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Smart free agent signings by the Rangers? What a concept!

By Steve Paulus

EDMONTON, AB - MARCH 30: Brad Richards #19 of the New York Rangers in action against the Edmonton Oilers during an NHL game at Rexall Place on March 30, 2014 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The Rangers defeated the Oilers 5-0. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)
EDMONTON, AB - MARCH 30: Brad Richards #19 of the New York Rangers in action against the Edmonton Oilers during an NHL game at Rexall Place on March 30, 2014 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The Rangers defeated the Oilers 5-0. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images) /
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Brad Richards #19 of the New York Rangers (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images) /

The New York Rangers were once the best example of bad UFA signings. Not any more

We all know the sad history of free agent signings that didn’t work out for the New York Rangers.  Wade Redden, Scott Gomez, Bobby Holik, Brian Skudland, Mike Keane, Aaron Ward and Theo Fleury are names that will live in infamy in Blueshirts lore.  Folks, times have changed.

The Athletic (subscription required) recently published a piece that listed the 15 worst free agents signings in the NHL in the last decade.  Names on the list include Milan Lucic, Dave Bolland, Ilya Kovalchuk, Jack Johnson, David Clarkson and Nathan Horton.  Surprisingly, only one New York Ranger is on the the list and that is Brad Richards.

How bad was Brad?

There’s no denying that the Brad Richards contract was a bad one, but the long term pain it inflicted on the Rangers was minimal.   Sure, giving him $60 million over nine years in 2011 was pure insanity, but the fact is that the team was able to buy him out after three years lessened the impact.  The fact that it was also a compliance buyout so there was no salary cap implications made the deal almost worthwhile.

Look at it this way. Richards ended up playing three years in New York, scoring 46 goals and 151 points in 210 games.  In those three years, the team made it to the Conference Finals twice and the Stanley Cup Finals in 2014.  Richards brought leadership and maturity to the team and was an integral piece of the puzzle that almost won the Cup in 2014.  Sure, his play had deteriorated so much that Alain Vigneault demoted him to the fourth line in two games in the Finals, but as a previous Cup winner and veteran, he had value.

Who can forget his goal in Game Five of the 2012 Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Capitals.  The goal came with 6.6 seconds left, giving the Blueshirts a chance to win on Marc Staal’s overtime goal, giving the Rangers a 3-2 lead in that series.

Based on his performance and the long term financial impact to the team, maybe the Brad Richards signing doesn’t belong on that list.

Enter the Breadman

The Rangers gave Artemi Panarin a boatload of money last summer, $81.5 million over seven years to be precise.  At the time, there was a lot of angst from Rangers fans, recalling the bad signings of the past.  Panarin silenced the critics with what could be the best first season ever by an unrestricted free agent signee for any NHL team.

While this is only the first year of a seven year deal,he’s off to a great start.  We’ll  have to revisit this in 2024 when Panarin is 33 and we’ll have the benefit of hindsight.   The bottom line is that the real measure of success will be a Stanley Cup championship and Panarin has six more years to bring one to New York.

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