Update, 2:48 p.m.:
Arthur Staple at Newsday joins the "it may not be Redden who's sent down to Hartford to open up cap space" bandwagon.
Update, 2:16 p.m.:
Andrew Gross at Ranger Rants weighs in on the Frolov signing.
...Gross has a nice way of opening up a roster spot for a young player by having Drury as the fourth line center and Prospal as the third line center leaving the third line wing position available.
...that could be a nice competition between MZA and Grachev.
Update, 1:41 p.m.:
CapGeek tweets Rangers cap space is actually $1.4 million.
...assuming the Rangers sign Staal at $4.5 million per they will need to open up $3.1 million.
...as reader Brett Crawford points out this cap space doesn't necessarily need to be opened by demoting Redden. Sending MZA ($1.75 million) and Gilroy ($1.75 million) to Hartford would open up enough space.
Update, 1:22 p.m.:
Larry Brooks tweets that including the Frolov contract, the Rangers have approximately $6.8M remaining under summer cap. And that they are not in distress regarding signing Staal.
Under the CBA, teams are allowed to be 10% over the salary cap during the offseason. Once training camp begins they must make the appropriate roster moves to get under the cap.
Update, 1:12 p.m.:
MSGNetwork's John Giannone tweets that Frolov's first NHL goal was against Mike Richter.
Update, 12:10 p.m.:
Arthur Staple at Newsday tweets that it's one-year at $3 million.
...that's the number that's been thrown around so I'm not surprised.
...bye, bye Redden. Unless the Rangers aren't re-signing Staal. I kid, I kid.
Update, 12:03 p.m.
The Rangers make the signing official. No terms announced.
...remember where you heard it first.
...i'm going to reserve judgement until I hear the terms. Although, the higher the price the more likely Redden is gone.
Original Post:
A Russian news outlet is reporting that the Rangers have signed Alexander Frolov to a one-year deal for more than $3 million.
...russian news outlets are never very credible so I wouldn't get too crazy about the amount yet.
Remember to follow me on Twitter & Facebook or e-mail me at nyrfan94@yahoo.com.
48 comments:
In all fairness you had to figure this deal was going to be over 3 million. I feel anything under 4 is a good deal and a definite demotion of redden or a cap clearing trade which both would be welcomed by any rangers fan. This is a good move no matter what.
ooff i hope the numbers are off .. here i was all syked expecting a 1mil per contract...hope to god the numbers are wrong unless we are finally saying bye bye to redden..!!!!!!!!!
i agree. as long as under 4 mil and ideally no more than 1 year ( i guess i would be ok with 2, but no more!) is a good move. yes, he may be a zherdev 2 but for the short term contract, the rangers need all the help they can on offense as well as the PP. plus, if he is truely on and off years, then this year should be a on year.
@andrewfromherb . . .
it was never going to be around 1 million ... that 800grand number was misleading in the tsn article ... i'm all for dreaming, but 1mil is just crazy talk
Andrew Gross had reported "The Rangers likely sign him for at least the $2.9 million he earned last season" so around 3 million is what we were to expect
the one-year deal and demotion of redden makes this a good deal; he'll help us on offense while our prospects get bigger, stronmger, and SMARTER
Awesome! Goodbye Redden. Frolov is going to light it up in NY.
Anyone who has watched him play knows he's nothing like Zherdev. It's too easy to get all "Don Cherry" and lump every Russian as X, X and X.
As long as it's only a one year deal at less than $3 mil, it's not awful. But Sather still has to re-sign Staal. If someone sends him an offer sheet at around $4 mil, Sather is stuck if he decides to match.
Though sending Redden down will cure any salary cap issues, I'll still only believe it when I see it.
yeah, i agree with ag. "he'll help us on offense while our prospects get bigger, stronger, and SMARTER."
http://www.forecaster.ca/thestar/hockey/depthchart.cgi?NYR
every position is taken and looks like the only one up for grabs, given that redden is demoted (please god, please god, please god) is between emminger and a kid on D. the frolov move will lock up the forwards and open a slot on D (hopefully. id like nothing more than to see the reddens self denial get crushed under the fact that he's riding buses to every game.
