The New York Rangers have already had one of the biggest offseasons in the NHL, but unlike most seasons, they haven’t been very loud. Their moves aren’t small. They traded for Pavel Dorofeyev and gave him a seven-year, $77 million contract. They signed Oliver Bjorkstrand and Joe Veleno at forward and traded for Marcus Petterson and Sean Durzi on defense.
After a very rough season, Chris Drury did not want to just hope and pray his roster would get better. He built around the talent. He moved the pieces that were overflow or overvalued (sorry Vincent), and he got necessary pieces to put a respectable team on the ice.
If the Rangers avoid some of the bad luck, Igor Shesterkin plays as he should, and some of their young players show serious growth, the Rangers can make sure last season will never be repeated. The offseason was quiet yet effective.
Around the league, it has not been quiet. It’s been especially loud in Philadelphia, where they gave a player the biggest yearly salary in history. They tried to give an offer sheet to Leo Carlsson. The Anaheim Ducks matched it, and the Flyers had to move on.
With that $18 million, the Flyers did some shopping in-house. They signed Trevor Zegras to a four-year deal worth just north of $9 million per season. Then, on Friday, they gave defenseman Jamie Drysdale a $6.5 million contract.
And here is where Danny Briere is giving out lessons for all the other GMs. In fact, many of the GMs were learning lessons. This is the year when contracts aren’t being held back by COVID expectations. Players are getting what they deserve.
The Rangers already learned that lesson with Dorofeyev. However, if they can make some smart decisions right now, they could save some pain the Flyers are paying today.
Like, imagine if the Flyers just gave Zegras an extension the second he arrived in Philadelphia. There’s no way he’s making $9 million per season.
Will Cuylle should be an extension priority for Chris Drury
Will Cuylle doesn’t have the same profile as Zegras. He hasn’t been on the cover of a video game or called one of the game’s rising young stars, but he doesn’t have two 20-goal seasons, and he is just 24 years old. He should grow from here.
Last season, Cuylle just signed a two-year deal, kicking the can down the road and keeping his rights in the Big Apple. However, it takes one 30-goal season next year to really see his value skyrocket.
Drury shouldn’t let it get there. He should sign Cuylle to an extension now. He will need a significant raise from his current $3.9 million salary, but would he sign for six years and $6-6.5 million per season? Of course, there’s risk from his side, but he might be willing to lock in to the team he loves playing for.
Heck, it might be worth it to go a little higher and get closer to $7 million, knowing where contracts are going, but we think Drury would wait it out before going to those depths.
For now, it feels like Cuylle is primed to break out even further this season. Everything is working in his favor to get better. He will likely eventually get to the second line alongside J.T. Miller and Alexis Lafreniere. If he plays his cards right, he can get on the first power play. Things might fall right into his lap for a big season.
Either way, it’s a risk for Drury. Either bet on the player and pay him like you think he’ll be a 30-goal player, or hope that if he does, he doesn’t ask to be paid like a superstar.
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