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Wednesday - May 7th New York Daily News Said Rangers coach Tom Renney: "You can't help but endorse Jaromir being here if that's what he wants. If it lines up for him and he's most comfortable being here, then good for us." Asked what role he envisioned Jagr playing next season, Renney quipped: "Other than our No. 1 forward?" Bergen Record "If I decide to play, this would be my first choice." Shanahan said. Jagr did not speak to Sather on Tuesday either, but said he had one discussion about his future with him during the season. "I had a feeling there's a chance I might be here next year, but no decision was made." he said. Bergen Record According to Avery, the sides were "far" apart when they tried negotiating a deal during the season. He might be able to double his $1.9M salary from this season on the open market. Newsday Opening next season in Prague, where the Rangers will face Tampa Bay, "would be nice, but I don't think it's the No. 1 issue," Jagr said. Yet he wants to play for a team that skates in sold-out rinks like Madison Square Garden. "I always play for the fans," he said. "I don't think I would like to play when the arena's empty, when there's no reason to play at all." As many as five members of the Hartford Wolf Pack could compete for jobs in training camp, Renney said, but declined to offer names. He did essentially rule out not-quite-ready defense prospect Bobby Sanguinetti New York Post Jagr spoke yesterday about having found a comfort level in New York. He acknowledged that he will meet with representatives from Omsk in the next few weeks. He sounded as if he were looking forward to becoming a free agent for the first time. "Maybe I would like to find out what I would be worth [on the open market]," he said. "But maybe I would find out something I don't want to know." "I definitely know I can be a productive player in the NHL and contribute to wins in a variety of ways," said Shanahan, who seemed amenable to taking a reduced role. "If I didn't feel that, I'd announce my decision to retire [now.] "It's going to take some time for me to decide. It's not an answer I'm going to have for a while." Newark Star Ledger When told of Jagr's comments, coach Tom Renney said it was the first time he'd heard Jagr say he wanted to come back. And Renney said he wants him back. "You can't help but endorse Jaromir being here, if that's what he wants," Renney said. "If you base your decision on what you saw the last 20 games, 25 games and the playoffs, he's certainly our No. 1 forward at the end of the season." New York Times “I think I will take time to think about it, talk to my parents, especially my dad,” Jagr said. “It’s a big reason why I play hockey, probably the biggest reason why I play hockey. He always gives me good answers and help. It’s always good to hear from other people who are close to me and care about me.” Avery, however, is set up for the most interesting off-season. He starts an internship at Vogue magazine on Monday and said he would spend the summer shuttling between New York and Los Angeles. He said he was not worried about any effects of his injury, which will continue heal on its own. His concern is the contract offer. “I would say that’s the determining factor,” Avery said. “Of course, New York is a place that I love to play. I love the team and I love the fans and I love the organization.” Journa News And as Straka readily admitted, Jagr's decision will have a direct impact on him. "Obviously I'm going to want to talk to him," Straka said. "It's going to be a big decision on my mind whether he's going to be here or not. I don't know if he wants to talk to me, but I'm going to want to talk to him." Newsday Jagr sat down for a 20-minute chat back in March. He talked then about a lot of the things he's said recently - that he owes his career to his parents and he wants to be near them eventually, and that he would like to play a more open style. No secrets there. He also said this: "Where you play, it's not such a big deal. It's hockey, the same everywhere. You have nicer places to go and eat and see in New York, but it's still hockey." Tuesday - May 6th Steve Zipay's Blog First I am going to talk to the Rangers,” Jagr said. “That’s No. 1 option for me. I don’t like to change. I feel very comfortable here, with all the people around this organization who are nice to me. They give me a chance to show everybody I still can play hockey. Everybody doubted me when I was playing in Washington for whatever reason. The Rangers gave me a chance and believed in me... All I have to do is concentrate on hockey.” "I definitely feel today, that at this point, I definitely know that I can still be a productive player in the NHL and certainly somebody who contributes to a team's wins in a variety of ways," Shanahan said. "If I didn't feel confident, I would make my decsion to stop playing today. If I decided to play, this (New York) would be my first choice." New York Daily News The Rangers suspect that Petr Prucha or Ryan Callahan could blossom into a reliable goal-scorer if they replaced Brendan Shanahan on Gomez's right wing. And that could very well be what they decide to do upon finding out on July 1 that there are several teams willing to give Hossa a long-term deal worth $7 million per. Then there's the defense, which was good enough all season and through the first round but often looked overmatched against Pittsburgh. There are some major missing pieces on the back line - including a menacing presence and a power-play quarterback. As those are merely the most coveted and high-priced commodities among defensemen, think more along the lines of Mark Streit than Brian Campbell or Jason Smith rather than Orpik. New York Newsday By not re-signing captain Jaromir Jagr, unrestricted free agents Brendan Shanahan and Martin Straka (who are likely to retire) and defensemen Paul Mara and Marek Malik, the Rangers would create an estimated $19 million in cap space. That would leave room for a younger replacement for Jagr, although the Penguins' Marian Hossa is the only true free-agent sniper available and will command $8 million on the open market. New York Post Avery, who was unable to negotiate a contract extension during the season, is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. There's a substantial gap between what he'll be able to command on the open market, and what GM Glen Sather has been offering. Still, Avery made it clear his priority is to remain in New York. "I bleed Ranger blue," said No. 16. "It would be very disappointing if I don't get to come back and play here. New York Times The NBC hockey analyst Ed Olczyk said Sunday that Rangers forward Jaromir Jagr had told him he wanted to play four more seasons in the N.H.L. “He would love to stay in New York,” Olczyk said during the broadcast of Game 5 between the Rangers and the Penguins. “He told me that is his first choice, but he has some family issues back home in the Czech Republic.” Sunday - May 4th Asked immediately after today's season ending loss, Jaromir Jagr told reporters for the Associated Press and CBC Sports than he doesn't expect to retire yet. It wasn't clear whether that means he'll be playing in