Jan Levine: With a week to ago, arbitration looming for Strome, Lemiuex and Rangers Clock is ticking....

I'd be interested in letting Strome walk and giving Granlund a shot.

I'd be interested in letting Strome walk and giving Granlund a shot.
- JRR1285

me too

me too
- jimbro83

I think you have someone in Granlund who I believe might be more skilled than Strome and is better in other areas of the game. You would also have him potentially playing with Panarin. Might see a career year out of Granlund.

I don't understand why everyone wants to get rid of Strome so quickly. He isn't a long term solution but has great chemistry with Panarin and will likely get a one year deal in arbitration if it goes there. Granlund would be another stop-gap center and is coming off a 30 point season where he struggled on a new team. Why risk him struggling here when we know what we have in Strome? Unless they can make a deal for a bonafide 2C like a Monahan I'd prefer they stick with Strome until they have the cap flexibility to find a longer term solution. Shuffling players just to shuffle them doesn't make sense to me.

Anything 5 or over Rangers need to put on their walking shoes

I don't understand why everyone wants to get rid of Strome so quickly. He isn't a long term solution but has great chemistry with Panarin and will likely get a one year deal in arbitration if it goes there. Granlund would be another stop-gap center and is coming off a 30 point season where he struggled on a new team. Why risk him struggling here when we know what we have in Strome? Unless they can make a deal for a bonafide 2C like a Monahan I'd prefer they stick with Strome until they have the cap flexibility to find a longer term solution. Shuffling players just to shuffle them doesn't make sense to me.
- SkjeiStadium

It all depends on the award.

I have no issue letting Strome walk if he wins either.

Make him a team friendly deal and let him decide whether he wants to play with Panarin in preparation for his next contract or whether he wants to fall back into the obscurity he was in before the Rangers traded for him.

I don't understand why everyone wants to get rid of Strome so quickly. He isn't a long term solution but has great chemistry with Panarin and will likely get a one year deal in arbitration if it goes there. Granlund would be another stop-gap center and is coming off a 30 point season where he struggled on a new team. Why risk him struggling here when we know what we have in Strome? Unless they can make a deal for a bonafide 2C like a Monahan I'd prefer they stick with Strome until they have the cap flexibility to find a longer term solution. Shuffling players just to shuffle them doesn't make sense to me.
- SkjeiStadium

it's the money thing with Strome for me

his numbers will say he's worthy of 5 million plus but he's not a 5 million dollar player and we don't have the extra cap room to handle giving him that kind of money and then have all of our bonus babies on the roster this year

It all depends on the award.
- mdw7413

Absolutely, I'm not advocating to overpay for him. But given what's been going on with the UFAs I really don't see a situation where he is awarded over $5M. I don't think he gets more than Tony's $4.8

it's the money thing with Strome for me

his numbers will say he's worthy of 5 million plus but he's not a 5 million dollar player and we don't have the extra cap room to handle giving him that kind of money and then have all of our bonus babies on the roster this year
- jimbro83

Exactly, without Panarin he is a 35 pt player. No (frank)ing way I pay anything approaching 5

Absolutely, I'm not advocating to overpay for him. But given what's been going on with the UFAs I really don't see a situation where he is awarded over $5M. I don't think he gets more than Tony's $4.8
- SkjeiStadium

Stranger things have happened.

Yea I agree with that. I guess where I'm coming from is that I don't think he gets over $5M. As long as they can fit him in without having to make sacrifices elsewhere in the roster I'm comfortable going into the season with the roster as is, which I'm including Strome and Lemieux in. If his award means they have to move pieces to fit him in then I agree we have to move on.

So with Strome it could be either a 1 or 2 year deal right?

it's the money thing with Strome for me

his numbers will say he's worthy of 5 million plus but he's not a 5 million dollar player and we don't have the extra cap room to handle giving him that kind of money and then have all of our bonus babies on the roster this year
- jimbro83

I think I posted this a few blogs back, there's a bunch of centers that are making north of 4 or 5 million now. I'm not sure it's a false statement to say he's a 5 million dollar player.

I understand not wanted to devote the cap resources, but he's going to get paid by someone.

I think I posted this a few blogs back, there's a bunch of centers that are making north of 4 or 5 million now. I'm not sure it's a false statement to say he's a 5 million dollar player.

I understand not wanted to devote the cap resources, but he's going to get paid by someone.
- 2sticks1puck

pre-covid, where everyone thought cap was going up to 88 million, next year 95 million and then 100 million, for sure, but I dont think so anymore

Exactly, without Panarin he is a 35 pt player. No (frank)ing way I pay anything approaching 5
- mdw7413

He got 33 in 63 games on a god awful team here without Panarin. I'm not saying he's magically going to be a 70 point guy, but at some point people have to acknowledge that he's produced the minute he put our uniform on. Hasn't been just a Panarin thing.

pre-covid, where everyone thought cap was going up to 88 million, next year 95 million and then 100 million, for sure, but I dont think so anymore
- jimbro83

Covid cap environment is going to make a huge difference. It's a huge decision if they want to allocate the cap for Strome. In a vacuum, I'd give him the 5 million because I really don't think that number is outrageous. I don't think he's as good as Hayes, but when you start comparing him to some of the other larger contracts for centers, I'd say Strome at 5 is a reasonable number

Unless we make a trade, he actually sort of has us by the balls. We really don't have an internal option on the roster that has shown they can step into that role. If Strome isn't on the team, who is going to be the 2C? Any options in UFA probably will cost a few million themselves.