Well if Frolov doesn't score many goals, at least it's only one year. Here's to hoping that's not the case!
So if Frolov plays on line 1 with Gabs who centers that line? Christy, Prospal, Dubi or Drury (he he)? My money goes on Christy with Prospal on Line 2 wing unless Christy tanks and then Prospal moves up.
@Dennis . . .
I'm with you 100%
but Torts will try a number of combinations
from what I saw, $2.9mil was his cap hit last season, not his salary...his salary was $4mil
@Elissa . . .
good catch, important distinction,
Andrew Gross just tweated:
"heard that Frolov will get a little over $3m in New York. Can't confirm the exact amount."
he goes on:
"he was looking to sign a one-year deal, with no long-term lucrative packages coming his way from the NHL. The strategy is to try and have a strong season and try again next offseason to sign a longer term, higher-paying contract in the NHL."
Nothing wrong with signing a guy with something to prove.
@kevin
true that.. I'm happy we need another 30 goal scorer in this lineup.
that being said if this truly spells the end of redden then where do we spend that other 3.5million...Please how about a Willie Mitchell to replace reds as our veteran presence..!!!
I hope he proves it...if he can come anywhere near his 30 goal season in 2008-09 than this will be great deal...anyone think hes got a shot on the first line?....plus this guy should get the key to the city or some reward if his signing means a big bye bye to redden.
youre allowed to go 10% over the cap prior to opening night so as long as we sign staal and send redden packing this is a tremendous move with no long term commitment. Nice job bye Slats (i can't believe i just said that.)
Sather has had a real solid offseason. Re-signing Staal and demoting Redden will make it his best as Rangers GM.
he has for sure.. I like being proven wrong when it comes to passing negative judgment towards Sather. lock up Stall!!!!!
Agreed - Sather did OK, other than overpaying Boogie-man. Picking up MZA, re-signing Prust, Prospal, and EC...this are all little things, getting Stepan and McD to come up to the bigs for a shot...I have a funny feeling we'll sneak in as a low-tier playoff team this season (esp now with Frolov), and we all saw what the Flyers and Habs did with the 7 and 8 spots...
hahah its so funny how all those ranger haters out there are laughing and knocking on the contract..(now that he is a ranger he is a lazy loser who doesnt deserve 3 mil..) man even zherdev being chosen over gagne in philly made lets headlines..lol
man people are pathetic..Im happy 30 goal scores have cost a whole lot more in recent years.. nice signing..!!!
There's no way the Rangers walk away from Staal so they can sign Frolov for one year. I think it's all but official: Redden is now the AHL's highest paid player. Congrats, Wade... Ouch for him.
Is it October yet? I'm so excited about this season.
Amazing how the comments have gone from doom and gloom just last week to upbeat amd excited today. Love the swings of the offseason.
I really think people need to cool it with the Redden demotion talk. If it were that easy to send a 13 year vet down to the minors, we'd see it happen more often.
Yes his contract is a huge burden to bear and his play has been grossly underwhelming the past few years, but players don't see things the way fans do.
As soon as a GM starts banishing veteran players to the minors for having inflated contracts, it's going to have a significant effect on the image of a club. Any player good enough to entice a large contract out of a GM is competitive enough to want to play in the NHL, and isn't going to look twice at a club waving big money in there face if that club is known for demoting anyone who doesn't perform at par value to their contract.
I would sooner expect the likes of Matt Gilroy or Brian Boyle getting moved down or traded. Or perhaps Glen Sather works his trade magic and finds a taker for Redden.