the NHL next year, but Jagr did go on to say that he's not about to make a decision "30 minutes after a game" and that it will likely take a "long time". According to the New York Post, the Rangers scouted Fabian Brunnstrom heavily, and even extended a contract offer. The report goes on to say that the Rangers believe that Brunnstrom is a third liner with upside. The undrafted Brunsstrom has emerged from obscurity with a couple of good seasons in the SEL, and is currently visiting with three NHL clubs. Thursday - April 17th Reports this week that General Manager Glen Sather has been interviewing for the vacant GM position in Toronto have been dismissed by John Dellapina of the Daily News in his blog. Dellapina asks why would Sather leave, and goes onto say that his sources tell him that Toronto has not yet begun interviewing anyone for the position. Sunday - April 13th Larry Brooks reports in today's New York Post that the Rangers are following the playoff performances of pending UFA forwards Brian Rolston (Wild) and Michael Ryder (Montreal). With Jaromir Jagr, Brendan Shanahan and Martin Straka all set to become free agents this Summer, the Rangers will likely to be looking at several options on the wing. Monday - April 7th The Toronto Sun reports that Ottawa defenseman Wade Redden will not return to the Senators next season. The 30 year old Redden is a UFA this Summer and the Star reports that he'll sign a contract with one of the Kings, Rangers, Sharks or Oilers. Given who Redden is, it would seem unlikely that the number of teams interested in signing him would be limited to just those four...but hey, we're just passing it on. Sunday - March 30th Rumors of the imminent departure of Jaromir Jagr appear to be a little premature. Jagr told the NY Post and the NY Daily News that he didn't have any burning desire to play in Europe. More specifically, Jagr said that you have to work just as hard as you do in the NHL, but that the hockey isn't good. When questioned further, Jagr also said that if the Rangers didn't want him, there were 29 other teams that maybe would be interested. Bob Sanguinetti is set to join the Wolf Pack according to the Brampton News and Hartford Courant. Sanguinetti's junior season ended this past week after Brampton were eliminated in five games. The Courant also goes onto say that Tomas Zaborsky could join the team if he signs an Amateur Try-out agreement. Friday - March 28th The New York Daily News is reporting that Jaromir Jagr will talk to the General Manager of Avangard Omsk of the Russian Super League about potentially signing up with the team next season. Jagr, a free agent at the end of the season, played for Omsk during the lockout in 2004-05 and previously indicated that he had made up his mind about what he would be doing next year. Glen Sather was earlier reported as saying that he wants to sign Jaromir Jagr, but it would realistically have to be at a significant discount from the $8.9 million or so that he currently earns. Sunday - March 2nd The CBC Hotstove reported last night that negotiations between the Rangers and soon to be unrestricted free agent Sean Avery have broken down. Avery, who is representing himself, is believed to be looking for a multi-year deal in the $3.5-4.5M range, a figure that would certainly put pressure on the Rangers' cap figure next year. What's perhaps more troubling is if the Rangers don't lock up Avery, there's a chance he could end up on one of the Rangers' rivals... Tuesday - February 26th
Steve Zipay reports in Newsday that the Rangers are looking for a defenseman and that they are looking into the availability of Ron Hainsey of the Blue Jackets and John-Michael Liles of the Colorado Avalanche. Monday - February 25th Some late rumors from the New York Post. The Rangers are still apparently interested in Tampa defenseman Dan Boyle, but are waiting to see whether he'll be available. The Lightning are trying to trade If Boyle is available, Sather wants the option to be able to negotiate a contract with him prior to completing the deal. Brooks goes on to state that despite rumors to the contrary, the Rangers have no interest in Toronto defenseman Bryan McCabe. McCabe has been rumored to waive his no trade clause for at least some Eastern Conference teams. The Oilers have reportedly asked for Hugh Jessiman plus an additional player, prospect or pick in exchange for Rob Schremp. One GM commented to the Post that Rangers' GM Glen Sather is trying to "win" every trade "10-0"...perhaps making it hard to deal with him Sunday - February 24th There's a rumor coming out of Hartford that we might see Petr Prucha down there soon. With Prucha having been injured and not having had much scoring success this year, the Rangers could send him down for a conditioning stint. In a twist to the rumor, some players down in Hartford believe Prucha may actually be re-assigned to the Pack and have to pass through waiver. Sunday - February 24th According to the New York Post the Rangers have enquired into former first round pick Robbie Schremp. Schremp was drafted 25th overall by the Oilers back in the 2004 draft, and has failed to translate his impressive junior numbers into pro success. The Fulton, NY born Schremp was initially thought to be top ten quality, but dropped in the draft and ultimately was used mainly as a PP specialist by the US national team in the WJC Under-20 competitions. For those still thinking that the Ranger might be considering trading Jaromir Jagr, the NY Daily News says you can forget about it. Jagr won't be going anywhere...which is hardly surprising considering the Rangers are in the top eight and have been playing well of late. Our rumor friend from the Great White North, Bruce Garrioch reports in his weekly columnn for the Ottawa Sun that the Rangers have also demonstrated interest in forward Pavol Demitra of the Minnesota Wild. Demitra was acquired to help make fellow countryman Marian Gaborik feel at home, but isn't expected to re-sign over the Summer. The CBC Hot Stove last night reported the Rangers may be one of the teams that are interested in Toronto Defenseman Bryan McCabe. John Dellapina writes in the Daily News, that while the Rangers could afford McCabe, would they really do the deal considering he has $5.75M per year owed to him for three more years beyond this one. Thursday - February 21st Looks like the Rangers are going after a defenseman if you believe the rumors out today. Larry Brooks for the New York Post that the Rangers are very interested in making a pitch for Tampa Bay defenseman Dan Boyle but that several teams including the Sharks and Flyers are also believed to be interested. Boyle's status continues to be up in the air with Tampa, and with the recent bid to move Brad Richard so far unsuccessful, it may be that they are forced to trade Boyle at the deadline rather than lose him for nothing. The defenseman has a no-trade clause, but is said to have interest in New York if that option should become available. Brooks writes that the Rangers' "A" prospects are off the table for any proposed deal, but that they have plenty of "B" prospects. Brooks also writes that the Rangers might be interested in bringing back Martin Rucinsky from St Louis. This is a