Comments on: Thoughts On a Failed Season | Part III

By: Rob Abruzzese

Rob Abruzzese — Mon, 12 May 2008 19:12:36 +0000

But there was cap space, why would Shanny’s $2.8 count toward next season?

By: gozer

gozer — Mon, 12 May 2008 17:45:27 +0000

Oh, that’s the discrepancy then. I used nhlnumbers.com as well. The way they show it on there is a bit deceiving. I don’t know if it’s an error on their part or a quirk in the way they do their notation, but in any event, here were the terms of Shanahan’s deal, from Larry Brooks:

“Shanahan’s contract includes a games-played and club-playoff performance bonus package of up to $2.8 million that can be deferred and applied against the 2008-09 cap.”

So add another $2.8 M to your figures, and we came up with the same number.

By: Rob Abruzzese

Rob Abruzzese — Mon, 12 May 2008 17:29:57 +0000

As far as I can tell they don’t owe any money to Shanahan that counts towards next season’s cap. I think they had enough space on this year’s cap to fit all of his bonus. Maybe I’m wrong there. I got all my numbers from http://www.nhlnumbers.com. I can’t be sure about those, but to me they look fine.

As for the free agents, the numbers I posted are my guesses at how much they’ll make next season. Personally I would like to see Avery, Jagr, and Mara return. Which would mean their focus would have to be getting at least one new winger and a first pair defenseman for under $9 million. As long as I’m right about everything, which admittedly is a big stretch. Big stretch. We’ll see what happens.

By: gozer

gozer — Mon, 12 May 2008 01:36:23 +0000

I know how the cap works. Did you factor in the bonus money owed Shanahan? If so, I’m not sure what accounts for that discrepancy of three or so million. It’s inconsequential though. Most reports estimate the Rangers’ cap space at about 19 million, but if you want to say they can wiggle their way to 25, that’s even better. What’s your proposition however? To bring back the guys you mention for the prices indicated?

By: Rob Abruzzese

Rob Abruzzese — Sat, 10 May 2008 18:04:05 +0000

The totals which count against the Cap are averages and not how much players are actually set to make next season. Meaning Lundqvist will be making 7.750, but only 6.875 will count against the cap. So I have the Rangers owing 14 players (Including Thomas Pock) $33.942 million against the cap.

However there may be two players, Petr Prucha and Christian Backman, who I could see the team dumping or keeping them in Hartford which would free up another $3.9 million.

If they did that the Rangers would have about $25 million in free cap space. This is who would be left:

X – Gomez – X
X – Drury – X
X – Dubinsky – Callahan
Hollweg – Betts – Orr

X – Staal
Tyutin – Girardi
Pock – X

Lundqvist
X

RFA: Dawes and Sjostrom will probably be resigned for about $1 mil per season. Chris Holt will probably backup Lundqvist for $550,000. So you’d have about $22.5 million for four wingers and two defensemen. You also have to figure they’ll bring up two to three rookies, probably Korpikoski, Greg Moore, and maybe Baranka, which would add another $2 mil to the cap.

So you’ve got about $20 mil to sign Avery(~3.5m), Straka(~1.5m), Jagr(~4.5m), Shanahan(~2m), Mara (~3m), Rozsival (~5m), or other free agents depending on who you want on the team.