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Rangers extend Borgen for five years, 'Canes acquire Rantanen |
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The Rangers opted to be aggressive, inking Will Borgen to a five-year deal with a $4.1 million AAV. Borgen, who just arrived in New York from Seattle on December 18 as part of the Kaapo Kakko deal, clearly impressed GM Chris Drury and coach Peter Laviolette enough where the team opted not to allow him to reach unrestricted free agency. Friday, Carolina improved offensively by acquiring Mikko Rantanen and Taylor Hall as part of a three-way deal with Colorado and Chicago, which could impact New York.
Borgen:
You can be of several mindsets here and be correct in all of them. First, you can rightly think the Rangers gave up on Kaapo Kakko too soon and should not have broken up the third line with Kakko, Filip Chytil and Will Cuylle. Second, you can rightly think that Kakko was never going to reach his potential here in New York and that he needed a change of scenery. Third, you can think that Borgen has helped unlock K'Andre Miller's game and signing him now was a smart idea. Fourth, you can think that getting Borgen and a third round pick was not enough of a return. Fifth, you can think that Borgen might have gotten more years and a higher AAV in free agency. Sixth, you can argue that what was the need to sign Borgen now and for that length given that it's a small sample size for his stint as a Ranger. Thinking that he could be Brendan Smith 2.0 is a valid concern.
All the above is accurate. My view is that signing Borgen gives the Rangers some certainty, both player wise and cost wise, on the blue line. Ryan Lindgren is an unrestricted free agent and this deal seems to make it more likely he is gone after the season. The Rangers could opt to do what the Avalanche did with Rantanen, deal him before he is lost for nothing. But if they continue to play well, I could see him remaining with the team for the balance of the season.
Miller, Urho Vaakanainen and Zac Jones are restricted free agents after this season. The Borgen contract could be a bit of a model for Miller, who has found his game with Borgen. New York should not overpay him and a shorter term contract could be a smarter move. I could see Vaakanainen signed for 2-3 years, as he has been a solid third pair blueliner. Jones is pretty much gone as he has fallen far out of favor with team management. A lot will depend on how the team plays and if they decide to upgrade at the deadline.
I don't love the no trade lists, especially the full NTC next season. But that also may have kept the AAV cost down. Year 2 of the deal is a 15-team NTC, so if a deal had to be made, one could be. If Borgen plays as well as he has so far this season and two years ago in Seattle, he won't be moved anyway. My only concern is his lack of foot speed, especially as he ages, but Miller's skating ability helps compensate a little.
Mild shockwaves were sent by the Rantanen trade. Colorado decided that the potential of losing him for nothing outweighed what he brought to the team. If you believe Pierre LeBrun, he was not wedded to making what Leon Draisaitl is earning. But even that was too high for Colorado, despite that number aligning to the $12.6 mil AAV that Nathan MacKinnon makes. If that truly is the case, this is an epic fail by the Avalanche. Martin Necas is good, Jack Drury could be a solid bottom-six center, but Rantanen is an elite player. Even if you think some of his production was due to playing with Mac and Cale Makar, he should in the regular season and playoffs why he is viewed as elite.
Carolina improved their team substantially with the acquisition of Rantanen. He provides offensive skill, but way more important, he brings a physical component that the team was lacking. The Hurricanes still have questions on the blue line as well as between the pipes - at least in the playoffs - that will need to be answered. But they have addressed one key component that was missing, that of a physical winger who is willing to go into the dirty areas to score and be a leader on the ice. If there was one player I didn't want Carolina to get, it was Rantanen especially if New York makes the playoffs and has to face the 'Canes.
What this also does do is likely take Carolina out of the JT Miller sweepstakes. Boston has come up as a possibility recently, and if Vancouver still wants to move Miller, a broader market will help their asking price. But he reportedly only wants New York, which is sounding like Patrick Kane 2.0. The Rangers have to decide if acquiring him makes sense and what asking price still works.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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