He is insisting its going to happen too. No back off and insisting on the one for one deal. Maybe is the Tampa ownership saying to do it b/c of the bad blood that has clearly emerged bc of the Team Canada thing. Here is a question, why does USA hockey and Team Canada hire NHL GM's to pick the team? They can't find people not tied to an organization to do it to take that nonsense out?
- Blueshirts4ever

Because, at times, the NHL does inexplicable things. If you are Steve Yzerman, it's just hard to imagine why you wouldn't have taken the easy way out and put St. Louis on the team. Most people thought he belonged on the team anyway. I mean, for god's sake, he was the Art Ross Trophy winner last year. And now, you created this problem for the organization that pays your salary, and for whom you are trying to win a Cup with. It's flat out incompetence if you ask me.

That can only mean MSL has told the front office he wants out, and wants out badly. On even terms, that deal makes no sense the Bolts unless are sure the can and want to resign Cally.
- OLDSCHOOL#6

I'm sure they can sign Cally, MSL's salary comes off the books so they would have to come up with years and about a million more per, they might also be able to sell him on the lower tax burden in Florida vs NY. I know Buffalo his home and is his most likely destination as a UFA but Tampa, good team, fabulous climate, he might very well sign there. Maybe we get a precedent setting sign and trade?

no way. Not a chance I would do it with either of those options added.

2nd round pick maybe plus Callahan, but I am not giving up JT Miller's entire career for a year plus 20 games of Martin St. Louis.
- jimbro83

Agreed.

Because, at times, the NHL does inexplicable things. If you are Steve Yzerman, it's just hard to imagine why you wouldn't have taken the easy way out and put St. Louis on the team. Most people thought he belonged on the team anyway. I mean, for god's sake, he was the Art Ross Trophy winner last year. And now, you created this problem for the organization that pays your salary, and for whom you are trying to win a Cup with. It's flat out incompetence if you ask me.
- Pete V

It really is mind-numbing.

I'm sure they can sign Cally, MSL's salary comes off the books so they would have to come up with years and about a million more per, they might also be able to sell him on the lower tax burden in Florida vs NY. I know Buffalo his home and is his most likely destination as a UFA but Tampa, good team, fabulous climate, he might very well sign there. Maybe we get a precedent setting sign and trade?
- Blueshirts4ever

Here is my question, are the Rangers legitimate Cup contenders if they are able to make that trade? Does that trade do enough for them to put them on par with the Bruins or Penguins, or at least close?

no way. Not a chance I would do it with either of those options added.

2nd round pick maybe plus Callahan, but I am not giving up JT Miller's entire career for a year plus 20 games of Martin St. Louis.
- jimbro83

I think both organizations are going to face something of a backlash if this deal goes down. MSL has been the face of the Tampa Bay organization for years, and aside from us brain surgeons on this site, the Rangers fan base thinks it will be unforgiveable if the Rangers trade their heart and soul. An Interesting couple of weeks coming up.

Here is my question, are the Rangers legitimate Cup contenders if they are able to make that trade? Does that trade do enough for them to put them on par with the Bruins or Penguins, or at least close?
- Pete V

I think we all agree 5 on 5 they are as good as anyone. The PP would be improved immeasurably over the already apparent improvement. Throw MSL on that unit with Stepan and Nash while keeping the Brass, Zucc, Pouliot combo intact, my goodness. I still fear Boston b/c they are deep, skilled and tough, but I won't be as fearful of Pittsburgh anymore. Notice I said as fearful, i'm not foolish enough to believe they would be a shoe in but the gap closes.

I am not a big believer that Callahan is an automatic to sign in Buffalo after this year like a lot of people are.

Everybody I have ever known who was from Buffalo couldn't wait to get the hell out and never went back.

Who the heck likes living in Buffalo, when they have the option of living anywhere they want making millions?

I went to Buffalo once and it was closed. Isn't that the old joke?

I think both organizations are going to face something of a backlash if this deal goes down. MSL has been the face of the Tampa Bay organization for years, and aside from us brain surgeons on this site, the Rangers fan base thinks it will be unforgiveable if the Rangers trade their heart and soul. An Interesting couple of weeks coming up.
- OLDSCHOOL#6

what will be unforgiveable is if they let Callahan walk and don't get anything back for him.

I am not a big believer that Callahan is an automatic to sign in Buffalo after this year like a lot of people are.

Everybody I have ever known who was from Buffalo couldn't wait to get the hell out and never went back.

Who the heck likes living in Buffalo, when they have the option of living anywhere they want making millions?

I went to Buffalo once and it was closed. Isn't that the old joke?
- jimbro83

Tampa is a nice alternative isn't it. The only strike is its not a traditional hockey market but they have a damn good team

I think both organizations are going to face something of a backlash if this deal goes down. MSL has been the face of the Tampa Bay organization for years, and aside from us brain surgeons on this site, the Rangers fan base thinks it will be unforgiveable if the Rangers trade their heart and soul. An Interesting couple of weeks coming up.
- OLDSCHOOL#6

Honestly, it would be hard for me to imagine how the fanbase wouldn't be excited if they made that deal. Sure, people would be upset about letting Callahan go, but I think that would off-set (at least mostly) by the excitement of bringing St. Louis in. But, given my location, my only real interaction with the fanbase comes from this site, so I don't know much about what the reaction would be.

what will be unforgiveable is if they let Callahan walk and don't get anything back for him.
- jimbro83

Maybe. It's not like it hasn't happened every year with some team.

I think in both cases it's become personal, Sather doesn't like to be challenged by agents, we all know this, and now that the cat is out of the bag on MSL unhappiness, this might actually go down. But, make no mistake there will be ALOT of Ranger fans who will be upset.

