"Chasm" In Talks Between Rangers, RFA Staal

 

The New York Rangers are historically one of the most active organizations when it comes to throwing out big money for big name players in unrestricted free agency. But this year, the team's main priority revolves around getting its own pending restricted free agents inked. No player in that group is more important for New York than its top defenseman, Marc Staal.

Since being drafted by the Rangers in the first round (12 overall) in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, the middle Staal has developed into the most reliable blueliner in the organization. When it comes to defending his own zone and shutting down other teams' top forwards, Staal is the guy. And it is therefore imperative that General Manager Glen Sather get him re-signed for the long haul if there is to be continued growth and success from within the organization.

According to The New York Post's Larry Brooks, it does not appear the rightful amount of progress is being made to get the most imporant task on the Rangers' offseason list accomplished.

The reality is that when asked if there is a wide gulf separating the parties, Sather replied: "I wouldn't say it's a wide gulf, I would say it's more like a chasm."

Brooks notes that Staal is believed to be seeking a deal in the neighborhood of $3.5 to 4 million a year for four years.. But, as Michael Obernauer of The New York Daily News points out, Sather and his agent, legendary defenseman Bobby Orr, do not have much leverage. While he can sign an offer sheet as a restricted free agent if one comes his way starting Thursday, he cannot file for salary arbitration. Holding out is his only recourse.

Because of that, this situation is being likened to what happened last year with Brandon Dubsinky.

"I'd like to have it done," Sather said, according to Obernauer. "In Staal's situation, he's in exactly the same position Dubinsky was in last year. Where that's going to end up is anyone's imagination. He's a good player, we like him - just like Dubinsky: we'd like to have him back, we think he's got a long future, we're going to treat him fairly. Sometimes agents don't recognize that - leverage works both ways."

Sather refused to give in to Dubinsky's contract demands and the center would sit out for the beginning of training camp - a move that immediately put him in head coach John Tortorella's doghouse. Eventually, the two sides were able to agree on a contract, and Dubinsky is now entering the second year of a two-year, $3.7 million deal.

Staal is unlikely to make that kind of concession. But according to a Twitter post by Brooks, he might not even have to. Reportedly, the Rangers have already made a solid first offer to Staal, which was not the case last year with Dubinsky.

If Staal is actually looking for a contract in the $3.5 to 4 million ballpark, it's hard to imagine what Sather's "reasonable" first offer could possibly be. The fact that the Rangers are paying guys like Wade Redden and Michael Roszival $6.5 million and $5 million a year, respectively, then $4 million per season does not seem like an outlandish figure for Staal considering his importance to the Rangers. A four-year, $16 million contract for Staal is more than reasonable - probably far more "reasonable" than what Sather offered already based on his prior stinginess with his own RFA's.

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Staal is not the only player Sather must handle within the coming weeks. The Rangers are expected to extend a qualifying offer to Brandon Prust, who was acquired alongside Olli Jokinen in the trade with Calgary last year, according to Steve Zipay of Newsday. Prust was a big physical presence and contributed on the score sheet, as well. Erik Christensen is not expected to get the same treatment, though BlueShirt Banter reports that is because the Rangers hope to sign him for a longer-term deal at a cheap price.

Brooks has reported that Sather isn't in any rush to sign pending unrestricted free agent Jody Shelley, who was acquired for a fifth round pick from the Sharks last year, and became a key compenent of the Rangers' highly productive fourth line. Much like they lost Colton Orr to free agency last year, New York may bid adieu to another top notch enforcer on July 1.