What the Rangers appear to be offering Anton Stralman

[chuckd3534]

Larry Brooks writes that the Rangers appear to have allotted around $4 million per year for Anton Stralman on a three or four-year deal. (NY Post)

Stralman is coming off a two-year deal that had a cap hit of $1.7 million per year and an actual salary of $1.8 million this year.

“Somebody is going to pay Anton Stralman a lot of money in free agency and somebody is going to end up disappointed” (Steve Simmons, Toronto Sun)

 

[chuckd3534]

Not sure I like Stralman at 4 mill per season. I agree with Simmons.

Either we way underrate him or he is going to get way overpaid.

He was really good in the playoffs, but I never saw him as a 4 mill per player. Is it possible he is that good and we are just way off on his value? Maybe he is a clear top 4 dman. I don't see it though. We should pass on that amount. I see that as a low % signing.

 

[theProdigy223]

Problem is, this years class of FA dmen is just not that good. Niskanen is the best by a mile, but who's next? A 55 year old Dan Boyle?

If we have to go 3.7 or 3.8 for Stralman I guess I'm ok with it. I'm not a huge Stralman fan at all. I'd like to see somebody with more offense or more physicality, Stralman is blah at both. Responsible, but blah.

If we bring him back I really try to trade Klein for come cap relief and to open a spot for McIlrath or Allen. He doesnt have a crazy contract, but replacing him with a kid will save about 2m. It'll also take some of the sting out of overpaying for Stralman. Klein could possibly be used in a package for Thornton or Kesler.

 

[BigDaddyAl1973]

Only good thing about strahlman is that he is right handed. Perhaps with richards gone strahlman man have a more presence on the pp

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[theProdigy223]

I just read that article...Brooks guesses 4.5m for Brassard, "if not closer to 5m." WHAT? That would be a mistake.

 

[chuckd3534]

Yeah, that is too much for Brassard. I was thinking around 4/low 4's for him. Anything over 4.5 closing in on 5 is too much IMO.

What do you think Orpik gets paid? I rather have Orpik around 4 per, assuming he is medically cleared, than Stralman around 4 per.

I am just not a huge Stralman guy, but I do think given his playoffs and the lack of good FA dmen he will get 4 or so, and I pass on that. And I happen to like Klein, and think having him signed for a few years at 2.9 per is solid. A good solid 4/5 dman. I like that contract.

 

[mrmel29]

I would rather pay brassard who keeps what was out best line intact this year going forward that than strahlman who was bad all season and though better in the playoffs for his salary run nowhere near a disastrous 5 yr 4 plus mill contract he wants. Al, big mac is a right hand shot and if beukaboom says he's ready I'd much rather see Big mac at a cheaper number with what he brings to the team than strahlman. Allen is another possibility. We have youth d coming soon and I don't want to tie us up with strahlman and am praying he keeps pushing slats for a 5 year deal and slats gives him the cally treatment………….cyyyyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. I only see slats able to pay one of staal or strahlman since staal is looking for a commitment now instead of the end of his contract next year and I much prefer staal to strahlman. Please slats just say no to strahlman. This would suck big time if we start the FA season overpaying for strahlman at the start of it.

 

[theProdigy223]

I keep forgetting Orpik is available. I see him in the high 4s over 4 years. Too old to get big time money.

I'm not a fan of his..he might fill a need with his physicality but if it's me I pass. Maybe I'm just biased.

 

[chuckd3534]

I agree mel. Rather pay Brassard 4 to 4.2 per than Stralman the same (4.5 or more is too much for Brassard IMO unless it is longer term and buys out at least two UFA years). I would let Stralman go and look to add a more physical dman with that money. I think we need that more than Stralman anyway.

I also used to think about Stralman on the PP Al, but I have given that up. I don't believe he can ever really be a PP guy if you want a good PP. Don't think his shot is good enough or accurate enough to have a role there. I could be wrong on that one though.

McDonagh will be on one point, the question is the other point. Will it be a forward, or will another dman step up to take that spot. I guess time will tell.

