Rangers Salary Cap Situation Heading Into Draft, UFA Market

With recent light of NY Rangers intent on remaining with Richards for at least one more season, here's a look at salary cap expectations at the current roster situation:

Hagelin*----------- Stepan*---------- Nash
Kreider ---------- Brassard ------ Callahan
Zuccarello*------ Richards ------- Dorsett
Pyatt ----------- Boyle/Powe ------- Asham

McDonagh*- Girardi
Staal --------- Stralman
Del Zotto - Moore/Eminger*

Lundqvist/Biron

This lineup of 22 roster players would hypothetically cost $61.3 million, which would be $3 million below the 2014 salary cap. However, with Callahan & Hagelin already presumed injured for the beginning of next season, it will be prudent to leave cap room for as many as 25 or 26 skaters come October.

*McDonagh: Estimating new $4 million/year contract
*Stepan: Estimating new $3.325 million/year contract
*Zuccarello: Estimating new $1.8 million/year contract
*Hagelin: Estimating new $1.8 million/year contract
*Eminger: Estimating new $900,000/year contract

Here is a list of NHL forwards set to become unrestricted free agents on July 5th, sorted by their average icetime-per-game last season (from CapGeek):

Here is a list of NHL defensemen set to become unrestricted free agents on July 5th, sorted by their average icetime-per-game last season (from CapGeek):