New York Rangers: Zherdev Offered Deal; Betts, Sjostrom Likely Gone

This weekend's NHL Entry Draft begins but does not end an extremely busy week for GM's, as free agency is literally around the corner. 

As of midnight on July 1, contracts for both restricted and unrestricted free agents expire and its the former that New York Rangers GM Glen Sather should be most concerned about.

Much of the Rangers young core of players, including Brandon Dubinsky, Ryan Callahan, and Nik Zherdev, will hit free agency on Wednesday and as yet none has been signed.  

In his first interview with the media following the team's crushing exit from last year's playoffs, Rangers GM Glen Sather laid out some of his plans for this off-season and who does and doesn't fit into it. 

In a story first reported by Steve Zipay of the New York Newsday, the New York Rangers have extended a qualifying one-year offer to Nik Zherdev believed to be worth about $3.25 million. 

Zherdev showed flashes of brilliance early last season before disappearing in the second half and playoffs. 

"Whether he's going to accept or negotiate, it's tough to get a straight answer out of his agent," Sather told Zipay.

The Rangers will likely also lose their top two penalty killers from last year's club, with neither Blair Betts or Fred Sjostrom likely to return. 

Sjostrom, who did not receive a qualifying offer from Sather, was solid on the penalty kill, but his production didn't match the money he'd need to be paid, according to Sather.

Blair Betts, on the other hand, could be heading to Edmonton and a reunion with former coach Tom Renney, who is now an assistant with the Oilers.  Sather says he has yet to speak with Betts' agent. 

Further fueling the speculation that Betts will not return, the Rangers acquired huge center Brian Boyle today from the Los Angeles Kings.

Sather says he expects either Boyle or Artem Anisimov, coming up from Hartford, to potentially fill Betts' role this season.

As for the defense, Sather acknowledges that the Rangers have a glut of young defensemen down in the minors and hopes some will compete to make the team this season. 

With Bobby Sanguinetti, Michael Del Zotto, Corey Potter, Mike Sauer and recently signed Matt Gilroy all looking for playing time, that likely spells the end of Paul Mara and Derek Morris' Ranger careers. 

Nik Antropov, who came to the Rangers in a deadline deal with Toronto, is also not likely to return next year. In the interview, Sather had harsh words for Antropov's agent Mark Gandler.

Based on the first volley from Mark Gandler, there's a slim chance," Sather said, "because I told Mark if you think that's [a deal] going to happen here, it would be a snowball's chance in hell. It's ridiculous, and I hate to criticize an agent, but let's have a little bit of reality in this thing."

Free agency begins this Wednesday, July 1.  For the New York Rangers, it looks to be an off-season of tremendous upheaval.