 

[chuckd3534]

If he is high 4's I agree Prod. If he is low 4's/comparable to Stralman, I much rather have Orpik for this team. I think he fits what we need better than Stralman if the money is similar for the two guys. Low 4's I would go for Orpik.

Only caveat is health. He needs to be 100% healthy or no way do I sign him. It is possible that Orpik goes for less than we think due to health. He did have a concussion late last season. Maybe he can be had in the 3's somewhere.

 

[mrmel29]

I keep forgetting Orpik is available. I see him in the high 4s over 4 years. Too old to get big time money.

I'm not a fan of his..he might fill a need with his physicality but if it's me I pass. Maybe I'm just biased.

Prod, If your biased I am right there biased with you. Don't want orpik either. We have 2 young guys in big mac and allen that sound ready. Lets bring their asses up here already

 

[Ranger71]

He's worth 3.5-4m so if they can keep him in that range for 3y why not. He's a solid 2nd pair guy. There's not much else in FA that will give you more value. They should also bring back Diaz.

 

[chuckd3534]

Is he now a solid 2nd pair guy? We didn't think so, and now we do because of a strong playoffs? That is the question on Stralman, what is he really? I don't know. That is the risk.

If we want to give Allen/McIlrath a shot no way Diaz comes back. I figure those two guys battle for the 6th spot, but if we bring back Stralman/sign a guy like Orpik, do we have room for Allen/McIlrath?

McD/Girardi
Staal/Stralman or an Orpik type
Klein/Moore

No room for a kid to be more than the 7th extra guy.

If we have real faith in the kids, maybe we let Stralman go (and don't sign a guy like Orpik) and move Klein up and pair Moore with a kid on the 3rd pair. We'll see.

 

[strudwickisthebest]

Brooks always seems to exaggerate numbers. Brassard is not worth 5, Pouliot is not getting 2.5, and Zucc will get 4.

I agree that they should keep that line together. But they need a C for Richards spot. I just don't see Miller filling that role yet.

 

[strudwickisthebest]

Not sure how the team will be better with a void a C. IMO the offense needs to be a little better. Especially with no shows like Nash

 

[chuckd3534]

Great point struds. Brooks is always way over the top.

Brassard will get 4 or low 4's, and I assume we buy 1 or 2 years of UFA time with this contract.
Pouliot I see in the low 2's for 2 or 3 years, maybe 2.4 or so tops.
Zucc I can see upper 3's/lower 4's, and again buy 1 or 2 years of UFA time with this contract.

And yes I think we need to add a big C to replace Richards, no doubt. We cannot have Stepan and Brassard at C and then unproven Miller and 4th line Moore. We need a big C. And maybe we give up some D to get that C and let a kid play on the 3rd pair with Moore. Klein and Staal on the 2nd pair.

We'll see...

 

[theProdigy223]

Right Struds, I do not see this team going very far if it's Stepan-Brassard-Miller down the middle. That would have to be the smallest 1-2 center combo in the league. I'm high on Miller but I don't think he's ready for that kind of role if its only Stepan and Brass in front of him.

 

[chuckd3534]

Yes, which is why I think Miller is a prime guy to get dealt for a big C. I can see that for sure. And then add another solid kid or two. I can easily see that happening.

 

[Ranger71]

I was suggesting Diaz as just the spare, but if they think Allen is ok there i don't have an issue, hopefully he is. McIlrath i don't put much faith in right now, i think we're looking at a real chance at bust material. And yes Stralman is definately a good #4 who has more offense than he's shown and can play on the pp. For some reason they dont give him enough time there.

 

[chuckd3534]

I am with you on McIlrath in that I don't have much faith in him to be counted on next season, but we'll see.

As for Stralman, I just don't know. Maybe you are right and he is a legit top 4 and can play on the PP, I just don't know though. I don't see him as a PP guy, but maybe he is and maybe he is top 4. I don't think I would pay 4 per or more to find out though. But I truthfully don't know on him.

