New York Rangers Free Agent Roundup

The beginning of the NHL's free agency period now looms less than a week away, and with several top-flight defensive and offensive talents on the market, many teams will face tough decisions. 

One of these teams is the New York Rangers, fresh off their second straight Eastern Conference semi-finals appearance, who made a big splash last year but are expected to be more frugal and patient this time. 

On the very first day of free agency last year, the Rangers were the talk of the league after immediately locking up elite centers Chris Drury and Scott Gomez. 

Many spoke as if these moves immediately made the Rangers Eastern Conference favorites, but as we know, it didn't play out quite that way. 

Instead the Rangers struggled to gel together as a team and suffered from the lack of an efficient power play and big defensive presence. 

Before even looking to raid other teams’ rosters, the Rangers are going to be forced to make some tough decisions with their own free agents.  Captain Jaromir Jagr is eligible for free agency as are Brendan Shanahan, Sean Avery, Martin Straka, Michael Rozsival, and Paul Mara. 

Many observers expect Jagr to resign with the club in the end and with him will likely come his buddy Martin Straka.  Jagr has been wooed by Russian club Avangard Omsk since the end of the season with a supposedly huge contract offer. 

If Jagr wanted to leave the NHL with that money on the table from Russia already in the bag, he'd be gone by now. 

Sean Avery is an entirely different story.  For months now, Rangers’ management and Avery's representatives have differed on his value under the salary cap. 

Avery is reportedly seeking $4 million per year with the Rangers offering about $2.75 million per.  Negotiations between the two appear to be completely shut off ensuring Avery hitting the open market in a little less than a week. 

It's hard to defend the Rangers’ logic on this one.  GM Glen Sather was quoted in the New York media this past week comparing Avery's talents and production to the recently resigned Chris Kelly of the Ottawa Senators. 

Kelly just recently signed a four year extension with the Senators worth $8.5 million. 

Now Chris Kelly is a good, physical player, and he'd be a benefit to any team but it’s hard to argue he's as essential to Ottawa's success as Sean Avery has been to the Rangers.  The numbers simply don't lie. 

New York is 50-20-3 over the past two years with Avery in the lineup and 9-13-3 without him.  Somehow, I doubt that the Ottawa Senators are a .600 hockey team with Chris Kelly and .360 without him. 

Now maybe, Avery isn't a $4 million dollar hockey player.  But Sather holding the line at $2.75 with no seeming willingness to meet halfway is not just bad negotiating.  It makes absolutely no sense for this team. 

Say what you will about Avery.  He's the player you love to have if he's on your team and hate if he's with the other guys.  But he's given this team some passion the last few years and anyone who frequents the Garden knows there isn't a more popular guy with the fans. 

Sather is being pennywise and pound foolish on this one.

As for the rest of the Rangers’ free agents, Brendan Shanahan appears to be on his way out.  Sather has appealed to his agents for patience as the Rangers test the free agent market and try and determine whether the 39-year-old fits into his plans.

That doesn't sound good.  Whatever the Rangers do with him, let's hope they do it quick.  Shanahan is a class act and one of the league's better statesmen.  He's been a great character guy on this team and despite nagging injuries still netted 23 goals last year. 

He deserves some classy treatment from this organization.  For my dime, I say give him one more year. 

Michael Rozsival and Paul Mara are both interesting cases.  Rozsival is a guy who you either love or hate.  He's offensively talented but hasn't been able to really click as the QB on the powerplay. 

He's also coming off knee surgery this off-season and with a glut of top-flight defensemen on the market (Campbell, Orpik, Redden, Liles etc.) he could be on the move. 

Paul Mara is likely gone as well.  Mara was brought in towards the end of 2007 from the Boston Bruins for his reputation as a powerplay guy. 

But Mara never seemed to endear himself to coach Tom Renny and was a frequent healthy scratch last year.  Might be time for him to get a new beginning. 

As for other team's talent, the Rangers appear to be zeroing in on Mats Sundin and Brian Campbell.  Sundin, who appears to prefer the Rangers as his destination, would be moved into the top-line the Rangers hope with Jaromir Jagr. 

To bring him aboard, the Rangers would likely offer a one-year deal with a moderate base salary and huge bonus incentives. 

As for Campbell, the Rangers have received permission to speak with him from his old club the San Jose Sharks.  While Campbell is talented and an excellent powerplay quarterback, his asking price might be too high. 

Campbell is reportedly seeking a deal worth $7 million a year.  That might be too high for the Blueshirts with all their other uncertainty. 

Jean-Michael Liles, who plays a similar game, is the more likely and probably cheaper alternative. 

Rangers’ fans shouldn't expect the big-splash we were treated to last season.  This team enters with a lot more uncertainty and many questions to answer.  It should be an interesting few weeks coming up.