Let me start off by saying there’s no way the Rangers don’t make a move for a scorer by the time the season (Or probable delayed season rather) begins. I don’t think there’s any real chance Glen Sather will walk away empty handed this summer. He will get his man, and he will get him for his price.
I feel like the old Glen Sather this July 1st would have overpaid for a guy like Jiri Hudler, and then instantly expect him to play the first line and average a point per game. I think Sather has learned not to put the round peg in the square hole and expect the world of players who aren’t capable. Bobby Holik suffered this fate. He was a good checking 3rd line center, who was expected to be the team’s leading scorer. It’s very evident Sather won’t do this again.
Right now the Rangers are going to wait on either Rick Nash or Bobby Ryan until a reasonable price for either player comes up. How do I know Sather is so certain he’ll get either player? Because at the moment the Rangers haven’t been apart of the rumors with any other scorers since free agency began. No one has mentioned the Rangers with players like Jaromir Jagr, Alex Semin, or anyone other top 6 forward still out there. It’s clear Sather isn’t exercising a plan B option because he’s confident he’ll get the player he wants. Maybe it’s not Nash or Ryan but he has something in the works for a top player.
Let’s talk a bit more about Rick Nash. Scott Howson is grasping at straws thinking that the “market” for Nash will open up once Zach Parise finds a team. There’s only one team right now that’s associated with both Parise and Nash and that’s the Flyers. Even if the Flyers are in on Nash I don’t see them parting with Brayden Schenn or Sean Couturier. If they don’t pull the trigger on either player it’s a no deal. This is pure speculation but I only think the Flyers are involved with Nash to drive the price up on the Rangers. They need defense more than anything and I have a hard time believing they are serious about Nash.
Then there’s only one other team that can snatch Nash and that’s the San Jose Sharks. According to reports Howson wants the deal to center around Logan Couture, which I don’t see the Sharks doing in a hundred years. The Rangers are more likely to part with Derek Stepan than the Sharks are to part with Couture. Unless Howson wants the deal to center around Joe Pavelski, then maybe the Sharks would bite (pun was very much intended).
Not to mention there aren’t that many team’s on Rick Nash’s “list” and I’m not even sure how many teams on that list want to acquire him anyway.
Now let’s move on to Bobby Ryan. More teams are definitely in on Bobby Ryan than there on Rick Nash. Ryan’s younger, cheaper, and does the same amount of production as Nash. The price of Bobby Ryan will be higher because more teams are interested. If Ryan is serious about wanting a trade then a bidding war could ensue as the season draws nearer.
It’s been reported today that the Rangers would have to part with Derek Stepan in order to get Bobby Ryan. I definitely think Stepan will get better, but I think his ceiling is lower than what Ryan is doing right now. I don’t see Derek Stepan becoming a perennial 30 goal scorer like Ryan. In this case, I’d trade Stepan in a deal for Ryan.
Anyway let’s see what tomorrow and the coming days bring.
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