When the New York Rangers inked restricted free-agent Pavel Buchnevich to a two-year deal Friday, the Rangers also opened up a 48-hour buyout window starting Monday in which the team could opt to buy out one of their defenseman, including Kevin Shattenkirk, Brendan Smith and Marc Staal. While the Rangers did not buy any players out earlier this summer, things have changed after the team paid out $19.65MM AAV combined for Artemi Panarin and Jacob Trouba in the last month.
And while there is no evidence as to what New York intends to do, the New York Post’s Larry Brooks believes wholeheartedly that Shattenkirk will be bought out and will not be a Ranger by Wednesday evening. Considering that the Rangers traded for two right-handed defensemen this offseason, it should make it obvious the team is ready to move on from the veteran, who the team signed to a four-year deal two summers ago at $6.65MM AAV.
After signing Buchnevich for two years at $3.25MM per season, New York is projected to be $4.16MM over the cap (assuming that the team buries Brendan Smith and Matt Beleskey and both restricted free agents Anthony DeAngelo and Brendan Lemieux sign for their qualifying offers) and will be forced to make a cost-cutting move. While it’s already been discussed that the team is under no obligation to buy out one of their defenseman as they have a couple of players they could trade including Chris Kreider and Vladislav Namestnikov to get back under the cap, the scribe believes that Shattenkirk’s contract makes the most sense to buyout.
2019-20: $1.48MM (savings of $5.17MM)
2020-21: $6.08MM (savings of $567K)
2021-22: $1.43MM
2022-23: $1.43MM
The buyout would give the Rangers a little over $1.1MM to work with after that and wouldn’t require the team to trade off Kreider just to save the team some money, one of the top wingers on the team who will be an unrestricted free agents next offseason. Trying to trade one of your best players when you are over the cap isn’t exactly the best bargaining position. Of course, the Rangers would have to assume 90 percent of Shattenkirk’s contract next season if the team does choose to buy him out, which really will make things challenging for New York next season.
The Rangers, however, can do nothing until Monday and there is no sign that they are currently committed to buying out Shattenkirk.
Brooks hates Shattenkirk, and I really have no idea why. Buying him out makes no sense because they’re going to be saddled with almost his entire cap hit next year. It would be an extremely shortsighted move.
Wonder what the Canucks would have to add to swap Eriksson with him
A pick and then retain 50%. They make virtually the same amount of money and that trade wouldn’t solve the Rangers issue.
I think the Senators would be a fit for Eriksson. Maybe Gaborik and MacArthur for him? Canucks can put both on LTIR, and the Sens gain a roster player with 9 million left over 3 years and a 6 mil a year cap hit.
If the Canucks want Kreider for Eriksson expect Hoglander, a 2nd, and salary retained.
Rangers are looking to shed salary, not take on a lesser player with more money. If Canucks want Kreider its a much lesser cost.
Shattenkirk was a terrible signing. He had never been a number one D, and that exactly what they signed him to be.
Buyout Shattenkirk, and hopefully trade Vlad for anything. A stick, a skate blade, a puck.
Someone will for sure take a flyer on him if they buy him out. I think its just silly. What happens if a rival snags him and he plays this season with that chip on his shoulder.
He may not be a number 1 D that they want him to be, but buying him out just to save cap space when you have other options via trading other players and getting some return assets, it just doesn’t make sense to me.
They may not be in the best position of leverage and no one is going to do the Rangers any favors and bail them out, but that doesn’t mean the return for Kreider is nothing. Teams know they have the option of releasing a defenseman instead of dealing. While not optimal, it does return SOME leverage.
I’d love that cheftay. The money all the same to uncle Euge whether it’s LTIR or a cap hit. Might as well get a player who can play.
Shattenkirk is soff.
Gaborik has 2 years @ $4,875,000. His contract for Eriksson saves Euge another 750k, plus they could probably get Van to pay some of Eriksson’s 3 mil signing bonus due next year as a sweetener. Ottawa is barely at the cap floor as it is
Trade Namestnikov to Vancouver for one of the Blue Men .