The bottom line is they can send Redden to the minors, and they very well might. But Sather has many options on how to get under the cap, and until Staal signs his contract, we don't know what the Rangers cap situation is. Staal has no arbitration rights so unless he wants to sit out a season (he won't), or gets signed to an offer sheet, he'll sooner or later sign with the Rangers for whatever Glen wants to give him. It may only be for a year or two a la Dubs, but the ball is in Sathers hands.
Way to rain on our parade Brett. But you do have a good point.
I'm a realist. I'd like Redden traded or demoted as much as everyone else, I just don't see it as the next step.
Thats more of a big red panic button option if nothing else works out.
Brett, it's a good point about setting a precedent by sending Redden down, but on the other hand, if it prevents the Rangers from havingthe ability to sign an aging star to a long term deal, isn't that better in the long run? If Redden were 28 with 4 years left (i.e Sather signed a 26 year old Redden), I bet some team would be willing to take a shot at catching lightning in a bottle. Sending him down and scaring away long term contracts for older players is probably the best thing Sather could do for himself to remove the temptation!
im the first guy to dog deaf, dumb and blind Sather, but this is a great pickup
arguably Frolov is instantly the second best forward on the Rangers and legitimately can score 30 goals (although less likely now that he is in the east)
And Brett, the Redden demotion is a viable option, and based on his incredibly pathetic showing, I dont think anyone should be concerned about the future and players avoiding the Rangers. Redden is plain AWFUL and has trouble merely competing in the NHL, much less living up to the 6 million a year he is geetting (jesus, i cant even believe it when i write it out). The contract was a huge mistake and the Rangers should do anything they can to undo what they did, and anyone with knowledge of the situation would agree.
Whether they have the balls to pull that trigger and demote him remains to be seen, but clearly they SHOULD.
I think as long as Redden plays like Redden in training camp we will be rid of him.
Also, i totally brought up Frolov in a post recently about our remaining options and everyone shot me down. Well HA!
Nice Dan. The Rangers just got rid of their top European scout. Maybe you should apply for the position.
a one year deal??? this means the end of redden too???? who is our gm and what's he done with glen sather?
Good argument, Brett, but I still think sending Redden down is a strong possibility.
Redden has remained on the roster largely because sending him down meant the Rangers would have to fill his roster spot with someone capable. In the past, they didn't really have anyone in the wings. That's not necessarily the case this season, as McDonagh looks like a candidate to make the club, according to Sather.
Without a capable player taking his spot, sending Redden down would appear purely punitive--and that would be potentially damaging to the Rangers image. But with a younger, cheaper, capable player replacing him, it becomes a case of an old guy who can't hack it anymore. No one can fault the Rangers for awarding a roster spot to young kid who outplays an expensive, underachieving vet.
In that light, any vet FA who avoids the Rangers for fear of losing his spot to younger, better player is a vet we don't want. The last thing we need is more vets coming here for huge money who believe their roster spot should be guaranteed.
Furthermore, by subtracting Redden and adding McD, the Rangers not only potentially improve their D, but they also improve their offense, by opening up the cash to bring in Frolov.
In short, the Rangers have gone from a scenario where they could only replace Redden with someone like Corey Potter. That's not really a clear cut improvement and would seem pretty cruel. But now, the Rangers look to be replacing Redden with McD (a highly touted first rounder) and Frolov (a potential 30 goal man). No player with any competitive fire at all could fault the team for that.
Kudos to Sather for getting a good, fair deal done. It puts all the ownus on Frolov to play well and we are not locked to a long term contract. Should look pretty good with or without Gaborik
Banishing Redden will be Johnny Mac part deux. And it can't hurt the Ranger's image anymore than signing him to the ridiculous contract to begin with so not sure why image is a concern! Only person who won't support the move is Redden himself. The guy did recently state that he wants to show the organization what he's all about this coming season. So maybe he'll show up at camp a changed player. Doubt it though...as the game has passed him by and Rangers now have young D-men that can certainly take his spot.
Hey kev thanks but I only knew Frolov was on the radar bc you told us so a few weeks ago! I guess most dismissed it due to the price but we seem to be enjoying this.
