New York Rangers: The silly season starts….any minute now…
Noon, Monday, July 1 signals the opening of the free agency window for the New York Rangers and every NHL team. Unrestricted Free Agents are really free and Restricted Free Agents can start talking contracts.
Updated 8:30am Monday with Spezza and Myers signings.
It’s has a few different names with “Free Agent Frenzy” the most popular. Many would consider “the Silly Season” the most appropriate. While the New York Rangers of the past were wholehearted participants of both, this year seems to be a little different.
For the Blueshirts, their entire focus seems to be on one and only one free agent. Artemi Panarin is the top free agent in the class of 2019 and he is coveted by a number of teams including the Rangers. In fact, there appear to be three frontrunners for his services and the Blueshirts are one of them.
Will Panarin choose sunny Florida and the opportunity to hang with his buddy Sergei Bobrovsky? Will Lou Lamoriello seduce him into playing close to Russian expats in Brighton Beach? Or will the bright lights of Broadway be enough to get Panarin to take less money and settle for New York City stardom.
What is interesting is the Panarin camp has not dropped a hint about who they will pick.
Some solid rumors
Although Panarin hasn’t given an indication, the internet is full of reports about prospective signings. There’s reason to believe these reports since the teams had a full week to meet with prospective free agents and there’s no doubt that some negotiations have already concluded.
Remember, until formal announcements are made, THESE ARE UNCONFIRMED REPORTS FROM CREDIBLE SOURCES:
Panarin latest – The Athletic is reporting (and it has been spreading the internet like wildfire) that the Blue Jackets came up with a last ditch offer to retain his services. The term is eight years and it’s for $12 million a year. Columbus is the only team that can offer an eighth year and the $12 million would be second only to Connor McDavid.
Matt Duchene to Nashville – Sportsnet and TSN are both reporting he is going to sign a seven-year contract with an $8 million AAV (Average Annual Value). So much for the Montreal Canadiens trading Andrew Shaw to Chicago to clear cap space to sign Duchene.
Joe Pavelski to Dallas – TSN and the Fourth Period are reporting that he will sign a three-year, $21 million contract.
Corey Perry to Dallas – TSN’s Frank Seravelli is reporting that Perry will sign a one-year $1.5 million deal, just days after he was bought out by Anaheim.
Mats Zuccarello to Minnesota – This one is courtesy of Bob McKenzie of TSN. No details except that it will long-term. That means the Rangers can kiss that first round pick good-bye and will have to settle for a third rounder next June.
Ryan Hartman to Minnesota – Hartman was traded from Philadelphia to Dallas just two weeks ago for Tyler Pitlick in an exchange of forwards, then Dallas chose to not make a qualifying offer, making Hartman a UFA. The Athletic is reporting a two-year deal for Hartman with the Wild.
Richard Panik to Washington – The Arizona right winger is supposedly about to cut a four-year deal with the Capitals that will pay him $2.5 million annually. That info from Bob McKenzie.
Calvin Pickard to Detroit – Another Coyote, goalie Pickard is supposedly about to sign with the Red Wings according to Seravelli.
Mike Smith to Edmonton – The battles for Alberta supremacy will get more interesting if the Calgary netminder really does sign with the Oilers. TSN’s Seravelli is the source of this one too.
Cam Talbot to Calgary – It’s another battle of Alberta chapter if this report out of Calgary is correct. The ex-Ranger netminder had a brief sojourn in Philadelphia after an awful half season in Edmonton.
John Gilmour to Buffalo – This one comes from Fox Sports Midwest. Buffalo has already bulked up their defense by trading for Colin Miller of Vegas. There are reports that the Sabres are actively shopping blueliner Ramus Ristolainen so their interest in the former Ranger could make some sense.
Brett Connolly to Florida – The Capital’s forward is reportedly going to Florida, according to Pierre LeBrun of TSN. It’s supposed to be a four year deal that carries an AAV of $3.5 million.
Luke Schenn to Tampa – TSN reporting a one year deal for $700k for the Vancouver blueliner.
NEW – Jason Spezza to Toronto – Bob McKenzie is reporting Spezza to the Leafs on a one-year deal. The Leafs cleared some cap space by trading disgruntled d-man Nikita Zaitsev to Ottawa for Cody Ceci.
NEW – Tyler Myers to Vancouver – Frank Seravelli is reporting something Darren Drager hinted at earlier. Five-year, $30 million deal. The deal takes one of the better UFA defensemen off the table.
Conspicuous absense
There’s one team conspicuous in its absence from rumor central (except for Panarin) and that would be the New York Rangers. There has been absolutely no word about the team’s interest in any free agent except for a report from Larry Brooks in the New York Post that the team will be signing ten year veteran forward Mark Letestu to a two-way deal. While he is only three years away from scoring 16 goals for Edmonton, he spent most of this season in the AHL. He’s seen as a good veteran presence int he lockerroom who will be a good fit with all of the kids in Hartford.