The Rangers would never do it because of the huge PR fallout. What teams routinely forget is, winning makes that blow over real quickly. It was easy for example for the Yankees to void Arod because he wasn't likable like Hank is. The same reasons though the Yankees used (in a cap free league mind you), are the same reasons that would be relevant to Hank.

What I would like to see as a fan is for the team to convince Hank to make this his last year. Make it seem like it was 100% Hank's decision. Maybe you only play Hank mostly at home. Have a cushy front office role lined up for him, for darn sure he can be a spokesperson.
- 2sticks1puck

Those are all valid points. But the issue here is that if the winning doesn't happen right away it could be bad quick. Combine that with Hank not retiring post buyout and having a good year somewhere else, it could be really bad.

Only $1mil comes off the cap, same as if Beleskey was sent down.
- airjan23

1.35 for Smith

His dead cap hit is around 5mil next year. 3.6 this year and 2mil the last 2 years. Or he just rides out his contract for 2 more years. I am so tired of the dead cap space and having dead space due to buying out Lundqvist would just be ridiculous. If he were bought out (not happening) I would probably follow his new team as closely as the Rangers.

I am not sold on Georgiev, I have more faith in Shestyorkin which I know sounds about as asinine as the Hank buyout talk.
- JRR1285

It's pointless it would never happen

But yea I am in the minority that I think Georgiev and the Russian kid will be better than him this year.

Three hours left...

Three hours left...
- airjan23

I kind of hope nothing happens...

Would mean trades are in the works down the road

I hope Gorton just shows his big balls and buys out Hank
- TPC

Not happening

Not happening
- mdw7413

You missed the last 2 pages on this topic

Ya, I have a Hank jersey like everyone else, but there is a real chance he's the 3rd best goalie in our organization right now. Buying him out saves a ton of money. If you believe the reports, we gave him multiple attempts to approve a trade somewhere. Sports is a business, he is on the Rangers Mt Rushmore, but at some point you have to do what's best for the team. Even the Yankees convinced Jeter to hang em up.
- 2sticks1puck

IMO there is no reason to buy out Hank. I would guess there are multiple teams that would gladly take him in a trade. (CAR, OTT, CBJ, ARI, COL, SJ, VAN, NYI - to name a few)

You missed the last 2 pages on this topic
- TPC

Damn promotion cutting into my HB time

It's pointless it would never happen

But yea I am in the minority that I think Georgiev and the Russian kid will be better than him this year.
- TPC

I'm with you on that. As a fan I hope I'm wrong. Hank's big problem was that he was someone who had to play 60+ games to get into a groove, that's just who is was. I just don't think he's effective playing 40-50 games, and his body can't take the huge workload anymore. We can fault AV and Torts for not resting him more during his career, but he was a HoF goalie who needed tons of starts. It's sort of like Brodeur part 2.

Damn promotion cutting into my HB time
- mdw7413

I am not going to feel sorry for you since you are getting more money

IMO there is no reason to buy out Hank. I would guess there are multiple teams that would gladly take him in a trade. (CAR, OTT, CBJ, ARI, COL, SJ, VAN, NYI - to name a few)
- Crushers68

He has to approve any trade. That's the issue. The only team I could see him even remotely approving is SJ. It's rumored we finalized with Philly and he declined. Thought I heard something about SJ too, but I can't verify that.

Kreider 4.625 + Namestnikov 4 + Beleskey 1.9 + Fast 1.85 is 12.375 as a start.
- evitageN

I see you can add but last I looked we were 5 million over the cap now plus have to sign 2 players who might have a combined cap hit of 3 mil, (just saying). Now those 4 players three of which are regular roster players who will need to be replaced. Even if we use the 1 million per for the replacement players we will still have no cap space. Nice try. Ignorance is bliss.

I see you can add but last I looked we were 5 million over the cap now plus have to sign 2 players who might have a combined cap hit of 3 mil, (just saying). Now those 4 players three of which are regular roster players who will need to be replaced. Even if we use the 1 million per for the replacement players we will still have no cap space. Nice try. Ignorance is bliss.
- Brukie

Dude why are you trolling everyone?

That was legit the least attempt of a post to try to trigger someone. He was giving you an answer to your question.

I see you can add but last I looked we were 5 million over the cap now plus have to sign 2 players who might have a combined cap hit of 3 mil, (just saying). Now those 4 players three of which are regular roster players who will need to be replaced. Even if we use the 1 million per for the replacement players we will still have no cap space. Nice try. Ignorance is bliss.
- Brukie

dude, WTF is your problem

Dude why are you trolling everyone?

That was legit the least attempt of a post to try to trigger someone. He was giving you an answer to your question.
- TPC

It’s like reasoning with my wife, you can’t do it. I always tell her at work she is a (frank)ing genius at home not so much. Same rules may apply

I see you can add but last I looked we were 5 million over the cap now plus have to sign 2 players who might have a combined cap hit of 3 mil, (just saying). Now those 4 players three of which are regular roster players who will need to be replaced. Even if we use the 1 million per for the replacement players we will still have no cap space. Nice try. Ignorance is bliss.
- Brukie

you make most of these guys look like geniuses

I am not going to feel sorry for you since you are getting more money
- TPC

Now I can afford my mansion on the water I always wanted

Dude why are you trolling everyone?

That was legit the least attempt of a post to try to trigger someone. He was giving you an answer to your question.
- TPC

This is Tom's alt account. Instead of saying everyone else is right, he's going on the offensive and now attacking everyone.

Now I can afford my mansion on the water I always wanted
- mdw7413

Until your GF takes it from you...never get married

Now I can afford my mansion on the water I always wanted
- mdw7413

In Camden next to the sewage treatment plant. As if anyone needed a PSA not to eat anything out of the Delaware

This is Tom's alt account. Instead of saying everyone else is right, he's going on the offensive and now attacking everyone.
- TheMessiah94

I honestly think he is the only ranger fan in the world who is upset with this offseason. It is really mind numbing

It’s like reasoning with my wife, you can’t do it. I always tell her at work she is a (frank)ing genius at home not so much. Same rules may apply
- blueshirts_fan

IMO there is no reason to buy out Hank. I would guess there are multiple teams that would gladly take him in a trade. (CAR, OTT, CBJ, ARI, COL, SJ, VAN, NYI - to name a few)
- Crushers68

He would have to waive.

I kind of hope nothing happens...

Would mean trades are in the works down the road
- TPC

Buying him out would result in bad blood with him and the organization. He wants his ceremony, with his jersey hung from the rafters, he’ll have his night, but now he needs to go.

There’s nothing left here for him, but being in the way both on the ice, and cap wise. The issue with Hank is, he doesn’t want to leave NYC, not necessarily the Rangers. His public statements about being all in on the rebuild, is just another way of saying I ain’t leaving.

Trust me, he’s been approached several times in the past year or so, and asked if he waive his NMC, he’s said no, and that’s that.

I’d love to see both kids share the netminding duties this year, what a terrific way for them to learn and build confidence. And this notion that rookies can’t win is absurd. Just check whose name will be on the Stanley cup for the Blues. But it won’t happen, but at some point they might force Quinn’s hand.