rumor that has gone around several times, but the Blues are tought to be interested in Marek Malik. To make the deal, the Rangers would have to acquire another NHL blueliner first, or as part of the deal. The Rangers are also apparently working on a deal to lock up Sean Avery to either a one-year or longer 3-4 year deal. Dollar figures reported are around or just under the $3M per year range. An unconfirmed report from WFAN also has the Rangers interested in Coyotes defensemen Ed Jovanovski and Nick Boynton. Jovanovski is having a solid year offensively, but has a substantial contract (3 more years at $6.5M). Tuesday - February 19th Vincent Lecavalier and his agent denied rumors on CBC's Hot Stove over the weekend that he'd request a trade this summer to a big market team. Lecavalier has been involved in rumors pretty much since he got to Tampa, and is a UFA after the 2009 season, so maybe can wait that long. With Peter Forsberg now looking as if he won't make it back to the NHL this year, the associated rumors are of course dying...not that the Rangers really were considered one of the leaders. In some circles, the Rangers are being reported as being interested in Marian Hossa, though the list of teams includes about five others. Atlanta GM Don Waddell was at MSG to watch the Sharks and Rangers, though he could possibly have been more interested in the visitors. Waddell believes a team acquiring Hossa will have a hard time re-signing him, as he thinks he wants to try free agency this summer. Tomas Kaberle and his agent denied that he'd be willing to waive his no trade clause, suggesting that the report by the New York Post last week might have been a little premature. Sunday - February 17th
The Winnipeg Sun is re-iterating that the Rangers are interested in Toronto defenseman Tomas Kaberle. According to the Sun, the Rangers and Sharks are both making a push to see if Kaberle can be acquired from the 14th placed Maple Leafs. The report goes on to say that the Rangers are also one of ten teams that have expressed interest in the Kings' Rob Blake and that Dan Boyle is also a blueliner that the Rangers are watching developments on. Friday - February 15th Larry Brooks cleans up a couple of rumors in today's New York Post. First of all he reports that Rob Blake has indicated he is not willing to waive his no-trade clause for any team in the Eastern Conference, which of course includes the Rangers. He also suggests that the new owner looking to buy the Tampa Bay Lightning wishes to lock up Dan Boyle, though at this point it's not certain that the deal will go through by the deadline...or at all. One player that has reportedly expressed interest is Toronto defenseman Tomas Kaberle. The Maple Leafs aren't expected to be looking to move Kaberle at this stage, but if they do the Rangers could be interested. Wednesday - February 13th According to the New York Daily News the Rangers and Henrik Lundqvist have agreed on a six year deal, though the exact numbers ($6.5M per year) are being disputed by TSN. The contract still has some final wording to be written, but it appears he'll be re-signed before their next game. THe signing may allow Glen Sather to make a trade with greater knowledge of where he'll be in terms of a cap number next season. Tuesday - February 12th According to Larry Brooks of the New York Post, the Rangers are close to re-signing Henrik Lundqvist to a six year $6M per year contract. With the Lundqvist deal almost done, Glen Sather is focusing on his next charge, Sean Avery. Avery is due for unrestricted free agency this Summer. Not really a rumor, but the Detroit Free Press says that Jaromir Jagr would be a possible candidate for replacing the injured Daniel Cleary. There does not appear to be any confirmation that Jagr is even being shopped at this point. A story out of Russia has Jagr committing to his former Russian Super League Club (and current club for Rangers' prospect Alexei Cherapanov) Avangard Omsk. Jagr has reported indicated that he wants to play for the Russian club next season. Sunday - February 10th Steve Zipay of Newsday mentions that the Rangers are looking into the availability of defensemen Barret Jackman (St Louis Blues) and Brad Stuart (LA Kings), while the Detroit News reports they're in the running for Rob Blake (LA Kings). First things first... Barrett Jackman's St Louis Blues are just outside the playoff race and may continue to hold onto him if they can stay close. Jackman is a UFA this summer, and turned down a $3M per year offer from the Blues and is believed to be seeking more than twice his current $2.2M. Rob Blake is sidelined currently with a broken bone in his foot and may not be ready to go by the trade deadline. Blake is also a UFA this Summer, and has reportedly indicated he'd sign back with the Kings. As for Stuart, he too will be a UFA, and with the Kings well out of the playoff race, it's expected that he'll be one of the players that could be moved by the deadline. Sunday - February 3rd You can forget about Peter Forsberg coming to the Rangers according to Larry Brooks of the New York Post. Brooks makes the case that Forsberg doesn't really fit into what the Rangers' need, and places several other teams as the front runners for the veteran forward if he should return. By contrast, Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun still believes the Rangers are one of the front runners to land Forsberg. One should note that Garrioch has a poor record in predicting where a player will end up. Garrioch also suggests the Rangers are a front runner in a potential play for impending UFA Marian Hossa. He also reports that the Rangers have made a pitch to acquire Buffalo Sabres defenseman Brian Campbell who will be a UFA this Summer. The Edmonton Sun puts on their speculating cap and suggests that they'd like to see the Oilers trade Joni Pitkanen to the Rangers in exchange for a 1st round pick. It should be noted that this is a pure speculatory suggestion and is not eveidence of a rumor suggesting the Rangers and Oilers are talking. Going back to earlier rumors involving the Blue Jackets... Adam Fotoe is reportedly interested in staying in Columbus, and that David Vyborny is likely available. Thursday - January 31st The trade deadline is less than four weeks away, and Glen Sather faces some questions according to the New York Daily News. Chief among them will be whether to try and fix the offense or the defense. The Rangers have a couple of million to play with on their cap number, but realistically would like to move Marek Malik in exchange for another top four defender. Some of the names that Dellapina brings up include Dan Boyle (Tampa Bay) and Steve Staios (Edmnton), while on the forward front he mentions everyone from Mats Sundin (Toronto) and David Vyborny (Columbus) to Peter Forsberg (UFA). What's clear is that the Rangers need something to change. Whether that's acuqiring another veteran remains to be seen. Tuesday - January 29th According to the New York Post the Rangers are actively shopping defenseman Marek Malik. Malik has been unhappy with his playing time this season, and his recent snub of Tom Renney in the dressing room caused several team members to take the veteran defenseman to