What we’re hearing about the Rangers’ offseason, 1.0: Latest on Strome, Copp, Kakko, more

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 making an attempt 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 following month main as much as free company. Right here’s the primary of what could possibly be a number of installments of what we’re listening to because the Rangers transition from an amazing 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 an important place for us and for any crew. Facilities are exhausting to get, they’re exhausting to maintain they usually’re so necessary 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 gaggle and check out to determine who and when that function goes to be stuffed.”

The early discussions, in line 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 completely earlier than they hit the open market; the drawback, maybe, is that the Rangers nearly definitely can solely signal certainly one of them, and Drury might determine he can’t afford to lock up both for the 5 or 6 years it’d take.

The Rangers are underneath 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 attainable from the cap is big. And league sources point out that Copp and his camp are seemingly sticking to their need to get as a lot out of this subsequent contract as attainable, which implies one thing within the six-year time period vary for at least $5.5 million per. Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek stated final month that Copp’s primary comparables have 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 In the present day)

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 under $4.5 million), that will be a greater possibility for the Rangers going ahead. There was nonetheless no phrase on Wednesday as as to whether Strome wants surgical procedure for his core muscle damage, but when the Rangers really feel Strome could be extra constant when wholesome, they’d have their No. 2 heart locked up for an extended 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 might 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 making an attempt 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 a number of perception from me and the employees of what his future holds. I do know he’s excited for offseason and to come back 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 relatively than from Gallant or a member of the teaching employees — isn’t more likely to need out of the group.

There may be 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 during which he had 18 factors in 43 video games and missed a lot of the second half following wrist surgical procedure and an ankle sprain. It is going to nearly definitely be a one-year deal for Kakko within the $2 million vary, seemingly much less, which implies a breakout 2022-23 for the 2019 No. 2 choose means one other huge elevate coming subsequent summer time for one of many Rangers’ younger core gamers.

Kaapo Kakko and Jacob Trouba (Danny Wild / USA In the present day)

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 suppose we’ve ever wavered from our stance of, he’s an all-world expertise,” Drury stated. “He does a number of issues on the ice that lots of people can’t. His measurement, his hockey sense (are) by means of the roof, as is his talent. 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 definitely 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 newbie scouts: Brendon Clark, Gordie’s son and a Rangers newbie 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 newbie scouting for the Canadiens, and a league supply stated Doré might be a part of Montreal quickly.

(High picture of Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider and Ryan Strome: Danny Wild / USA In the present day)