Foursome first Rangers to file for arbitration

The next step in negotiations for the Rangers and their large group of restricted free agents took place Thursday when forwards Kevin Hayes, Jimmy Vesey and Ryan Spooner, along with defenseman Brady Skjei, filed for salary arbitration before the 5 p.m. deadline.

It’s unlikely any of them will get to an actual arbitration hearing on either one- or two-year deals.

All four Rangers who filed are still able to be traded, and that is where the most intrigue lies, especially with Hayes. The 26-year-old cen- ter could fetch quite a bit in return, and that could save the Rangers from having to give him a long-term deal at market value, around a $6 million annual salary-cap hit. Spooner also could draw some outside interest, especially as part of a package.

General manager Jeff Gorton is more apt to try to lock up Skjei on a long-term deal. The 24-year-old has shown glimpses of being an elite defenseman, but had a difficult 2017-18 season. It also makes sense Gorton would give Vesey a short-term deal.

Now that the four have filed, they are considered to be signed players. That only means they can’t receive the rarely used offer sheet from another team.

Three Rangers RFA’s with arbitration rights — John Gilmour, Rob O’Gara and Boo Nieves — did not file. They were given qualifying offers.