task. Sather is reportedly looking for a top four defender in return for Malik, and Brooks reports that there has been "widespread" interest, though no one has yet been willing to meet Sather's price. Friday - January 25th It appears that the mystery surrounding Marek Malik is not a pending trade, but a disagreement between Tom Renney and the veteran defenseman. The New York Post reports that Malik refused Tom Renney's customary handshake following Tuesday night's win over the Thrashers. The problems go deeper than that, with Malik reportedly upset over his lack of playing time as well as a number of healthy scratches this season. Renney and Malik are scheduled to meet Monday, with anything possible at that point. Thursday - January 24th Could Marek Malik be on the move? It's anyone's guess at this point, but according to Steve Zipay and Sam Weinman there's something going on. Malik's equipment was not in his locker, which means he'll be a healthy scratch tonight...beyond that there's little to tell. He could have been traded, he could have been waived...he could have simply been suspended for any number of reasons. More to come soon no doubt... Wednesday - January 16th The Rangers and Blue Jackets continue to scout each other's teams. According to the Columbus Dispatch the Blue Jackets had three scouts at Monday night's game against the Penguins. The Penguins also have apparently been scouting the Blue Jackets, but there's still no word on who might be available from Columbus. Sunday - January 13th It doesn't look like Curtis Joseph will be coming to New York any time soon. The New York Post and New York Daily News both confirmed that the team had enquired after CuJo, but his agent Don Meehan (also the agent for Henrik Lundqvist) said that he didn't think Glen Sather would be making the move. Speaking of Lundvist, the team and his agent apparently had a good first meeting and they will continue to talk. As for who the Rangers are scouting, well according to the Daily News, they continue to follow the Columbus Blue Jackets. Jim Schoenfeld, the Wolf Pack GM joined scout Rick Kehoe to watch the Jackets' game against the Blues. There's still no clear idea as to who the Rangers might be pursuing. Saturday - January 12th TSN is reporting that the Rangers have inquired after the status of goaltender Curtis Joseph. Joseph has not played this season, but reccently indicated that he wants to return to the NHL. Saturday - January 5th The Rangers continue to scout the Columbus Blue Jackets, which of course continues to fuel the rumor mill. While plenty has been speculated about in the media, it's unclear at this stage who either team might ultimately be interested in. Back on the home from, the New York Daily News reports that contract talks between teh Rangers and impending UFA Sean Avery are stalled. Avery and the Rangers had an acrimonious battle in arbitration over the Summer, and the fireplug winger is likely looking for more than the $2.5 million that he asked for back then. Thursday - December 27th The Columbus Dispatch continues the rumors around a trade between the Rangers and Blue Jackets by suggesting David Vyborny might be a target. The article goes on to say that any trade would be a multiplayer deal, though Adam Foote and Rostislav Klesla haven't ben talked about. From the Blue Jackets side, Petr Prucha is believed to be of interest, and the article goes on to suggest that players like Brandon Dubinsky and Nigel Dawes could also be of interest. Wednesday - December 26th The New York Post is reporting that the Rangers are looking into the possibility of a deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets. The players that Larry Brooks claims the team is interested in are defensemen Adam Foote and Rastilav Klesla. In exchange the Blue Jackets are reported to be interested in Petr Prucha. By contrast the Columbus Dispatch reporths that any move is likely to be minor, suggesting that players like Foote will not be moved until closer to the trade deadline. The reports follow-up an earlier story from the very same Larry Brooks in the New York Post that suggested the team should go after Pittsburgh defenseman Brooks Orpik. It should be noted that trades between division rivals are notoriously difficult to pull off, and it would seem highly unlikely that the Rangers would be able to pull this one off. Wednesday - December 19th The holiday trade freeze goes into effect at 11:59pm Eastern tonight, and will be in effect until the 27th. In the mean time, let the speculation continue... Marek Malik's name has been coming up more frequently of late in stories from writers covering other teams. While we're still in the speculative stage (i.e. it appears it's the writers and not necessarily the teams experessing interest), it's certainly possible that the Rangers would listen to offers if they should come. Removing Malik from the roster (even as a healthy scratch) would free up his $2.5M cap hit, but would mean the Rangers would have to go to Hartford for depth in the event of an injury to an already young defensive line-up. Speculation in the New York Post in the last week puts Henrik Lundqvist at or around the $9M per year mark in terms of what he's asking. The current highest paid goalie is Roberto Luongo who earns $6.75M per year. Lundqvist is a pending RFA this summer, is earning $4M this year, but can be offered a new contract after December 31st with no impact to this year's cap number. Sunday - December 9th Not much news on the rumor front, other than a generic article from Larry Brooks last Sunday in the NY Post reminding us all that the Rangers have plenty of assets for the trade deadline. With Brendan Shanaha, Martin Straka and Jaromir Jagr all free agents at the end of the season, the timeframe to get something done appears to be short. The Rangers have players such as Al Montoya, Ivan Baranka, Nigel Dawes, Ryan Callahan, Alex Bourret, Greg Moore, Tom Pyatt, David Liffiton and Petr Prucha...all of whom might be available for the right move. Sunday - December 2nd A report this week in the New York Post apparently means that the likelihood of Jaromir Jagr returning next season is less than many thought. The Rangers apparently declined the team option on the deal for cap reasons shortly after the CBA was ratified, meaning that the only way that the deal extends into next year is if one of the automatic clauses kick in. With Jagr's slow start to the year, it seems unlikely that he'll hit 40 goals, or win any of the league's titles, meaning that the only viable option may be the 84 point threshhold. If the option year doesn't kick in, then the Rangers will need to negotiate with him as a UFA, a situation that would likely result in a higher figure than his current cap-friendly number of $4.9M. In addition the Rangers have a number of players that they need to sign or replace, including Brendan Shanahan, Martin Straka, Marek Malik, Jason Strudwick, Michal Rozsival, Paul Mara, Fedor Tyutin, Marcel Hossa as well as Henrik Lundqvist and Dan Girardi. Tuesday - October 23rd With Bob Hartley fired after just two weeks of the season (and a 0-6-0 record) for Atlanta, the tendency naturally is to look around the league for the next likely target. Bruce Garrioch speculated over the weekend that that target may very well be Tom Renney, who has struggled to get the high-priced Rangers going early in the season. The reality is that Renney is probably safe for the moment, but that could all change if the Rangers keep struggling to get their offense going. Friday - October 19th The Rangers have signed Dave Scatchard to a 5 game professional try-out with the Wolf Pack. The move could be a precursor to a pro contract, either with the Rangers or the Pack. Sunday - October 14th Dave Scatchard will continue to practice with the Rangers this week, and the general feeling appears that if he's signed, he'll be assigned to Hartford. Given the Rangers lack of offense, one does have to wonder whether the team might be tempted to insert him straight into the line-up. Monday - October 8th