And I know were down to the last dollars when we sign Staal but Im still not ready for EC or Prospal to center line 1 all year. Id be cool with Dubi if hes consistent.
Dan, then maybe I should apply for the scout position.
does anyone here have any misgivings about frolov's work ethic and how torts personality might play in all this. Giving what happened to him last year in LA and how Torts is with players he views as dogging it. is it possible to have a repeat? my thinking is that he is playing for his nhl career and has everything to gain after a down season, i just hope he doesnt start with any laziness and end up in tort's dog house before he gets a chance to show his stuff
i like how this was the only big move so far this summer by sather and it was a smart one. one year no risk. we just need to get staal signed and redden thrown into the minors and we're all set for an interesting year.
My favorite thing about this signing is it gives the team more options to develop it's prospects. If Grachev, Stepan, & MZA all need another year, this gives it to them. Plus since the contract is only 1 year (along with Prospals), if the kids start to light it up there will be space next year without the headaches.
chef, I completely agree. I've been on the develop the kids at the NHL level bandwagon, but this move will allow the Rangers to stay competitive while slowly bringing the kids along (which is probably the better way to do it).
Maybe from time to time during the season bring up a Grachev for a few games to give some guys a rest or as an injury fill in.
I was convinced that Sather wasn't going to be able to make this kind of move and that the season might be a tough one, but I'm pretty excited.
Not only do we have a pretty good minor league system that will be allowed to develop the big club should now be competitive.
i think the summer cap runs through most of training camp too up to a couple of days before regular season
drury will be 3rd liner or 2nd liner not 4th liner. i can easily see avery slotted on 4th line
I dunno, Joe . . .
I'm doing a lot of reading on various sites and a lot of folks see Drury back on the 4th line, not least of all Andrew Gross who is close to the team, always there among the press, and who expects to speak to Frolov today. Check him out:
http://blogs.northjersey.com/blogs/rangerrants/
Frolov - Christensen - Gaborik
Dubinsky - Anisimov - Callahan
Avery - Prospal - Zuccarello-Aasen
Boogaard - Drury - Prust
Not unlike the lines you and I talked about, Joe -- only we had Dru on the 3rd line, right?
I think these lines good. If Prust continues to produce, and we put Boyle or maybe Weise or Byers on the wing in Boogard's place (since he won't be in the lineup every night), I think we can roll out 4 good lines.
To be more specific, some writers will say Drury plays on the 3rd line when Boogard is in the lineup to pick-up defensive duties there, probably with Callahan and maybe Avery.
I know they want to try and give Anisimov more icetime in hopes he can make a bit of a breakthrough, thus the 2nd line duty.
I also expect to see Frolov do some 2nd line time to break-up our expected scoring threat into 2 lines rather than one. Kevin said the same thing earlier.
i totally don't see drury as 4th liner. avery could be the one there. not sure anisiomov is moved from 4th line at end of last season to 2nd - can see him on 3rd. dubinsky most likely 3rd line possible 2nd but definitely not 1st line
Not bashing sather for this one...
larry brooks is saying we have approx. 6.8 mil left in cap space and lets say staal signs for about 4.5 mil. Unfortunately i just realized that 2 million under isnt grounds to automatically send redden packing.
chris i think that is the summer cap which is 10% above the regular cap. by regular season they have to be down to regular cap
for all of you naysayers about the difficulty in sending redden to hartdord.. see Micheal Nylander!!! case and point.. veteran player, high salary cap hit, terrible production= demotion.... why screw the big club over for someone who doesnt merit to be on it.
andrew - it can be done we've done it with rissmiller and kaspar but the latter was late in his contract. just can't do it to too many guys or too early in a contract. so if they did it 1st month of 6 yt deal thats a lot worse than after 2 yrs. also be a lot worse if they did it to redden rozy rissmiller and say another guy. or even just the 3 of them at the same time. because especially in rozys case he is a viable nhl player.
Post a Comment