Rangers Focus On D: Girardi Re-Signed, Eminger Acquired & Staal Still In Limbo

Unlike most summers in The Big Apple, the New York Rangers did not enter this offseason with the intention of making wild blockbuster deals. Instead, the main priority was locking up key contributors from within the organization while adding more minor pieces here and there through free agency and the trade market.

General Manager Glen Sather has pretty much stuck to that game plan. He ensured the returns of forwards Erik Christensen, Vaclav Prospal and Brandon Prust while adding enforcer Derek Boogaard and backup goaltender Marty Biron into the mix.

On Friday, Sather turned his attention toward defense, where he re-signed a key restricted free agent and acquired some blue line depth in a deal with the Anaheim Ducks.

That key restricted free agent was none other than 26-year old Dan Girardi. The undrafted Welland, Ontario native agreed to a new four-year deal that will pay him $13.3 million over the lifetime of the contract. His annual cap hit to the Rangers will be $3.325 million, and he will earn actual salaries of $3.1 million next year and $3.4 million in each of the following three seasons (per CapGeek.)

Girardi is a valuable defensive asset to the Rangers and possesses the best shot blocking on the team. He adds a bit on the offensive side of the puck and has shined on the power play at times. But his true worth is in his own zone. The price tag of $3.325 million is more than anticipated, but the very healthy pay raise represents the Rangers’ commitment to sticking with one of their own.

Sather would quickly look outside the organization for some depth, however. He swung a deal with the Ducks that brings Steve Eminger to Broadway and unloads fourth liner Aaron Voros and minor league Ryan Hiller on Anaheim.

Eminger, 26, represents a bit of a risk for the Rangers, considering they will be his sixth stop in the past three years. Drafted 12th overall in 2002 by the Washington Capitals, Emigner has largely failed to meet expectations. He has all-around capabilities, but failed to utilize his offensive skills as often as he should and could afford to tighten up his defensive game, too. In 63 games last year, he was only able to post four goals and 12 assists for 16 points alongside a plus-1 rating.

The risk is only slight, however, considering Voros has long been out of favor with Head Coach John Tortorella and Hiller is a far cry from the numerous elite-level prospects waiting to crack the lineup with the big club. Financially, Eminger has only one year remaining on his contract for $1.5 million and comes in at an even lower cap hit of $1.125 million (per CapGeek.) He will likely start the season as a sixth or seventh defenseman and gain more responsibility if he can prove himself to be more than the journeyman he’s developed into.

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One more major issue hanging over the team’s defensive corp is how close Sather is to locking up Marc Staal. Since being drafted 12th overall in 2005, Staal has steadily grown into the Rangers most important defensive presence. A bit limited on offensive, he is a stud in his own zone and is frequently looked upon to shut down some of the oppositions’ top forwards – most notably Washington Capitals superstar Alexander Ovechkin.

Staal was reportedly seeking a deal in the neighborhood of $4 million per season. He is worthy of that price tag, but Sather decided to play Brandon Dubsinky-esque hardball with him because he is a restricted free agent lacking arbitration rights. Like Dubinsky, that could lead to Staal holding out and missing some valuable training camp time come September.

Plus, Sather may have thrown in another obstacle with Girardi’s new deal. Staal’s value to the team is significantly higher than Girardi. Girardi not only doubled his salary from last year, but also received more money per year than he was seeking in arbitration (which was believed to be $3 million.) It would not be surprising to find out that Staal’s agent, Bobby Orr, was using Girardi’s contract to raise his own client’s asking price even higher than the figure Sather already doesn’t want to sign him for.

It's also possible that Staal does not want a long-term deal, which would obviously be Sather's preference. There were reports that Staal turned down a four-year, $14 million contract by the Rangers (average of $3.5 million a season) because he wishes to sign a one year deal in hopes of keeping his arbitration rights next summer.

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Figuring Sather is eventually able to lockup Staal, the Rangers defense still remains a bit of mystery heading into the 2010-11 campaign. There are a lot of options for the Rangers to choose from and some of those final decisions could be based on economics.

Wade Redden and Michal Rozsival make the most money of all Rangers defensemen, yet have failed to live up to their contracts. They are eating up $11.5 million per year in New York and have contributed little value in comparison to that figure. While Rozsival has, at times, been a decent play for New York, Redden has been an utter abomination since showing up on Broadway. He and his $6.5 million cap hit may get shipped to the minors before the start of next season. His fate will largely be determined by what he shows in training camp.

There is also the uncertainty surrounding Rangers youngsters. Michael Del Zotto more than earned his keep last season and Matt Gilroy showed enough maturity to at least begin the year in New York. Ryan McDonagh should also be afforded every opportunity to make the team after forgoing his senior season at Wisconsin to sign an entry level deal. But, Jyri Niemi, Pavel Valentenko and Nigel Williams should also be given a crack at training camp to earn a roster spot.

When Tortorella does set his opening night roster, I expect it to include Redden, Rozsival, Staal, Girardi, Del Zotto, Gilroy and Eminger. If Redden does end up being demoted, McDonagh would be the first in line to take his place.