, I can give Staal a mulligan. Playing with a hairline fracture to his ankle since the end of the season.
McDonagh, broken foot.
Yandle, Shoulder sprain since the 1st series against the pens.
Girardi. Grade 1 MCL sprain.
This explains a lot!
If the Sabres make a move for a goalie it will be John Gibson. It’s not gonna be Talbot. I still think they will re-up Neuvirth and groom one of their system.
The only ” Gibby ” that should be moved is the guy running the Blue Jays. I cant see Anaheim moving John Gibson at all.
Neuvirth plays with the NYI; Sabres have Chad Johnson (1yr.at $1.3 mil to go)how/why would they bring him back?
Gibson is the better of the two goalies on Anaheim. I would bet taht eventually in a season or two Gibson will take the starter roll. Perhaps Anaheim should look at trading Andersen.
Neuvirth is UFA so he will be available July 1.
I believe it will be tough for buffalo to get Gibson, but we were tossing out names here so i tossed out Gibby.
Larry Brooks must be delusional if he thinks the Blues would part with Jaden Schwartz or Alex Steen for an expensive contract that is just as unreliable in the postseason as the players they already have on their roster.
The Blues will be close to the cap already when they re-sign Tarasenko without taking on any additional contracts. There is no way they even think of making this move unless it’s Oshie and a low level schmuck in return for Rick Nash’s declining services.
Not sure Id say declining just yet 3rd in goals with 43 behind Ovie and Stamkos is nothing to sneeze at he is 30 and with only a couple years left on his deal, I think you could make an arguement that its not that big an issue going forward..
Declining? AYE AYE AYE!!!! Nash just had the best year he has had since 08-09, Best year he has ever had in goals, and tied his 2nd best career totals in points…..All that being said. Yes Brooks is an idiot for thinking that is the return NY gets for his services. But god almighty, Lets not put the guy in a nursing home just yet. Now St.Louis…..you can book his room all you want.
I don’t see NYR moving Nash. StLouis will be allowed to walk as a UFA. NYR got to 1 game from going to the cup for a 2nd year in a row & if not for losing Zuccarello who really is their #1 RW they probably would have advanced & sooner. The other injuries are a factor but all teams have players playing hurt this time of year. You can’t grind it out for 2 months of playoff hockey playing almost every other night & not play hurt. No other sport like it.
NYR will be back in the same position competing for the cup again next season. They are built to compete now & are a well built, well coached contender & should be better next season, with the continued development of McDonagh, Stepan, Kreider, Miller, Fast & Hayes.
I don’t get everyone saying something has to give as NYR lost, or STL, or Anaheim, etc. These are great teams that are all contenders now & moving forward & will try again next season most with little to no change as none is really required. They simply lost to a better team & someone has to lose. Luck plays a factor in there some where as well, both good & bad. Only 2 teams make it to the dance & no shame should be felt for making it to game 7 of the final 4. I say nice work & congratulations on great seasons & better luck next year.
Talbot is not an answer for the oilers nor is he worth a first rounder in this year deep draft. He still has to improve to reach that level.