Staal may skate past deadline
If the Rangers were engaged in serious talks with the Maple Leafs regarding Tyler Bozak, the only way the Blueshirts could pull off a deal for the veteran center with the $4.2 million cap hit would be to buy out Marc Staal by Thursday’s deadline.
There is zero indication that either is happening.
Let’s review the cap situation in the wake of Mika Zibanejad’s signing Tuesday to his five-year deal worth $5.3 million per:
As constituted, the Rangers have $9.8 million committed to goaltenders Henrik Lundqvist ($8.5M) and Ondrej Pavelec ($1.3M).
They have $24.8 million committed to defensemen Kevin Shattenkirk ($6.65M), Staal ($5.7M), Ryan McDonagh ($4.7M), Brendan Smith ($4.35M), Nick Holden ($1.65M), Brady Skjei ($925,000) and Anthony DeAngelo ($863,333).
Add Alexei Bereglazov, whom the team will not want to lose to the KHL on an exit clause, to the mix as the eighth defenseman at $925,000, and the blue-line number becomes $25.8 million.
The Blueshirts have $8.9 million invested in centers Zibanejad ($5.3M), Kevin Hayes ($2.6M) and David Desharnais ($1M). Assume Lias Andersson becomes the fourth center at $925,000, and that increases the total to $9.825 million.
The Rangers have $25.7 million committed to wingers Rick Nash ($7.8M), Chris Kreider ($4.625M), Mats Zuccarello ($4.5M), J.T. Miller ($2.75M), Jesper Fast ($1.8M), Michael Grabner ($1.65M), Jimmy Vesey ($925,000), Pavel Buchnevich ($925,000) and Matt Puempel ($725,000).
So, that’s four centers and nine wingers combining for $34.7 million. But since Fast will start the season on IR, the Rangers will need another (spare) forward for the first few weeks of the season. Let’s say that Boo Nieves ($755,000) makes the team out of camp. That brings the total up front to $35.455 million.
Thus, the shadow 23-man opening roster (two goaltenders, eight defensemen and 13 forwards plus Nieves) would amount to $71.843 million. But the Rangers are carrying Dan Girardi’s $2.6 million buyout charge that increases the total to $74,454,444.
With the cap set at $75 million, that would leave the Blueshirts with $545,556 worth of space come opening night. In other words, without a shred of maneuverability and obviously without the ability to trade Holden (and a draft pick) for Bozak.
That exchange would add a net $2.55 million to the payroll and send the team $1.95 million over the cap. If you in turn delete Andersson from the roster, that still would leave the Rangers barely $1M over the max. And while the Rangers would lose most of Nieves’ or Puempel’s cap hit once Fast joins the active roster, that would not address the opening-night requirement.
But buying out Staal would clear $3.57 million of space (the buyout hit for this season would equal $2.13 million) and thus allow the Rangers to pursue a deal for Bozak or another veteran center if the need arises.
Again, though, there is zero evidence that Bozak is in play with the Rangers and/or that the club intends to buy out Staal. Indeed, there is no indication of top-four-type centers around the league being available to the Blueshirts.
Once the buyout deadline passes, the most likely option for the Rangers to create workable space would be to deal Holden for draft picks while cutting down to seven defensemen.
Sources have told The Post that there has been no determination as yet where Filip Chytil, the Czech center who was selected 21st overall in the June entry draft, will play next season.
Chytil, who will turn 18 in early September, will either play in the Czech League with HC Zin or with the OHL North Bay Batalion. There are no plans to have Chytil turn pro and start the season with the AHL Wolf Pack.