The Hockey Rabbi

RANGERS LOSE, ISLES ARE LOSERS!

Admittedly, I missed most of last night's Rangers-Islanders game.  I only managed to catch the last 10 minutes of the game.

As I sat there watching those few minutes I was more then a little frustrated and angry.  On the one hand, you can't expect any team to win every game.  The Rangers had won four in a row.  They were playing their second game in as many nights.  Lundqvist has been super human and you can't expect that every night.

On the other hand, they were playing the Isles.  This team should be able to show up against the Isles no matter how tired they are.  If a game against their most bitter rivals doesn't get their adrenaline flowing, then there's an issue!  I sat there imagining the excuses Renney would probably make for his players after the game and it frustrated me.

Most of all, there was no escaping the fact that if Lundqvist doesn't stop everything, the Rangers still can't win.  That's a problem.  A huge problem. 

Then the final buzzer sounded.  My concern turned to anger as I imagined the joy my friend thedirtyboy (an Isles fan) was probably feeling as his beloved farm team accomplished the Long Island equivalent of winning the Cup. 

But then it happened.  The anger and frustration instantly subsided.  Instead all I felt was a strange and satisfying sense of pity for the icelanders.  What caused this massive emotional shift?  I watched as the hopelessly overshadowed icelanders lined up along their blue line and raised their sticks in victory to salute the crowd (which was almost half filled with icelander fans!).

Where have I seen that before?  Oh yeah! The Rangers started that trend.  Who would have ever thought that the Isles would shamelessly copy the Rangers?!?!  Oh but wait, the Isles are really being original.  You see, the Rangers line up at center ice while the Isles do something totally different and original by lining up along their blue line!!!  That was such a pathetic display of "Ranger Envy" that I couldn't even be angry about the loss.  I actually felt badly for the Isles.  They're so pathetically shameless.  Losers! 

The Kaspar Quandry (VERY IMPORTANT UPDATE AT THE BOTTOM)

So Darius Kasparitis shows up at camp some 20 pounds lighter and ready to blaze a comeback trail to New York.  That would be great news if it weren't for that little thing called the salary cap!  With almost no room left under the all important cap the Rangers can ill afford to retain Kaspar and his nearly $3 million annual salary.  So what's a team to do?  Trade him?  Send him to Hartford? 

OPTION #1:  TRADE HIM:

The easiest thing for Slats to do would be to trade Kaspar.  Move him for whatever the team could get.  However, this option is probably unlikely: Kaspar missed all of last season.  He reportedly came to camp out of shape which apparently had something to do with personal issues he was dealing with at the time.  Given his age and his salary, it's unlikely an NHL club would be willing to take a risk on him.  In today's day and age, $3m is too much money to spend on an old d-man who missed a season due to personal problems.

OPTION #2:  SEND HIM TO HARTFORD:

Many observers are predicting that this scenario is likely to materialize.  I'm not so sure!  After struggling to read through the relevant parts of the C.B.A. (which is no easy task!) it appears as though section 50.9(g)(ii) sets forth that if a player like Kaspar is sent to the minors he must first clear waivers.  Any NHL club may then claim him off of waivers.  The claiming club would only be responsible for 1/2 of his salary while the Rangers would be responsible for the other 1/2 (and, of course, the 1/2 that the Rangers would be responsible for would count against the teams cap charge this season). 

At almost $3m per season, Kaspar's probably not worth the risk to many NHL clubs.  However, at just under $1.5m per season, Kaspar may very well be worth it.  Let's not forget that Kaspar is in the final year of his contract.  Therefore, a claiming club would only be taking a short term and relatively "cheap" risk. 

Then there's the Oiler$ factor:  Krazy Kevin Lowe targeted Dustin Penner in Anaheim in part because he knew the Ducks had cap issues.  If the Ducks matched the offer sheet, Lowe would have successfully financially handcuffed one of his rivals.  If the Ducks failed to match (which is what actually happened) the Oiler$ would have successfully obtained their desired player.  A no lose situation for The Krazy One.  Guess what folks, the Rangers have cap issues of their own.  They passed on Peca because they felt that the $1-1.5m he would have cost was not worth the risk.  Would anyone be shocked to see a rival club like the Icelanders claim Kaspar just to stick it to the Rangers?  How about the Devils who are surely still feeling the sting from the Scott Gomez defection.  A rival GM with cap room could certainly see the Kaspar situation as a no lose situation:  if Kaspar rebounds he's well worth the $1.5m for just one season, if he doesn't rebound...well....it was just $1.5m for one season a worthwhile investment considering that it contributed to the hated Ranger$' cap concerns. 

