New York Rangers stash or trash: Ryan Spooner
In the first edition of our offseason series, Stash or Trash, we take a look at Ryan Spooner. The deadline acquisition put up points in his short time with the Rangers, but the New York Rangers have some decisions to make.
Season in Review
Ryan Spooner had an inconsistent 2017-2018 season. He started the year with the Boston Bruins but was added by the New York Rangers in the Rick Nash trade. His performance in either uniform was streaky, marked by point streaks and droughts.
Prior to his trade, Spooner played 39 games for Boston. During that stretch of time, he had interchanging multi-game streaks of point scoring and lack of production. That trend continued in the red, white, and blue.
His short time with the Rangers was not all bad, however. Spooner played with a good mix of speed, vision, and passing skill.
Stats and Info
Age Entering Next Season: 26
Seasons with NYR: 20 games
Previous Cap Hit: $2.825 million
Games Played (BOS&NYR): 59
Goals: 13
Assists: 28
Points: 41
+/-: 6
Corsi: 48.5
Projected Contract
1 year, $4 million
In all honesty, I do not know Spooner’s contract demands as a restricted free agent. That being said, Spooner was on a one-year bridge contract. He is eligible for arbitration this summer.
In the case of an arbitration meeting, a third-party mediator will look at Spooner’s performance and contract history. Following that analysis, he or she will hand down a ruling, stating a contract that Spooner is to be signed to. That is, if the team decides to keep the player.
What SHOULD Happen
In my opinion, Spooner showed that he can be a versatile forward during his short stint with the Rangers. He posted his second highest career point total in the 2017-2018 season. However, that doesn’t mean he is deserving of a long-term contract just yet.
I think the Rangers should offer Spooner a short, one or two-year, contract. He played well for the Rangers, and he could become a mentor for some of the young forwards who will be joining the big club in the near future.
What WILL Happen
A decision regarding the Rangers’ own assets will most likely not be made until a new head coach is hired. Keeping that in mind, the Rangers may be inclined to trade Spooner during the draft. Spooner is just one of seven restricted free agents coming from the Rangers this offseason.
The other Rangers’ restricted free agents include Kevin Hayes, Vladislav Namestnikov, and Brady Skjei; all of whom are just as important as Spooner. Each of these players has their own set of pros and cons. Spooner may end up being the odd man out.
Next: John Gilmour must be on the roster next season
Teams to Watch Out For
(For these two spotlight teams, I will be looking at teams that could possible trade or offer sheet Spooner)
Florida Panthers
After landing only one point outside of the playoffs, the Florida Panthers are primed for a playoff run next season. The Panthers have a deep defensive corps, but could use some more talent in the forward ranks. A player like Spooner would complement the stars in Florida very well.
Los Angeles Kings
The Kings have fallen from grace in the last few seasons. Their 2018 playoff run ended quickly as the Vegas Golden Knights swept them. The Kings scored only three goals in four games, showing their need for more scoring depth.
Others to Watch
St. Louis Blues, Dallas Stars, Carolina Hurricanes