New York Rangers news: Adam Fox, K’Andre Miller honored and the rumor mill

The rumor mill

In a couple of other items, Larry Brooks of the New York Post reported that the Rangers have made some inquiries about Jack Eichel, so that trade possibility is still in the hopper.  Brooks has sources who say that the Rangers have inquired about his medical condition and have some preliminary talks with the Sabres about his availability.

The Sabres officially named Don Granato as the head coach, something that is probably not going to affect Eichel’s future with the club.  He was out of action when Granato took over so there was no chance for him to develop any kind of relationship with the star center, though he has been an assistant coach for since 2019.   Eichel had been vocal in the past about his relationship with fired coach Ralph Kruger.

Frank Seravalli reported for the Daily Faceoff what everyone knew, that the Rangers will be buying out Tony DeAngelo when the buyout window opens after the Stanley Cup Final.  What’s new is his report that the team has finalized arrangements though the buyout will wait until after they can expose him in the expansion draft.

The free agent marketplace

Finally, one of the top Unrestricted Free Agent centers on the market who fills the category of a top six center is off the market.  Ryan Nugent-Hopkins signed an eight-year, $41 million contact with the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday. With an Average Annual Value (AAV) of $5.125 million, he sets a bar for what the going rate is for a top tier center.

Nugent-Hopkins actually took a pay cut from the $6 million AAV he was earning on the seven-year deal he signed in 2013.  Signing him to an eight year deal at age 28 has raised some eyebrows around the NHL, but the $41 million value is the second lowest ever paid out on a contract that long.

With Nugent-Hopkins no longer available, it leaves Paul Stastny and David Krejci as the only two legitimate top six centers on the free agent market who have the faceoff skill the Rangers are looking for.