There's been rumors circulating the Internet for the past couple of weeks that have the Rangers enquiring into the availability of Phoenix Defenseman Ed Jovanovski. Bruce Garrioch has finally picked up on the rumors and published them in the Edmonton Sun in his weekly column of rumors and speculation. For those who aren't familiar with Garrioch's column, it is a clearing house for rumors and speculation and does not have a reliable track record. In the case of Jovanovksi, the issue is one that is mostly on the Rangers' side. Even if speculation about Paul Mara being in the Rangers' doghouse is true, the team is still approximately three million dollars short of clearing enough cap space for Jovanovski's huge contract. That means the Rangers would have to shift two roster players at least to accommodate him. Monday - October 1st Andrew Hutchinson is said to be on the trading block for the Rangers, according to the Hartford Courant. Hutchinson was acquired this past summer in the trade that sent Matt Cullen back to Carolina. The Rangers placed Hutchinson on waivers last week after he failed to impress early in camp. Tuesday - September 25th The days of Darius Kasparaitis as a Ranger appear to be at an end. With the Rangers waiving him yesterday, his only realistic hope for playing in the NHL this season appear to be hoping that another team claims him. If he clears waivers (as expected), then Kasparaitis will be assigned to the Wolf Pack and will play the season in the AHL. With almost $3 million in salary, Kasparaitis is unlikely to be called up during the season. As a veteran, Kasparaitis would be subject to re-entry waivers, allowing any team to claim him while at the same time adding $1.5 million to the Rangers Cap figure. Stories about the Rangers showing interest in goaltender Robert Esche appear tenuous at best. No credible source has cited this rumor as of yet, and it largely appears to be speculation based on teh Rangers going into the season with Stephen Valiquette as their backup. Tuesday - September 4th Over the weekend our friend Lyle Richardson (aka Spector) suggested in his Fox Sports column that the Rangers may be looking at putting Sean Avery on the market. While Spector is normally right on the money with much of his commenting, it may be a case of a little too much speculation in this instance. Yes. Sean Avery made some comments publicly during his arbitration process that made it seem that he might be upset with what the Rangers said during his hearing. Yes. He will be a UFA this Summer, able to sign with any team. Yes. He broke up with Elisha Cuthbert...not sure why this would matter. The bottom line though is that the Rangers need a player like Avery, and unless he begins to exhibit the type of behavior that caused Detroit and LA to move on, it seems unlikely at this point that they'd want to part with him. Certainly a failing season, emergence of a cheaper alternative or even stalling during contract negotiations could all alter the picture, but at this stage it seems as if there are too many ifs. Tuesday - August 21st Michael Peca's agent Don Meehan was on Toronto radio late this afternoon and said that his client has two offers to consider. No team names were mentioned, though apparently Toronto is not one of them. Meehan said it was now up to his client to decide on how to proceed... Tuesday - August 21st Looks like everyone can cross Michael Peca off of their list. John Dellapina of the New York Daily News reports in his blog that the Rangers did not even tender the 33 year old forward an offer. Peca is expected to sign on with the Columbus Blue Jackets some time in the next day or so. Monday - August 20th According to Steve Zipay's blog Michael Peca will make a decision tomorrow on which team he will sign with. Zipay reports that the decision is down to a few teams....presumably including the Rangers. Sunday - August 19th The Columbus Blue Jackets appear to be in the race now for the services of Michael Peca. The Jackets learned friday that despite signing a two-year contract with them earlier in the summer, center Alexander Svitov will instead stay in Russia to play with Avangard Omsk. According to the Columbus Dispatch, the move means Columbus is once again looking for a center and have reached out to Peca's agent Don Meehan to guage interest. Peca and his agent are still awaiting a call from Rangers GM Glen Sather, who reportedly will return to the office Monday. Sather's absence did not appear to impact the signing of former LA Kings draft pick Matt Zaba this weekend. An 8th round pick in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. Zaba became a free agent on Wednesday after the Kings declined to offer him a contract. The signing will surely stir up more rumors about the potential trading of Al Montoya once again, though currently it appears the Rangers will simply go with two goalies each in Hartford and Charlotte. Thursday - August 16th We were all expecting the Rangers to announce the signing today of Michael Peca, but it appears that things are moving more slowly than expected. John Dellapina says that the ball is still in Glen Sather's court at this stage. According to Peca's agent, they will give the Rangers a little more time to make a decision...which seems to imply that they don't have a lot of other options going on right now. Tuesday - August 14th The rumors of a Michael Peca signing appear to be hotting up, with several stories now appearing in the papers and their associated blogs. Steve Zipay reports in his blog that the Rangers are just awaiting results of a physical and a decision from Peca on whether he'd accept a performance based contract. Meanwhile John Dellapina says in his blog that Glen Sather and Tom Renney also are yet to make their final decisions. At any rate...it appears as if a deal could be done as soon as today or tomorrow. Tuesday - August 14th Looks like it's only a matter of time before we'll see Michael Peca added to the Rangers' roster. After the NY Daily News reported last week that Peca and his agent were exclusively talking to the Rangers, the NY Post follows up today with reports saying talks are set to resume this week. If I was a betting man...I'd be putting money on an announcement some time in the next week. Friday - August 10th Looks like the Michael Peca rumors are firmly back on the table. Peca's agent Don Meehan told the NY Daily News that he is in talks with the Rangers and there's a 50/50 chance that New York will sign him. He also went on to say that they are currently not talking to any other team out there...which seems kind of strange for an agent to say. After all, if you at least give the appearance that there are others out there, you might have an easier time convincing the Rangers that they need to pay a few dollars more. Peca had earlier indicated that he'd be willing to sign for about half of the $2.5 million he made last year with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Thursday - August 2nd
