Trouba injury generates complex financial puzzle
If you take a snapshot of the Rangers’ cap status on an off-day, you will see thy might have just under $8 million of available space. But that qualifies as an optical illusion.
Because nearly all of that space is a consequence of removing players such as Igor Shesterkin, Kaapo Kakko and K’Andre Miller from the NHL roster by sending them to the taxi squad in paper transactions in order to accrue savings based primarily on entry-level bonus provisions.
After refilling the varsity for games such as Thursday’s 3-2 shootout victory over the Flyers, the Blueshirts have a true amount of around $675,000 of available space. That is a function of the fact they have had Jack Johnson (who returned to action Thursday) and Filip Chytil on injured reserve for a substantial length of time and have needed to recall reinforcements. Players on IR count against the cap.
It is also a function of the Rangers absorbing a $3.725 million cap charge on Tony DeAngelo’s oneway contract, which has been assigned forevermore to the taxi squad. Oh, and of the bonus overage, too. But you knew that.
Jacob Trouba is the latest Blueshirt to go down, the defenseman having sustained a broken thumb on Tuesday in blocking a shot by the Devils’ Will Butcher. Trouba is expected to be sidelined for four to six weeks. The question confronting management is whether to place Trouba on long-term injured reserve.
If Trouba — who carries an annual cap hit of $8 million — were to go on LTIR with the Rangers $675,000 under the cap, they would gain an additional $7.325 million in space during his absence. That would allow management to bolster the slumping club by making a deal or two, which would entail adding payroll. Of course, the Rangers would have to shed the additional money upon Trouba’s return so putting No. 8 on LTIR would provide only temporary relief.
There are other mitigating factors for general manager Jeff Gorton and the front office to consider before placing the defenseman on LTIR.
First, Trouba might be able to return before missing 10 games and being sidelined for 24 days.
Second, and maybe more significant, if Trouba goes on LTIR, the Rangers would forfeit the benefit of accruing taxi-squad cap savings on their entry-level players’ bonus provisions.
So, the preponderance of evidence suggests such a move would not be worth it.
Mika Zibanejad, without a goal for 12 straight and with a sum of one on the year, was on for 4:30 of the Rangers’ 7:56 of power-play time, but he was skipped over on the second-period man-advantage on which Colin Blackwell scored before skating with the second unit on the next and final regulation PP. Zibanejad was out for the four-onthree overtime power play.
Coach David Quinn went with Kakko in the leadoff spot of the shootout after Kevin Hayes had been denied in the top of the first by Alex Georgiev. Kakko had gone 1-for-2 in shootouts as a rookie a year ago.