Blue Line Station
Fansided

A Henrik Lundqvist buyout decision is coming soon

By Steve Paulus

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 07: Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers pauses late in the third period following a New York Rangers goal at the Wells Fargo Center on April 7, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Flyers shut out the Rangers 5-0. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 07: Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers pauses late in the third period following a New York Rangers goal at the Wells Fargo Center on April 7, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Flyers shut out the Rangers 5-0. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next
Dan Girardi #5 of the New York Rangers (Photo by Rocky W. Widner/NHL/Getty Images)
Dan Girardi #5 of the New York Rangers (Photo by Rocky W. Widner/NHL/Getty Images) /

Buyout timing

All three Rangers buyouts had different time frames.  When they bought out Chris Drury, they waited until the day before the buyout window ended, making the announcement on June 29.

With Dan Girardi, there was no wait as they bought him out on the first day of the buyout period, June 14, 2017.   There had been little question about the need for the buyout as a no-trade clause was about to kick in on July 1.

The Kevin Shattenkirk buyout came in the second buyout period on July 31, 2019.  Teams are allowed a second buyout window if any of their players go to arbitration.  Once the arbitration is settled a window for a second buyout opens.

Last year, it was Pavel  Buchnevich who filed for arbitration signed a two year contract on July 28.   The rules state that a team can make a buyout beginning on the third day following the settlement of the arbitration.  They then have 48 hours to decide.  This year, the time has been changed to 24 hours after the second day of the team’s last arbitration settlement/award.

What are the odds?

Unless Henrik Lundqvist decides to retire, it’s almost a sure thing that he will be bought out.  It will give the Rangers $3 million in additional cap space, giving them $17.4 million in cap space. They need the cushion to pay Restricted Free Agents (RFA’s) Tony DeAngelo, Ryan Strome, Alexandar Georgiev and Brendan Lemieux.

A key question is whether the team will buyout either Brendan Smith, Marc Staal or both.   Buying out both veteran defensemen and Lundqvist would give the team almost $8 million in additional cap space while creating almost $3.5 million in dead cap space in 2021-22.

Home/Analysis