Just when you thought the rumor mill perhaps was grinding to a halt, Steve Zipay of the New York Newsday throws out a couple of names he suggests the Rangers could still go after. With all due respect to Steve, the names he chose look remarkably similar to a certain unnamed disreputable internet blogger's choices. Whether or not the Rangers truly have interest in Michael Peca, Mike (read Jason) Allison or Ed Jovonovski is yet to be verified from a reliable source, but the mere introduction of their names again, linked with the Rangers is sure to generate some sort of discussion (if it hasn't already worn out the Rangers faithful). With the signing of Sean Avery yesterday, the Rangers now have a full quota of 23 that they can go to for the start of the season. Predicting who will actually be in the 23 is still a bit of an art, so there are a number of variations of salary cap numbers floating around out there. What appears to be the case is that the Rangers are about $2-2.5M under the cap excluding $3M in bonuses owed to Shanahan and Girardi. Both sets of bonuses can be deferred. Thursday - July 26th The Michael Peca rumors continue to do the rounds, but at this stage there appears to be nothing new. Peca had indicated that he might be looking to make a decision this week, but with many teams (including the Rangers) looking at arbitration hearings, it would seem unlikely at this point. A misappropriated rumor that the Rangers are interested in Matt Stajan, looks to be incorrect when you look at the source article from the Toronto Star. Still no word yet on the signings of Corey Potter and Artem Anisimov, or the re-signings of David Liffiton and Mitch Fritz. All four players are listed as signed by NHLSCAP, but no announcements have yet been made. Friday - July 20th The Michael Peca to the Rangers rumors persist, though it sounds like Peca himself would like to be back in Buffalo according to this story from the Buffalo News. The story repeats the rumor that the Rangers are reportedly interested, and Peca admits he has some "interesting" options to consider, but mentions no teams. At any rate, we could find out next week when the former Sabres captain says he plans to make his decision. You may be wondering why Artem Anisimov shows up on NHLSCAP.com's list of contracts for the Rangers, but has yet to be announced by the team as an official signing. One rumor going around currently is that Anisimov may end up playing in Russia this year instead of Hartford. There's also been a lot of interest lately in Darius Kasparaitis who is apparently back in shape after a year in the wilderness (Stan Fischler's take can be read here). Kasparaitis had a tough go of it last season, dropping off the NHL roster, breaking up with his wife and ultimately having a nervous breakdown on the Hartford bench. But Kaspar is back and he intends to make a go of it. The challenge though might be his salary which at around $3 million would probably eat up too much space. Still another team looking for a veteran presence on the blueline might show some interest if he shows he can still play. Tuesday - July 17th
Despite recent suggestions that Matt Cullen was not really on the market, the Rangers today made the long awaited trade of the third line center back to Carolina. In return the Rangers really got salary cap relief, although they did add a little depth with Carolina's 7th defenseman Andrew Hutchinson, a prospect who missed most of last year with a concussion (Joe Barnes) and a 3rd round pick in next year's draft. Now the Rangers have a lot of depth on the blueline, but really have questionable quality. In all the Rangers now have a projected eight NHL defensemen (Girardi, Hutchinson, Malik, Mara, Pock, Rozsival, Strudwick, Tyutin) excluding Marc Staal who is expected to contest a spot in camp and Darius Kasparaitis who is expected to be waived once more. Could this mean a deal is in the offing to clear some space on the blueline? Perhaps...but it appears the Rangers aren't going to get much in return for many of those guys. The trading of Cullen also clears a potential congestion at center ice to allow Sean Avery to potentially move back to the third line center position, or to shift Avery to wing. TSN recently reported that the Rangers have supposed shown interest in Michael Peca, though one does wonder where exactly Peca fits in terms of what appears to be a full roster at center ice. There's also rumors circling the net that the Rangers might have interest in Ed Jovanovski...but to date I'm yet to find a credible source for this one. Larry Brooks created a little bit of a stir on Sunday with the suggestion that the Rangers might be interested in Bobby Holik next summer when he becomes a free agent. I guess there's not been enough else to talk about... Thursday - July 12th Could Matt Cullen be on his way out? According to the News & Observer, his former team is looking for a third line center, and the Rangers are potentially looking for cap space after several big signings. On the pro side, Cullen hasn't exactly lived up to his salary as a Ranger, on the con side he does provide a lot of flexibility with his ability to play all three forward positions as well as the power play point. It looks like Jim Schoenfeld is preparing to assume Don Maloney's former role as Assistant GM. Schoenfeld will in turn be replaced by Ken Gernander as head coach of the Pack according to the Hartford Courant. Tuesday - July 10th
Sam Weiman is reporting on his blog that the Rangers have re-signed Brendan Shanahan to a one-year contract worth $2.5M plus bonuses. Tuesday - July 10th
