So the Rangers took care of business signing Carl Hagelin and Justin Falk yesterday, leaving Derek Stepan and Mats Zuccarello as the club’s remaining unsigned restricted free agents.
Hagelin re-upped for a two-year deal that carries a cap hit of $2.25 million per while Falk, whom the Rangers acquired from the Wild at the NHL Draft, is in for one year at $975,000.
Zuccarello filed for salary arbitration yesterday. Stepan does not have arbitration rights.
The Rangers are at approximately $58.7 million on the $64.3 million season cap with a shadow roster of two goaltenders, seven defensemen and 11 forwards, including Hagelin and Ryan Callahan, whose projected absences the first few weeks of the season (postseason labrum surgery for both) complicate the matter.
The number includes approximately $217,000 devoted to Darroll Powe and Arron Asham as hypothetically waived veterans with the AHL Wolf Pack.
The shadow roster does not include forwards J.T. Miller ($832,500 base) or Danny Kristo ($875,000) or defenseman Aaron Johnson ($600,000).
Zuccarello, whose arbitration case will be a difficult one coming off three NHL seasons in which he has recorded 34 points (11 goals, 23 assists) in 67 games, is believed seeking in the neighborhood of $2 million per while the Rangers likely are offering around $1.5 million.
Stepan easily could make the argument he is worth around $4 million off of the last two seasons in which his 95 points (35-60) rank 17th among NHL centers—and third behind Steven Stamkos and John Tavares of those 23 or younger— but without the leverage that comes with arbitration, it is hard to believe he will be able to command close to that number.
Though there is a cushion of an additional $6.43 million built into the summer that would allow the club to go through training camp before cutting down to $64.3 million, the Blueshirts are attempting to operate under the constraints of the season cap.