Covid cap environment is going to make a huge difference. It's a huge decision if they want to allocate the cap for Strome. In a vacuum, I'd give him the 5 million because I really don't think that number is outrageous. I don't think he's as good as Hayes, but when you start comparing him to some of the other larger contracts for centers, I'd say Strome at 5 is a reasonable number

Unless we make a trade, he actually sort of has us by the balls. We really don't have an internal option on the roster that has shown they can step into that role. If Strome isn't on the team, who is going to be the 2C? Any options in UFA probably will cost a few million themselves.
- 2sticks1puck

I'd rather have Granlund at 3 million then Strome at 5 million in 2020-21, if that were possible, but if Strome and Granlund are making the same amount I'd choose Strome

if Strome was still making 3.1 million I'd be like hell yeah

He got 33 in 63 games on a god awful team here without Panarin. I'm not saying he's magically going to be a 70 point guy, but at some point people have to acknowledge that he's produced the minute he put our uniform on. Hasn't been just a Panarin thing.
- 2sticks1puck

He had a 26 point jump playing with Panarin. Like I said I think he is a 35 pt player. Nothing says he can be more than that based on his history, except the one other good year with the Isles when he was a rookie, he has not been a point producer.

I'd rather have Granlund at 3 million then Strome at 5 million in 2020-21, if that were possible, but if Strome and Granlund are making the same amount I'd choose Strome

if Strome was still making 3.1 million I'd be like hell yeah
- jimbro83

Granted covid has a say in this and he did have a down year, but Granlund's last contract was a cap hit of 5.7, why would anyone think even if he took a haircut, he would only get 3? I think maybe you get Granlund at 4 if he's desperate. I just can't see someone who before last year averaged 55 pts a year taking a 50% paycut.

Covid cap environment is going to make a huge difference. It's a huge decision if they want to allocate the cap for Strome. In a vacuum, I'd give him the 5 million because I really don't think that number is outrageous. I don't think he's as good as Hayes, but when you start comparing him to some of the other larger contracts for centers, I'd say Strome at 5 is a reasonable number

Unless we make a trade, he actually sort of has us by the balls. We really don't have an internal option on the roster that has shown they can step into that role. If Strome isn't on the team, who is going to be the 2C? Any options in UFA probably will cost a few million themselves.
- 2sticks1puck

I still think if Strome walks you put Chytil there and see what happens. Its going to be a screwed up season anyway again with a ton of young guys. He has to get a shot at some point, because his game is not for a 3rd line center. So you put him there this year and if it doesn't work out, maybe they move on from him next year.

They will have a lot more flexibility next year money wise to make bigger changes.

He had a 26 point jump playing with Panarin. Like I said I think he is a 35 pt player. Nothing says he can be more than that based on his history, except the one other good year with the Isles when he was a rookie, he has not been a point producer.
- mdw7413

Honestly, I think he's a 45-50 pt guy. I think alot of his lack of production can be attributed to Edmonton being a dumpster fire, and don't forget towards the end of NYI he had Tavares and Barzal on the roster to contend with.

If you don't want to pay that kind of player 5 million I get it, I'm just trying to dispel the notion that it would be a massive overpayment. When you look around the league to comparable it really isn't. I get that he is a more all around player, but we literally gave out a 6.5 million dollar contract to Stepan who was a 50 point player.

I'd rather have Granlund at 3 million then Strome at 5 million in 2020-21, if that were possible, but if Strome and Granlund are making the same amount I'd choose Strome

if Strome was still making 3.1 million I'd be like hell yeah
- jimbro83

I think it depends on the future intention of the 2C position. If the plan is to sign Strome/Granlund for a 1 year deal and trade them at the deadline, I'd rather sign Strome who we know will produce and therefore have value, as opposed to someone like Granlund who may struggle out of the gate and not be worth as much. Especially considering the pro-rated cap difference at that point won't be very different.

Honestly, I think he's a 45-50 pt guy. I think alot of his lack of production can be attributed to Edmonton being a dumpster fire, and don't forget towards the end of NYI he had Tavares and Barzal on the roster to contend with.

If you don't want to pay that kind of player 5 million I get it, I'm just trying to dispel the notion that it would be a massive overpayment. When you look around the league to comparable it really isn't. I get that he is a more all around player, but we literally gave out a 6.5 million dollar contract to Stepan who was a 50 point player.
- 2sticks1puck

Jimbo gonna get you for this