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New York Rangers: Jeff Gorton’s top priorities #1-5

By Steve Paulus

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - JUNE 21: (L-R) John Davidson and Jeff Gorton of the New York Rangers attends the 2019 NHL Draft at the Rogers Arena on June 21, 2019 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - JUNE 21: (L-R) John Davidson and Jeff Gorton of the New York Rangers attends the 2019 NHL Draft at the Rogers Arena on June 21, 2019 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Ryan Strome and Tony DeAngelo of the New York Rangers (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

#3 Signing those Restricted Free Agents

This priority could also be renamed “Managing the flat salary cap.”   This is also a task that will depend on priority #1, the goalie situation.  A Lundqvist buyout would spring an additional $3 million in cap space and that could be the difference between signing or trading a Restricted Free Agent (RFA).

When it comes to the team’s key four RFA’s they all present different challenges.  The fact that they are arbitration eligible makes it even more of an issue.

Anthony DeAngelo is the one RFA that the Rangers should do their best to sign.  Getting him under contract at a reasonable rate after a career season will be tough, but he is one of three righthanded shooting blueliners on the roster and the power play quarterback and at this point, they need him.

DeAngelo has made it known that he wants to stay in New York and has been an active participant in social media, connecting with Rangers fans with his podcast.  But remembers that was also a holdout last fall when he had no leverage.  Is his affinity for the Rangers and New York just lip service or does he really want to be here?  We’ll see when they begin negotiations.

Ryan Strome had the best year of his NHL career, but it comes with question marks. The biggest question is how much did he benefit from playing with Artemi Panarin.  If the Rangers believe that his excellent season was because of the Breadman, they will take a hardline on negotiations.  If Strome believes it as well, he will take a hometown discount to remain as Panarin’s center.  If he pushes too hard, the Blueshirts could look to deal him.

Alexandar Georgiev will have the benefit of knowing Henrik Lundqvist’s fate when his negotiation window opens.   He won’t break the bank, but will have leverage if he knows he will be Igor Shesterkin’s back up going into the new season.

Brendan Lemieux is an interesting case.  He made $925k last season and improved on his first season in the NHL.  He led the team in penalty minutes and was one of the few forwards on the roster who made the team “harder to play against.”   He will want a raise, but the question is how much can the team afford to pay him.  He won’t be looking at a big win if he goes to arbitration, but he knows the team needs him.

To make it even more interesting is the fact that his agent happens to be his dad,  Claude Lemieux who was involved in some rancorous contract negotiations in his playing days.

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