The New York Post is reporting that the Rangers are close to re-signing Brendan Shanahan to a one-year deal worth $2.5M with a further $1.5-2M in bonuses. Monday - July 9th It appears the Rangers may have re-signed David Liffiton to a one year contract. NHLPA.com is listing him with a salary and NHLCAP.com has him down for one year at around $495K Sunday - July 8th It's been quite a week for Rangers fans, and now that I'm back from holidays lets get caught back up on the latest Rangers gossip. It appears now that Michael Nylander really did want to try and cash in rather than stay with the Rangers. Having fired his agent after he and the Rangers apparently agreed in concept to a three year deal for around $10.5M, Nylander has made headlines over the past week after having reportedly accepted one deal with the Oilers before ultimately signing for four years with the Washington Capitals for over $20M. It also appears fairly certain now that the Rangers had no intention of ever re-signing Jed Ortmeyer, not that that bothered the Nashville Predators who snapped him up on the first day of free agency. While the Rangers targeted both Scott Gomez and Chris Drury, they didn't expect to sign both according to Glen Sather. The Rangers reportedly didn't tell either player they were negotiating with the other...not that it probably took too much thought on the part of the other to figure that out. Chris Drury was always a Rangers fan, having grown up in Connecticut, and appears very happy to have signed with the Blueshirts. Drury was given a no-move clause, which means the Rangers won't be able to do anything without his consent for the next five seasons. Scott Gomez also claims a connection with the Rangers, although it seems a little contrived. He of course was able to watch the Rangers at close quarters and managed to wangle a 7-year deal with a limited no-trade clause, which would effectively make it impossible for the Rangers to move him (he can veto up to three moves a year). Jason Strudwick was brought back, no-doubt has one of the three healthy scratches, although Tom Renney has shown they like to use him more than perhaps his ability dictates. Tim Murray has left the Rangers' scouting staff to join his uncle as an AGM in Ottawa. The Rangers are taking Henrik Lundqvist to arbitration for one or maybe two reasons. The first is to stave off the chances of another team signing him to an offer sheet that would hamstring the Rangers. The second is an opportunity to get him under contract for the upcoming season at a bargain $2-3M dollars. This is a bit of a gamble if it does indeed go to arbitration, because there's no guarantee he'll only get awarded that much, and there's also the chance that the team will alienate their star netminder. Still it also gives the team a chance to negotiate a longer-term contract before the hearings. Marcel Hossa and Sean Avery have both filed for arbitration and it seems likely that one or both will get to the hearing given the Rangers' lack of salary cap room. Which leaves us Brendan Shanahan. Shanahan is a UFA that the Rangers were reportedly hoping to re-sign but now find themselves in a position which they will need him to take a pay cut. They can sign him for a lower performance based contract, but that remains to be seen as to whether it can be worked out and it's not completely clear to this observer (and perhaps some of the media) how that would impact the cap. The Rangers do have a couple of contracts on the books for significant amounts including Paul Mara (1 year remaining at $3M) and Matt Cullen (3 years at $2.9M), but the Rangers are now at a bit of a disadvantage with their cap number when talking trades. There was no surprise the Rangers let Lee Falardeau go without a qualifying offer, but it was a little surprising perhaps that Dwight Helminen was let go. Perhaps the reason had more to do with the hopes the Rangers will be able to sign last year's 2nd round pick Artem Anisimov to a pro contract. Anisimov was recently at the Rangers' prospect camp where he saw some time with newly drafted Alexei Cherepanov. Cherepanov for his part says he needs to grow more physical to play in North America, though is still remains unclear when that might be exactly. The Rangers are thought to hope to get him next season, but the player's quotes via interpretation still seem to be a little ambiguous at times. The trade of Bryce Lampman to Tampa Bay comes as no surprise, but it seems as the Rangers could find no value for the 24 year old defenseman who was set to become a free agent next year and was signed to play in Europe this season. Thursday - June 28th It looks now as if Michael Nylander and Jed Ortmeyer will both become free agents on Sunday at noon. The NY Post reports that there's been no substantiative talks between the Rangers and Nylander's agent, while the Bergen Record reports the same for Jed Ortmeyer and his representative. The Post goes on to say that the Rangers will look to pursue both Chris Drury and Scott Gomez to fill the void at center ice, though they'll be hoping both players will give the team a discount to come to New York...seems a little far fetched given some of the alternatives. Wednesday - June 27th More on the Nylander story... To clarify, the Swedish report quoted Nylander as saying he expected to get something done in the next couple of days. John Dellapina of the NY Daily News got on the phone with his new agent Mike Gillis and confirmed that there was nothing done yet. Another rumor that I missed yesterday, was from the Blueshirt Bulletin who quoted Renney as saying the Rangers are looking for a power play specialist for the blueline. That wouldn't appear to be a good sign for Paul Mara, who at $3M for the upcoming year would be taking up valuable cap room to play as a third pairing d-man. Wednesday - June 27th With free agency now just four days away, it appears the Rangers will have their hands full not only improving their center position, but simply maintaining the status quo. Michael Nylander appears set to test the market, while rumors surrounding the most widely expected target Chris Drury have him potentially heading to San Jose where the Sharks recently cleared some cap room. Daniel Briere appears to be a bit of a wild card at the moment, but it's not clear the Rangers have interest in him, nor whether the Sabres will be able to re-sign him. Which leaves us of course with Scott Gomez. Gomez will come at a hefty price, which means the Rangers might have trouble balancing the budget what with re-signing restricted free agents Henrik Lundqvist, Sean Avery and Petr Prucha...all expected to see significant pay increases. Another option would be to forego re-signing Brendan Shanahan which would allow the Rangers to free up another four million in cap room. Sunday - June 24th It looks like Jed Ortmeyer's days as a Ranger are numbered. Ortmeyer, who becomes a UFA in seven days, has not had serious discussions between his agent and the Rangers brass. Saturday - June 23rd The Rangers reportedly considered trading up to get Alexei Cherepanov, but weren't willing to pay the price. As it turned out the #3 spot with the Phoenix Coyotes was not available as speculated earlier, although the Kings did listen to offers for #4. As it turned out it didn't matter they managed to get the player they wanted all the way down at #17. Other players the Rangers were reportedly interested in prior to the draft were Luca Cunti and Mikael Backlund, both who were also available at the #17 spot. Mike Gillis (the agent for Michael Nylander) met with Glen Sather briefly yesterday, but no word on any progress there. The Flyers have now also entered the fray in showing interest in Nylander. It seems as if he's destined to hit the market come July 1st. The Rangers wouldn't be surprised to see an offer sheet signed by Henrik Lundqvist after July 1st, but they're not about to part with their ace goaltender according to the NY Post. Friday - June 22nd Head Scout Gordie Clark today played down rumors of Al Montoya being traded so as the Rangers could move up in the draft. Montoya had been widely rumored as being available after a story by the NY Post at the time of Don Maloney's departure to Phoenix. Clark said there really wasn't enough impact players