New MSG could also be moved to the west side railyards, where the Jets stadium was supposed to be built. They could build a ridiculous arena there, and the City would need them to, so they'd offer what financial incentives they needed to make it happen. MSG brings in tons of tax dollars and revenue to the City.
- Jethro09

Its the only logical thing they can do.

Like PJC already stated earlier on, money talks. They will find a way to remain right where they are. They just invested one billion dollars on renovating MSG; I highly doubt Dolan and all of his billions will allow that to go to waste.
- MidnightMarauder

It wont go to waste, either MSG stays right where it is... OR the city reimburses Dolan a LARGE chunk of change to make that 1 billion he put into renovations an after thought.

Anyone think a move to flushing would be possible? With the new city field, a new soccer stadium, lirr, 7 train and a booming economy and population I think it would be brilliant. Plus I live 10 mins away and could walk there from work....

Anyone think a move to flushing would be possible? With the new city field, a new soccer stadium, lirr, 7 train and a booming economy and population I think it would be brilliant. Plus I live 10 mins away and could walk there from work....
- forthehorde

Possibly, I had heard Charles Wang and the Mets were pushing the city hard to build a new arena there right before the Isles decided to go to Barclays. Apparently the City was not footing the bill for another arena.

Cant wait till zucc's arbitration hearing. Only hockey related news we have to look forward to in the near future.

Cant wait till zucc's arbitration hearing. Only hockey related news we have to look forward to in the near future.
- rangerdanger94

Yeah, could be the only thing thats got everything on hold with Stepan as well. Either we settle with Zucc, or Arbitration happens. Either ways, it gives Sather a better picture of how he can structure a deal for Stepan. You know, cuz we are in a penny counting situation now that Richards is here to stay

Pretty sure all in all, NYC does not want to lose MSG. Penn Station may be priority and have more overall impact for the city, but it doesn't mean they will want to just let MSG walk away to another burrough or worst yet, another locale. MSG is an NYC staple and will always continue to be.

So, is there any team besides the Rangers that have 8 Olympic players on it? Seems like a nice blog if thats true huh Jan? Another measure of talent depth on paper.

So, is there any team besides the Rangers that have 8 Olympic players on it? Seems like a nice blog if thats true huh Jan? Another measure of talent depth on paper.
- xcheckmajor

,,,, and a potential disaster.....

So, is there any team besides the Rangers that have 8 Olympic players on it? Seems like a nice blog if thats true huh Jan? Another measure of talent depth on paper.
- xcheckmajor

Possibly, have a few others in the mix. As Old School said, nice to have the talent to be considers but always worried about injury. Touched on this one in the blog last Friday when agreement for NHL play in Olympics was reached.

,,,, and a potential disaster.....
- OLDSCHOOL#6

This.

So, is there any team besides the Rangers that have 8 Olympic players on it? Seems like a nice blog if thats true huh Jan? Another measure of talent depth on paper.
- xcheckmajor

Actually, the Caps have 11 players wow!

I can't believe Wheeler got that deal , 6 years $33.6 , what does this mean as far as Stepan negotiations?

I can't believe Wheeler got that deal , 6 years $33.6 , what does this mean as far as Stepan negotiations?
- cranford93

Offer sheet?

I can't believe Wheeler got that deal , 6 years $33.6 , what does this mean as far as Stepan negotiations?
- cranford93

that we're all gonna be super surprised and give sather props for taking the negotiations to the last minute when stepan signs for under 4 mil a year like we always do when negotiations start dragging out.

I can't believe Wheeler got that deal , 6 years $33.6 , what does this mean as far as Stepan negotiations?
- cranford93

If I understand correctly, not only is Stepan a RFA, but he is not arbitration eligible. Only a prolonged holdout is his leverage, and of course the specter of an offer sheet. NHL GM's are extremely reluctant to offer Ranger players offer sheets, because they know if they do Slats will burn them at some point. I don't see Stepan receiving an offer sheet, and with little leverage, he finds himself not unlike Dubinsky and Del Zotto, when they were dealing with Slats with little leverage. I'm very sure Sather's take on Stepan is the same as he had with the others, "he has to wait his turn for the $$$."

