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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) /
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Ryan Strome of the New York Rangers (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

Scenarios

Buying out all three players would leave the Rangers with $21,091,867 in cap space for 2020-21.  Only five teams in the NHL are going into the off-season with more cap space than that.  Gorton could go out and sign his RFA’s and still leave him with enough flexibility to go out and sign some free agents to fill holes in the roster.

He  would also have the cap flexibility to make some trades.  He could package DeAngelo or Strome along with draft picks or prospects to acquire a second line center or to add more needed grit to the lineup.   Buying out Staal and Smith would mean he would also need to bolster the blue line with a partner for Trouba.  Considering that the Rangers are looking at beginning the season with Smith playing top pair minutes, it may be a realistic option to improve the defense via trade or free agency.

There is nothing to prevent Gorton from waiting until the second buyout window to decide on a Smith and/or Staal buyout.  It’s likely that at least one of the four RFA’s will go to arbitration and waiting until the second buyout period before making any other buyout moves would be wise.

With an uncertain financial situation facing most teams, Gorton could wait and see how free agency goes when free agent frenzy begins on October 9.   If there are bargains to be had, he can sign players who would dramatically improve the team over the existing roster.

Consider this.  Gorton could sign a center to play on the second line and who would be seen as an improvement over Strome.   The Rangers could qualify Strome and let him go to arbitration.  If he wins a big award ($5-6 million) based on his excellent season, the Rangers are under no obligation to pay him and they can let Strome become a free agent.   In essence, the team would be trading Strome for the free agent center they signed.

All of these scenarios will be played out in less than a month.   It will be a crazy time and it starts on Friday.

Key dates

Here are the key dates looming for the Rangers and the NHL:

September 25 – Buyout window opens

October 6 – Deadline for teams to make qualifying offers to RFA’s

October 6-7 – NHL Entry Draft

October 7 – Qualifying offer deadline for RFA’s (5pm EST)

October 8 – Buyout window closes (5pm EST)

October 9 – Free Agency window opens (12 noon EST)

October 10 – Deadline for RFA’s to elect arbitration (5pm EST)

October 20 – Arbitration hearings begin

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