Plenty of questions to ponder
LOS ANGELES — This was the most successful Rangers team in the past 20 years, and odds are it’s going to look a lot different come training camp in September.
The Blueshirts lost a difficult Stanley Cup finals series in five games, culminating with an emotional 32 doubleovertime defeat in Game 5 on Friday night at Staples Center. Now they must start thinking about the major questions looming this offseason, most notably all the pending free agents on the roster
Yet the first situation that will dictate the rest of them is the team’s final amnesty buyout, which almost assuredly will be used on veteran center Brad Richards, wiping clean his annual $6.67 million salarycap hit through 201920.
“Tonight is not a night to reminisce,” Richards said after the game.
Without addressing the fact that bedrock players Marc Staal and Martin St. Louis are both entering the final year of their deals before unrestricted free agency — and likely will be looking for extensions — there are four currently unrestricted free agents who could significantly change the dynamic of the roster.
Checking forward Brian Boyle probably made himself some money with a terrific postseason, even showing a bit of offensive flair with his highlightreel shorthanded goal in Game 5. Dominic Moore, the aptskating and intelligent center, is coming off his oneyear deal, as is the mercurial winger Benoit Pouliot.
Secondpair defenseman Anton Stralman is also unrestricted, and if the Swedish family man should decide to test the open market, he likely will find more money than what the Rangers could offer.
couple of contentious negotiations might ensue. First is 26yearold center Derick Brassard, who for two seasons has shown himself to be not just a playmaker, but a biggame player.
Fanfavorite Mats Zuccarello is also restricted, as is former wunderkind Chris Kreider. Zuccarello is 26 years old, and he led the team in the regular season with 59 points. Kreider, 23, has speed and physicality, two attributes that cannot be taught.