If I understand correctly, not only is Stepan a RFA, but he is not arbitration eligible. Only a prolonged holdout is his leverage, and of course the specter of an offer sheet. NHL GM's are extremely reluctant to offer Ranger players offer sheets, because they know if they do Slats will burn them at some point. I don't see Stepan receiving an offer sheet, and with little leverage, he finds himself not unlike Dubinsky and Del Zotto, when they were dealing with Slats with little leverage. I'm very sure Sather's take on Stepan is the same as he had with the others, "he has to wait his turn for the $$$."
- OLDSCHOOL#6

it would be very VERY foolish to deal out a 5m+ per year contract for 6-8 years for stepan just because of one really good half season. we will be demanding to trade him like dubi 2 years in if he falls back to earth as a 45-55 point guy.

it would be very VERY foolish to deal out a 5m+ per year contract for 6-8 years for stepan just because of one really good half season. we will be demanding to trade him like dubi 2 years in if he falls back to earth as a 45-55 point guy.
- rangerdanger94

Stepan had a 45 point season as a 20 year old

Stepan had a 45 point season as a 20 year old
- jimbro83

so? that doesn't mean he's guaranteed to put up 70-80 for the rest of his career. he can still put up 45-55 on average for the rest of it sans last half season.

it's too risky to hand out a 30+ mil for 6 year deal. if he wants to get locked up and get his money, then let him sign for 4 milish a year. if he wants to get PAID then let him sign a bridge deal.

so? that doesn't mean he's guaranteed to put up 70-80 for the rest of his career. he can still put up 45-55 on average for the rest of it sans last half season.

it's too risky to hand out a 30+ mil for 6 year deal. if he wants to get locked up and get his money, then let him sign for 4 milish a year. if he wants to get PAID then let him sign a bridge deal.
- rangerdanger94

well, what if he ends up having a 90 point season and then he ends up in the 7 million a year range to lock him up and they blew the opportunity to have him locked up for 5 million a year long term?

so? that doesn't mean he's guaranteed to put up 70-80 for the rest of his career. he can still put up 45-55 on average for the rest of it sans last half season.

it's too risky to hand out a 30+ mil for 6 year deal. if he wants to get locked up and get his money, then let him sign for 4 milish a year. if he wants to get PAID then let him sign a bridge deal.
- rangerdanger94

Trust me, he's not getting a 6 year 30 mil. year deal from Slats this time around.

Trust me, he's not getting a 6 year 30 mil. year deal from Slats this time around.
- OLDSCHOOL#6

I agree, but, if the Islanders had acted like Sather does, they wouldn't have Tavares locked up at 5.5 million a year until 2018.

Derek Stepan is the best home grown forward this team has developed since.....trying to think of someone better.....still trying.....

well, what if he ends up having a 90 point season and then he ends up in the 7 million a year range to lock him up and they blew the opportunity to have him locked up for 5 million a year long term?
- jimbro83

i'm not willing to take that risk. that is how we ALWAYS get burned.

if he proves he's worth the money, i have no issues dealing him a 7 mil a year contract. but if he gets a 5.5mil deal and becomes a 2nd liner at best we will be calling for his head and sather's head too.

stepan has scored 45 points and 51 points before breaking out last season playing with rick nash, one of the best elite wingers in the entire game, and putting up 44 points in 48 games. would he have hit the 70+ point mark had it been a full season? we don't know. what i do know is that stepan was scoring at an unprecedented (for him) 16.7% of his shots. that's patty kane, steven stamkos, john tavares numbers right there.

call me a glass half empty kind of guy, but i just want to be sure before we lock him up. i would hate to have to ship him out in 2 years because we need to clear cap space just because he's making 2 mil more than he should be.

I agree, but, if the Islanders had acted like Sather does, they wouldn't have Tavares locked up at 5.5 million a year until 2018.

Derek Stepan is the best home grown forward this team has developed since.....trying to think of someone better.....still trying.....
- jimbro83

i disagree about tavares. i think JT and the isles knew from the start he was a 7-8 mil player, but JT is a great character guy and wants to lead the isles out of the basement, which included taking a long-term deal with a little less money. similar to how hamonic just got signed. they both knew what he was worth, but he took a discount.

i'm not willing to take that risk. that is how we ALWAYS get burned.

.
- rangerdanger94

I disagree, where we ALWAYS get burned is on UFA deals.

We have given one home grown RFA Ranger too much money since the salary cap started, ONE. And that was Dubinsky.

I think Stepan is as important as McDonagh and should be treated the same.

jimbro, if you really care about getting a value contract at as low of a cap hit as possible so it's a bargain in the long run, then dragging out the negotiations until stepan caves is the best way to do it. stepan has ZERO leverage. he's gonna sit out? okay, then good luck making the US Olympic squad while 4 out of brassard, richards, miller, boyle, and lindberg pivot this team until he ends up caving anyway.

would you rather sather sign him to a 5 mil a year deal for 6 years today, or a 3.8 mil a year deal for 4/5 years a week before the season start?

it's similar to would you rather sather trade MDZ + kreider + stepan + 1st for nash at the deadline, or stick to his guns and trade dubi + anisimov + 1st for nash in the summer?