Honestly, it would be hard for me to imagine how the fanbase wouldn't be excited if they made that deal. Sure, people would be upset about letting Callahan go, but I think that would off-set (at least mostly) by the excitement of bringing St. Louis in. But, given my location, my only real interaction with the fanbase comes from this site, so I don't know much about what the reaction would be.
- Pete V

The initial jolt would be tough, its hard for me to reconcile the fact that he is more than likely gone, but as fans we move on. I saw Leetch get traded, Messier walked, etc. Bringing in a highly productive player to an improving hockey team who plays lights out defensively and with Hank in net....I'll be over the jolt real quick.

That can only mean MSL has told the front office he wants out, and wants out badly. On even terms, that deal makes no sense the Bolts unless are sure the can and want to resign Cally.
- OLDSCHOOL#6

OK, he may have told them he wants out. He has no leverage though, he's under contract through next year. What's he going to do, stop playing the way he's played over his entire career? None of this makes sense!

OK, he may have told them he wants out. He has no leverage though, he's under contract through next year. What's he going to do, stop playing the way he's played over his entire career? None of this makes sense!
- TheMessiah94

If TB begins to feel they can sign Cally, it might make a little more sense.

OK, he may have told them he wants out. He has no leverage though, he's under contract through next year. What's he going to do, stop playing the way he's played over his entire career? None of this makes sense!
- TheMessiah94

Generally, organizations would rather rectify situations like this with MSL, than have a unhappy star player in the room, it begins to smell bad in there pretty quick.

Maybe. It's not like it hasn't happened every year with some team.

I think in both cases it's become personal, Sather doesn't like to be challenged by agents, we all know this, and now that the cat is out of the bag on MSL unhappiness, this might actually go down. But, make no mistake there will be ALOT of Ranger fans who will be upset.
- OLDSCHOOL#6

there are a lot of dumb Ranger fans out there though

There were a lot of Ranger fans who were angry we were buying out Drury, were angry we dumped Sean Avery.

Martin St. Louis coming here and scoring 10 goals in the last 20 games of the season will make that anger go away pretty quickly.

Ryan Callahan needs to sign a reasonable contract or he needs to be traded, end of story.

It's crazy that he's insisting on more money than Patrick kane makes.

Honestly, it would be hard for me to imagine how the fanbase wouldn't be excited if they made that deal. Sure, people would be upset about letting Callahan go, but I think that would off-set (at least mostly) by the excitement of bringing St. Louis in. But, given my location, my only real interaction with the fanbase comes from this site, so I don't know much about what the reaction would be.
- Pete V

At many games at MSG, there are two jerseys that far outnumber all the others, 24 and 30, and 30 will be around for 8 more years.

there are a lot of dumb Ranger fans out there though

There were a lot of Ranger fans who were angry we were buying out Drury, were angry we dumped Sean Avery.

Martin St. Louis coming here and scoring 10 goals in the last 20 games of the season will make that anger go away pretty quickly.

Ryan Callahan needs to sign a reasonable contract or he needs to be traded, end of story.

It's crazy that he's insisting on more money than Patrick kane makes.
- jimbro83

You like to use the word dumb a lot. You can't govern the way people feel about a player, a team, it's what the feel. Many don't have the level of fan sophistication as many on this site.

there are a lot of dumb Ranger fans out there though

There were a lot of Ranger fans who were angry we were buying out Drury, were angry we dumped Sean Avery.

Martin St. Louis coming here and scoring 10 goals in the last 20 games of the season will make that anger go away pretty quickly.

Ryan Callahan needs to sign a reasonable contract or he needs to be traded, end of story.

It's crazy that he's insisting on more money than Patrick kane makes.
- jimbro83

Callahan's reported demand is 7 years/$6.85 million per. If that is, indeed, true, I really wonder who the team is going to be that pays that price, or anything close to it. He would almost have to go to a rebuilding team that would pay a huge premium price for veteran leadership from whom the young guys could learn. But that asking price is just crazy.

Callahan's reported demand is 7 years/$6.85 million per. If that is, indeed, true, I really wonder who the team is going to be that pays that price, or anything close to it. He would almost have to go to a rebuilding team that would pay a huge premium price for veteran leadership from whom the young guys could learn. But that asking price is just crazy.
- Pete V

Or maybe that's not what he's asking for?

At many games at MSG, there are two jerseys that far outnumber all the others, 24 and 30, and 30 will be around for 8 more years.
- OLDSCHOOL#6

how many of those fans have a good understanding of the salary cap? and the implications of the salary cap if we caved into Callahan's demands for close to 7 million a year?

you can be a loyal fan, but still dumb.

There are a lot of fans who should just watch the games, go YAY! when the Rangers score and move on and not comment on blogs.

how many of those fans have a good understanding of the salary cap? and the implications of the salary cap if we caved into Callahan's demands for close to 7 million a year?

you can be a loyal fan, but still dumb.

There are a lot of fans who should just watch the games, go YAY! when the Rangers score and move on and not comment on blogs.
- jimbro83

Or maybe that's not what he's asking for?

And that's my point. There way more of those "Yay" fans, then there are here hashing this all out.

Here is my question, are the Rangers legitimate Cup contenders if they are able to make that trade? Does that trade do enough for them to put them on par with the Bruins or Penguins, or at least close?
- Pete V

It increases their chances but doesn't necessarily make them contenders, still think they need to add size, this roster spot would have been ideal to fill that need

Or maybe that's not what he's asking for?
- OLDSCHOOL#6

Maybe not. That's why I was using the word "if", but that is what is being reported by the so-called insiders. All I'm saying is that "if" its true, that's a crazy asking price. Not trying to start something here.