The New York Rangers have long hoped in recent years that a superstar would break free, allowing them an opportunity to have them don their iconic blue sweaters. They haven't had such luck in recent years, especially as top impending free agents opted to re-sign with their current teams on long-term contract extensions. However, there is one name that could possibly hit the open market, and that's Tampa Bay Lightning winger and recent Hart Trophy recipient Nikita Kucherov.
While Kucherov was expected to hit free agency, the belief was that he and the Lightning would come to terms on a new deal. Instead, Kucherov sent shockwaves throughout the hockey world last week when he announced he requested a trade from the Lightning. Kucherov said his trade request was due to lack of communication from the team and general manager Julien BriseBois. Even with the trade request, BriseBois said he has no intention of trading Kucherov.
Kucherov has let it be known that he will continue playing for the Lightning, even if he isn't traded. So, this coulld very well open up the door to Kucherov hitting free agency. A team like the Rangers, desperate to bring in a star, should be all over signing him. But he could be too rich for their liking.
Nikita Kucherov's reported contract demands would put Rangers in difficult situation
Kucherov is only 33 years old and showed last year that he can still play and score at an elite level. So, signing him to a deal would make sense, even if it's long-term. But what he's looking for on his next contract may be a bit much for a team like the Rangers.
The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun reports that Kucherov is looking for a six-year contract with an annual salary of $20 million. LeBrun said tat if any teams wants Kucherov, whether that's in a sign-and-trade or through free agency on July 1, "that is the contract they will have to pony up."
It is understandable if that is the kind of contract that Kucherov is looking for. We have seen the league's top stars break the market, with Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar setting the market with a $20.4 million annual salary. So, considering Kucherov was just named league MVP for last season, you can. see why he'd be looking to get a deal similar to what Makar got.
But with the Rangers, that might be a bit much for them, especially considering their salary cap situation entering next season.
Rangers' cap space situation makes a Nikita Kucherov signing more intriguing
Next season, the Rangers will have approximately $34 million in cap space, according to PuckPedia. So, they can easily fit the $20 million per year salary. The issue is, they don't have many forwards set to be under contract for next season.
The Rangers are only going to have four forwards under contract next season, and they are Mika Zibanejad, J.T. Miller, Pavel Dorofeyev, and Alexis Lafreniere. That leaves nine forwards currently on the roster set to hit some form of free agency. Only Oliver Bjorkstrand, Eeli Tolvanen, Luke Glendening, Joe Veleno, and Taylor Raddysh are set to hit unrestricted free agency.
The restricted free agency group is going to be intriguing. One of them is Gabe Perreault, who is likely to cash in next offseason, especially with younger players and top prospects like him getting locked into lucrative contract extensions. The longer the Rangers wait, the more it will likely cost to keep him around. Plus, Tye Kartye has shown to be one of the Rangers' better forwards, so it might increase his price tag. Matt Rempe is a restricted free agent, but there is a chance he could be moved, especially if other teams are interested (like the Edmonton Oilers).
Yet, the Rangers will have to fill in the spots left for the players set to hit unrestricted free agency. They would have to bank on ome of their top forward prospects like Liam Greentree and Cole Beaudoin taking a leap in their development in the AHL and be able to adequately fill one of those spots.
While Kucherov is a no-brainer free agent for the Rangers to target, they still have to find more forwards for next season. But if Kucherov does hit the open market, expect the Rangers to be big players for him.
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