Regarding the Rangers, on the cusp of Reconstruction:
The Post has learned the Blueshirts do not intend to buy out the remainder of Dan Girardi’s contract, which has four years remaining at an annual $5.5 million cap charge.
In addition, sources report management has not requested the alternate captain to waive his no-move clause (which will be replaced by a modified no-trade following 2016-17). Further, no such request is expected.
The series of injuries the 32-year-old played through last season was a factor in his stark decline. A summer of rest should prove beneficial.
That said, it is difficult to envision the Rangers going into training camp with Girardi penciled in as their first-pair right defenseman, even as the club anticipates what is likely to become the “new normal” from No. 5.
If not Girardi, it is unclear who would inherit the assignment, but sources indicate the Blueshirts are extremely unlikely to pursue St. Louis’ Kevin Shattenkirk in a trade. With only one year at a reasonable $4.25 million remaining on his contract, it likely would take a six-year commitment at upward of $6.5 million per to keep Shattenkirk off the 2017 open market. That’s an investment the Rangers are not going to be willing to make.
Communication remains open between the Blueshirts and Keith Yandle, still far more likely to depart than to remain. But even as The Post has learned No. 93 is not committed to getting to July 1 at the exclusion of negotiating with general manager Jeff Gorton, the price tag — expected to be a minimum $45 million over seven years — is likely to be too expensive for the Rangers.
Of course Rick Nash is available — as is everyone in the organization other than Henrik Lundqvist, Brady Skjei and Pavel Buchnevich. The Rangers, we’re told, are prepared to listen to offers for everyone.
That includes Ryan McDonagh, Derek Stepan, Derick Brassard, Chris Kreider and Kevin Hayes, each player’s availability, of course, will be dependent upon the exchange rate in return. But nothing is off the table. And the Wild are believed to have serious interest in native Minnesotan Stepan.
Chances are extremely remote that the Blueshirts will get in on the bidding for Steven Stamkos, who is expected to command $70 million over seven years when the idled Tampa Bay captain reaches free agency.
Aside from the matter of being unable to insure Stamkos’ contract against a recurrence of the blood-clot condition that has sidelined him (though it is not likely to be an aside for teams pursuing No. 91), the Rangers essentially would have to clear $16 million of space in order to sign No. 91 and fill in the remainder of the roster.
And even if Nash’s $7.8 million comes off the books, it is unlikely to be accomplished in a trade through which the Rangers don’t either have to take a relatively pricey contract in return or retain a significant portion of No. 61’s cap charge. So dealing Nash is not going to represent a $7.8 million savings.
The Rangers — who by the way are 3-8 in their last 11 playoff games against the conference finalist Lightning and Penguins while allowing at least five goals in five of them — don’t have a difference-maker on the roster, but even though Stamkos is expected to be the only elite option on the free-agent market, management is expected to renovate through trades rather than splashy free-agent signings.
But there is this exception:
Expect the Rangers to be in big-time on pending free-agent winger Jimmy Vesey of Harvard, who will become available on Aug. 15 when the Predators lose the rights to the 66th overall selection of the 2012 entry draft.
Common wisdom has the North Redding, Mass., native signing with either the Maple Leafs (for whom his father works) or the hometown Bruins, but there is every reason to believe the Blueshirts will be serious players on this one.