to warrant such a trade. That's not to say there aren't a number of other options available to the Rangers. With all 30 GMs in the one place for a few days, there's always a chance to make some moves. Thursday - June 21st Michael Nylander has a new agent and is expected to have him meet with the Rangers at this weekend's draft to discuss his terms for a contract. His former agent was fired for reportedly looking to ink a 3 year $3.75M/year deal so expect demands to be higher this time around. ESPN's transaction log is reporting that Jed Ortmeyer and Bryce Lampman have both been re-signed. Lampman was reportedly going to Finland, but if the report is true (and it may be announced at the draft) then he'll be back with the Pack for at least one more season. The Rangers are still reportedly looking at Scott Gomez and Chris Drury, although the latter is said to have drawn interest from ten separate teams. Gomez himself was making $5M a year as a Devil and will be looking for a raise. Brendan Shanahan told the New York Post that he fully expects to be back with the Rangers...if they want him. They're expected to want him. After some early speculation by the Post that the Rangers might try to trade up in the first round of the draft, it appears at this point that they'll stay picking at #17. Tuesday - June 12th The exodus of prospects continues. Jarkko Immonen is reportedly getting ready to head back home after two years in North America and only a handful of NHL games. He'll be joined by Bryce Lampman, Craig Weller and Darin Olver who also all signed contracts to play in Europe. Stan Fischler reports in his column for the New England Hockey Journal that the Rangers may be interested in Ryan Smyth who finished out the season with the rival New York Islanders. Most other papers continue to speculate on the interest the Rangers have in centers Craig Drury and Scott Gomez, though Buffalo may attempt to keep Drury. Thursday - May 31st
The Rangers have apparently traded prospect Ryan Russell to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for a 7th round pick in this year's entry draft. Russell was set to become a UFA June 1st, and the move may have been precipitated by the inability to get a deal done. Wednesday - May 30th With the departure of Don Maloney, there is plenty of speculation over who will step in to replace him as the Assistant General Manager. The concensus seems to be that the hiring will come from within the organization rather than without, with names such as Jim Schoenfeld, Gordie Clark and Adam Graves all being suggested. When asked about Mark Messier's prospects, Sam Rosen told WFAN that he didn't think the position would interest the former captain. There's also growing speculation that the Rangers might make a trade with the Coyotes, sending goaltender Al Montoya to Phoenix in exchange for their first round pick (3rd overall), and with Maloney heading to the desert one has to wonder whether there might not be a couple of moves between the clubs. Saturday - May 12th Well it's time to open the speculation column again now that the season is done... First up, Assistant General Manager Don Maloney interviewed with the Phoenix Coyotes this past week for their open position. Even if he was offered the job, Sam Weiman of the Journal News suggests that Glen Sather would offer Maloney the full-time GM position here in New York. It's uncertain whether Brendan Shanahan will come back next season, but it appears that both sides are willing to talk and that a return is the more likely scenario. Michael Nylander's status isn't so certian and Nylander said he wasn't sure whether he'd be back or not. Coming off back to back career years playing along side Jaromir Jagr, Nylander may be looking for one last big pay day. The Rangers are said to be looking for another center and may set their sights on one of the big name free agents if they make it to July 1st unsigned. Chief amongst them are Chirs Drury, Daniel Briere and Scott Gomez. Reports of a seven-year deal for Henrik Lundqvist out of Sweden appear to be premature. Wolf Pack player Craig Weller is expected to head over to Europe for next season after being able to crack the NHL in his past three pro seasons. Weller is a pending UFA and was just the second captain in Wolf Pack franchise history. Speaking of the Wolf Pack, the latest reports suggest that MSG is looking to work out a deal with the new managers of the Hartford Civic center and remain in Hartford. One of the alternatives would be to suspend the franchise next year...let's hope that it doesn't come to that. Tuesday - February 27th
Larry Brooks starts off the final few hours with a big name in today's New York Post. Brooks says that Glen Sather has put Jaromir Jagr out there and will trade him for a "wow" offer. Of course this could be nothing more than an attempt to motivate Jagr, but the concept is at least interesting. A move involving Aaron Ward could very well happen today however. John Dellapina of the NY Daily News highlights a spat that the two had on the Rangers' bench back on February 3rd, and suggests making a move might help restore harmony in the lockerroom. The Rangers have also been tied to the pursuit of Todd Bertuzzi by the TSN team last night. There have been rumors circulating for some time that the Rangers might be interested in "Bert", but with his back injury and impending UFA status, one has to wonder what the cost and return would be. Another name that keeps popping up is Chicago defenseman Brent Seabrook whom Blackhawks GM says is available for another "knock our socks off" offer. The Rangers ability to make a "sock knocker" offer to a team that is unlikely to make the playoffs seems slim at this point, so don't expect them to be able to make that move at this point. Monday - February 26th Not much in the way of solid information, but plenty of speculation from today's New York Post. Larry Brooks points out that the Rangers don't have a lot to offer other teams, but are in search of a defenseman and perhaps a backup netminder. Sunday - February 25th
Reports today suggest that the Rangers still expect to be buyers at the trade deadline. Despite being 6 points out of a playoff spot and having lost to two of the worst teams in the league, Tom Renney was quoted as saying that he probably needed some outside help now to make the playoffs. Saturday - February 24th Steve Zipay of Newsday is reporting on his blog that Aaron Ward was told he'd be a healthy scratch for tonight's game. Speculation is that he'll be traded, with perhaps the suitor being San Jose or Nashville. One scenario that he brought up was a three-way trade which would bring either Brent Sopel or Mattias Norstrom back from the Kings to New York. Monday - February 19th There'll be no deals for the Rangers this week it would seem. At least that's the story if you believe Steve Zipay's blog report today. Sunday - February 18th
Larry Brooks writes in the New York Post today that the Rangers continue to look for a puck moving defensemen, and are monitoring the Eric Brewer situation closely. Sather traded for Brewer once before with the Edmonton Oilers, but the former Oiler is apparently looking for a five year, $25M deal. Friday - February 16th</ |