Surely, Slats & Co. are aware of this possibility.  That's why it wouldn't surprise me at all to see Malik or Mara get traded if Kaspar looks ready to rejoin the big club.   

**UPDATE** Thanks to dimanyr for pointing out that the 50% cap charge would only apply if a team claimed Kaspar off of re-entry waivers (i.e. if the Rangers tried recalling kaspar from Hartford to the big club).  I e-mailed John Dellapina to ask him to clarify this point and, as usual, John kindly responded almost immediately.  According to John, the Rangers would only be on the hook for 1/2 of Kaspar's salary if he was claimed off of re-entry waivers.  Sorry for the confusion and thanks to dimanyr and John Dellapina (Rangers' beat writer for the NY Daily News.  Check out the link to John's blog in my blogroll!).    

Shanahan and Lundqvist: Taking One For The Team?

I'm thrilled that the Rangers resigned Lundqvist and Shanahan.  But let's get one thing straight:  neither guy signed for a "hometown discount" nor did either of them "take one for the team".  Take a look:

Brendan Shanahan:

He gets a base salary of $2.5m.  He gets a $2m bonus if he plays in 10 games this season.  He gets another $800,000 in playoff related bonuses (I'm not sure what the playoff bonus threshold is, but based on a post from the Blueshirt Bulletin it seems as though he'll get that $800,000 if the Rangers make the playoffs).  Shanny can earn up to $5.3m this season! 

Barring an unforseen freak accident, the guy will play 10 games this season.  Obviously, anything is possible and any one of us could get hit by a bus the next time we go outside (G-d forbid!).  But let's be realistic, the guy will earn at least $4.5m this year.  He's actually getting a raise!  When the Rangers signed him before last season he was coming off a 40 goal 81 point season.  He warranted $4m per year.  This past season he put up 29 goals and 62 points.  Logically, he should get a raise!?!? 

If the $800,000 playoff bonus really does kick in upon the Rangers qualifying for the playoffs, there is a very real possibility that Shanny will earn $5.3m.  That's a 32.5% pay raise over this past season!  Obviously, there's always a chance that the Rangers will not qualify for the playoffs.  But I'll tell you what, that's a calculated risk that I'd be willing to take.  Even if you want to argue that Shanny's was given a pay hike because of the rising salary cap, the reality is that the cap did not increase by 32.5%.

It is true, however, that Shanahan did refrain from actively negotiating with other teams.  However, those other teams did come knockin' on Shanny's door.  Does anyone think that Shanny would still be here if another team came up with a huge offer?  Does anyone think that Shanny could have done better than $4.5 -$5.3 million on the open market?  Perhaps he could have gotten around that much in guaranteed money.  However, the Rangers deal is practically guaranteed.  And the small risk of him not hitting the 10 game mark is clearly outweighed by his strong personal preference to stay on Broadway. 

I'm happy he resigned.  He's a critical piece to the Rangers puzzle.  But let's call a spade a spade: the man did very well for himself.  He did NOT take one for the team.

Henrik Lundqvist:

Here were his options: (1) sign a long term deal with the Rangers worth over $5m per year, (2) go to salary arbitration and let the chips fall where they may on a 1 year deal or (3) sign a 1 year deal before getting to arbitration.

Option 1 was not happening and Hank knew it.  It's not that the Rangers don't want to lock him up long term, they simply don't have the cap space to do it this season.

Options 2 & 3:  What would he have realistically been awarded by an arbitrator?  The two best comparables I could find for Lundqvist based on age, statistics and/or NHL success were Cam Ward who has an average salary of $2.667 or (gasp!!!) Rick DiPietro who has an average salary of $4.5m.  Hank signed for $4.25m.  Yes he might have been awarded another $250,000, but he could have easily lost $1.583m.  The guy made a great deal! He eliminated his entire 7 figure risk for only $250,000!  That's no "home town discount" . 

Once again, I'm happy he resigned.  He's a critical piece to the Rangers puzzle.  But let's call a spade a spade: the man did very well for himself.  He did NOT take one for the team.

Enough from me, let's here what you think: