Rangers’ offseason plans for Strome, Copp, Kakko, more: What we’re hearing

Chris Drury’s convention name with a handful of reporters Wednesday signaled the true finish of the 2021-22 Rangers season. The gamers have all scattered, Gerard Gallant is again dwelling in Prince Edward Island and Drury is hunkering down for a busy month-plus of attempting to make the items match for subsequent season and past, with a troublesome salary-cap scenario looming.

Drury didn’t reveal a lot of something about his plans, however sources across the league have already began to gauge what the Rangers might do with the subsequent month main as much as free company. Right here’s the primary of what could possibly be just a few installments of what we’re listening to because the Rangers transition from an incredible playoff run to finding out their roster.

Strome or Copp?

All Drury would say about his quest for a No. 2 heart was this: “It’s a vital place for us and for any crew. Facilities are laborious to get, they’re laborious to maintain they usually’re so vital to the day-in and day-out lifetime of your crew all through the season. That’s one we’re , we’ve been and we proceed to debate as a bunch and take a look at to determine who and when that position goes to be crammed.”

The early discussions, in accordance with a number of league sources, appear to be centered round Ryan Strome. The Rangers’ benefit earlier than July 13, the beginning of unrestricted free company, is that Drury can negotiate with Strome and/or Andrew Copp solely earlier than they hit the open market; the drawback, maybe, is that the Rangers virtually actually can solely signal considered one of them, and Drury might determine he can’t afford to lock up both for the 5 – 6 years it’d take.

The Rangers are below a cap crunch already, with new offers for Adam Fox and Mika Zibanejad kicking in subsequent season, the necessity for a No. 2 goalie and some remaining holes within the roster, particularly up entrance. The crunch arguably will get worse in the summertime of 2023, with 9 contracts accounting for $58 million already on the books and new offers wanted for Okay’Andre Miller, Alexis Lafrenière and Filip Chytil.

So the necessity for trimming as a lot as doable from the cap is big. And league sources point out that Copp and his camp are possible sticking to their need to get as a lot out of this subsequent contract as doable, which suggests one thing within the six-year time period vary for a minimum of $5.5 million per. Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek stated final month that Copp’s foremost comparables had been Zach Hyman (seven years, $5.5 million with the Oilers) and Philip Danault (six years, $5.5 million with the Kings). If Copp feels he can command that on July 13, he might not need to budge, regardless of his shut ties to Jacob Trouba and the plain success he had in his brief time with the Rangers.

Andrew Copp (Danny Wild / USA As we speak)

Strome could also be prepared to take a bit much less in wage and a bit extra on time period to remain, given he’s been a Ranger for 4 years and at last discovered his footing as an NHLer after his stays with the Islanders and Oilers. If Drury might get Strome for six years at an AAV starting with a 4 (ideally at or beneath $4.5 million), that may be a greater possibility for the Rangers going ahead. There was nonetheless no phrase on Wednesday as as to if Strome wants surgical procedure for his core muscle harm, but when the Rangers really feel Strome may be extra constant when wholesome, they’d have their No. 2 heart locked up for a protracted whereas.

One other concern is commerce safety. 4 of the Rangers’ heftiest contracts — Artemi Panarin, Zibanejad, Trouba and Chris Kreider — include no-move clauses that solely flip into no-trade lists in 2024 for Kreider and Trouba. Drury may have some flexibility on a Strome contract, and Strome’s camp might not be thrilled at that.

There are different choices past Strome and Copp. Drury might go for Chytil as his No. 2 heart and search for extra bottom-six assist, both by attempting to signal Tyler Motte or one other depth ahead. There might also be commerce choices. However for now, sources point out that the Rangers are pivoting again to Strome after gauging whether or not Copp could possibly be had for one thing lower than his preliminary wishes. As of now, early within the course of, the reply appears to be no.

Kakko

Drury stated he and Kaapo Kakko had a productive exit assembly on Monday earlier than Kakko left for Finland. “He and I had an actual good dialogue earlier than he left,” he stated. “Kakko is an all-world participant — a younger participant on this league who’s nonetheless evolving. There’s clearly plenty of perception from me and the workers of what his future holds. I do know he’s excited for offseason and to return again subsequent yr and be prepared.”

Kakko took the identical method when he met with reporters Monday, and league sources stated Kakko — whereas utterly baffled by the Recreation 6 scratch that he stated he discovered by wanting on the lineup board within the guests’ room at Amalie Area reasonably than from Gallant or a member of the teaching workers — shouldn’t be prone to need out of the group.

There’s nonetheless the matter of a brand new contract for the restricted free agent. That was in all probability going to be a disappointing course of for Kakko even earlier than the Recreation 6 scratch, given a season by which he had 18 factors in 43 video games and missed many of the second half following wrist surgical procedure and an ankle sprain. It is going to virtually actually be a one-year deal for Kakko within the $2 million vary, possible much less, which suggests a breakout 2022-23 for the 2019 No. 2 choose means one other large elevate coming subsequent summer time for one of many Rangers’ younger core gamers.

Kaapo Kakko and Jacob Trouba (Danny Wild / USA As we speak)

Kravtsov

Drury welcomed Vitali Kravtsov again to the fold with a one-year, $875,000 contract signed Tuesday and a few encouraging phrases. “I don’t assume we’ve ever wavered from our stance of, he’s an all-world expertise,” Drury stated. “He does plenty of issues on the ice that lots of people can’t. His measurement, his hockey sense (are) by the roof, as is his ability. So, we’re excited to have him again and be a part of the group. Like everybody else, your play dictates the place you find yourself. However we’re actually glad to have him again within the combine and signed for subsequent yr.”

A motivated Kravtsov armed with a one-way deal so he’s paid the identical within the NHL or AHL could possibly be a assist. A demotion is very unlikely given Kravtsov will want waivers to be despatched down subsequent season, however that low wage quantity might assist ease the cap crunch and provides the Rangers one other expert winger to be a part of the group.

Dan Milstein, Kravtsov’s agent, stated his consumer will probably be in New York in July to start coaching for subsequent season. That’s one other good signal for participant and crew that this wasn’t a transfer again to North America to facilitate a commerce, although that’s nonetheless an possibility given the Rangers’ wants.

Entrance-office strikes

The Rangers confirmed to The Athletic that a number of scouts didn’t have contracts renewed simply because the playoffs started. The most important identify is Gordie Clark, who ran the Rangers draft desk for 15 years and was a crew worker for 20 seasons, this final one as a professional scout.

Additionally out are three of the crew’s novice scouts: Brendon Clark, Gordie’s son and a Rangers novice scout the previous 12 years; Wealthy Brown, the crew’s Ontario scout for the previous 21 years; and Daniel Doré, the Rangers’ Quebec scout for the previous 15 years.

European scout Oto Hascak, within the group for 12 years, additionally left on his personal.

Mixed with the firing of head European scout Nick Bobrov final offseason, Drury is clearly nonetheless placing his stamp on the scouting division, now run by John Lilley. Bobrov is now co-director of novice scouting for the Canadiens, and a league supply stated Doré might be a part of Montreal quickly.

(Prime photograph of Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider and Ryan Strome: Danny Wild / USA As we speak)