 

[chuckd3534]

Look at our prospect rankings:

Danny Kristo
JT Miller
Jesper Fast
Anthony Duclair
Pavel Buchnevich
Dylan McIlrath
Brady Skjei

McIlrath is 6th now. He is dropping. Not the end all be all, but again I am not sold on him being ready next season, or even being what we hoped ever. But there is still time left of course.

 

[Ranger71]

Heck they overpaid for Girardi so 4m for Stralman isn't over the top. I wouldn't go beyond that.

 

[Ranger71]

Skjei is a much better prospect at this point, and Buchnevich has more upside than anyone, he has alot of the qualities Cherepanov did. Mcilrath was overdrafted by a whole round.

 

[chuckd3534]

I don't think they overpaid for Girardi. He was getting 5 + as a UFA this summer, so we agree to disagree there. You are not a Girardi guy, and that is cool.

We agree on McIlrath. Right now we clearly should have taken Fowler and it isn't close really.

 

[Ranger71]

With Girardi i could live with the 5.5, it's the term that i see being a problem after 3-4y but we'll see.

 

[mrmel29]

Look at our prospect rankings:

Danny Kristo
JT Miller
Jesper Fast
Anthony Duclair
Pavel Buchnevich
Dylan McIlrath
Brady Skjei

McIlrath is 6th now. He is dropping. Not the end all be all, but again I am not sold on him being ready next season, or even being what we hoped ever. But there is still time left of course.

Chuck, Mcilreith is our top d prospect and beukaboom says the kid is ready this season. Kristo in baseball terms is a quadruple a player. As for someone else saying our centers being too small stepan just turned 24 this week is 6' 196 and still filling out, brass is 6'1 202 and 26 and miller is 6'1 202 21 year old who will be filling out more also. Kesler is 6'2 202. I hope we keep our young guys. The only guy I trade for what I consider an actual player in our top 9 is oreilly. Otherwise for thornton like I said miller, kristo and a pick plus paying his salary. I might be in the minority here but I look how kreider was up and down here and the minors 2 years ago and blossomed this year. I expect the same from miller who went through it this year to take big step forward next year and blossom. He's got speed, size he hits and can score. Rather have the youth after too many seasons of watching washed up veterans clogging up spots here. Unless slats can pull a mcdonagh deal with the sharks for thornton or av.'s for oreilly. And for those of you making strahlman out to be a top d I say think back to the reg season when you wanted him released. This would be a depressing signing for me.

 

[chuckd3534]

Maybe, but almost every single UFA contract is that way sc. So to me if we get 3 or 4 solid seasons out of him, and maybe the last 2 seasons he is a 3rd pair guy, so be it. That is how sports works really. Most of those UFA deals you pay an extra year or two.

 

[chuckd3534]

The beauty of McIlrath is we'll know really soon. The kid needs to be ready this season to at least be on the 3rd pair. He has had many years to develop now. The time is now. This upcoming season or worst case next season. So we'll have our answer soon I think. If we are sitting here in October and they deem him still not ready and send him down, that is no good mel. He should be ready by now IMO.

 

[chuckd3534]

I think Miller has a future, but I do not think he is Kreider. I think maybe a 3rd line C. MAYBE if things went really well he could be a 2nd line C at somepoint down the line, but I do not think that time is this season. He may not even be top 9 ready this season.

I would include Miller in a package for Thornton. I would NOT include Stepan for Thornton.

 

[theProdigy223]

no way should we put Step in a Thornton package. Cross that one off immediately.

I dont think Brass is over 200 pounds. He might be listed that way, but that's very generous. Even if he is, he certainly doesnt play like it.

I like Miller a lot. I see him having a role next year. Why not start him on third line wing maybe. This is his 3rd season as a pro, he needs legit shot, not the up-down treatment.

Do you think we could get Thornton for Kristo, Klein and a pick? If Kristo is really our number 1 prospect he should have value around the league. Then go

Hagelin-Thornton-Nash
Kreider-Stepan-MSL
Zucc-Brassard-Miller

What do we think of giving Miller Pouliot's spot? Would also free up more money to either pay Stralman or another guy to take a 2nd pairing spot.

If Miller doesnt work there, he could always be shipped out for a scorer at the deadline.