Namem Kadri's 2-year $2.9 million/year deal strikes as a relevant comparable for Rangers restricted free agent C Derek Stepan. Granted, Stepan is likely the better player with better data to suggest a better deal, but within Kadri's ballpark no doubt. This blog's prediction of 1-year $2.85 million or 2-years $3.00 million/year remains steadfast. If we assume Stepan's holdout can earn him a tad more than that, say $3.05 million/year, then allow us to present our projection for NY's opening-season roster.
For simplicity, we will assume neither Callahan or Hagelin is placed on Long-Term Injured Reserve, and shall not earn NY any cap relief, but will in turn be available to play at any point in October; LTIR would forbid wither player from lacing up prior to Game 11 (October 28 vs MTL). They very well could, especially since neither is expected to healthily make the Season Opener, in which case more salary room would be available than what is displayed below:
Hagelin (2.25) ------ Stepan (3.05) -------- Nash (7.80)
Zuccarello (1.15) - Brassard (3.20) --- Callahan (4.28)
Pouliot (1.30) ----- Richards (6.67) ----- Kreider (1.33)
Boyle (1.70) ------ D. Moore (1.00) ----- Dorsett (1.63)
Haley (0.60) ------- Lindberg (0.76) - Mashinter (0.60)
McDonagh (4.70) --- Girardi (3.33)
Staal (3.98) --------- Stralman (1.70)
Del Zotto (2.55) --- J. Moore (0.97)
Falk (0.98) ---------- Johnson (0.60)
Lundqvist (6.88)
Biron (1.30)
Buried:
Asham (0.08)
Powe (0.14)
Pyatt (0.63)
Cap Space: $15,833
