Cap-Crunched Rangers Free Up A Few Mil By Moving Cam Talbot & Carl Hagelin
Cam Talbot & pick #209 to the Oilers for #57, #79 & #184
Moving Talbot wasn’t a surprise at all. Expectations of a first-rounder were unrealistic without the Rangers having to either give up/take on more, but I did think they’d come out a little better than pick #57 (which they subsequently traded to the Caps for #62 & #113). Waiting until the trade deadline though would’ve stripped his value even more, so Slats got all he could instead of letting Killa Cam walk at the end of the year.
Carl Hagelin, #59 & #179 to the Ducks for Emerson Etem & #41 (6’2″ winger Ryan Gropp)
Moving Hags came as a surprise. Even though I had said in my season wrap-up he could be the cap casualty, it still stings. Hagelin was as reliable a bottom-six forward as there is – speed, effort & solid two-way play – but the soon-to-be 27 year-old most likely due $3 mil/year or more just couldn’t fit. The Blueshirts have some depth on the PK though, and the 23 year-old former first-round pick Emerson Etem most likely hasn’t reached his ceiling like Hags has. He’s bigger, can skate (although not like #62) & has a more offensive skill set compared to stone hands Hagelin. Take a look:
In a perfect world, the Rangers would’ve kept Hagelin but moving him for Etem opened up an extremely valuable couple mil to wrap up Stepan, Fast, Miller and a replacement for Cam. Plus they still may have a little flexibility to add another piece & who knows what Etem or Gropp (30 goals in 67 WHL games) become. They managed to help themselves now while building for the future – and don’t forget there’s more money to be spent next off-season on Kreider, Hayes & Yandle. Looking big picture, Sather had himself a solid day no matter how much I’m gonna miss the NHL’s best flow.
**UPDATE**
Rangers select small, speedy, two-way possession winger Robin Kovacs from Sweden with the 62nd pick. 62. Sound familiar?
**ANOTHER UPDATE**
Looks like the Rangers new Hank insurance will be 26 year-old Antti Raanta, who they acquired for undrafted 22 year-old prospect Ryan Haggerty. Raanta comes at half the cap hit of Talbot & played very well in limited duty with the Blackhawks this year (7-4-1, 1.89, .936, 2 SO in 12 games). Very solid pickup over a veteran bum they’d probably have to pay more for. Seems like a decent bet to be a Talbot clone.