PITTSBURGH — Impending free agent Brandon Prust is likely in his final days as a Ranger, general manager Glen Sather told The Post last night before the first round of the Entry Draft.
“I don’t think we’re going to get that one done,” said the GM, whose club selected defenseman Brady Skjei from the USA-Under 18 Development Team with the 28th overall pick in the draft. “I like him, the team likes him, everybody likes him … but I’m not married to him.”
Prust, who tied for the NHL lead with 20 fighting majors and of whom coach John Tortorella said on breakup day, “I love the guy,” is eligible to hit the open market on July 1.
The 28-year-old winger, who is coming off a two-year deal in which he earned $800,000 per, is believed to be seeking a three-year contract in the range of $6.6 million while the Rangers are offering approximately $1.2 million less than that over the life of the contract.
Meanwhile, as talks with Columbus regarding Rick Nash have again run into a brick wall due to the laughable demands of Jackets GM Scott Howson, discussions with the Ducks concerning Bobby Ryan have not advanced and an attempt to get in on the action for Jordan Staal before the Penguins sent the center to the Hurricanes did not get far, the Rangers have received a significant number of inquiries regarding Brandon Dubinsky’s availability, two well-placed sources have told The Post.
Unless the Blueshirts are able to acquire a gunner either in a trade or in free agency — the latter of which would require a suspension of disbelief regarding Zach Parise renouncing interest in crossing the Hudson—the club doesn’t appear poised to deal Dubinsky, whose value is at an all-time low after the 26-year-old, five-year veteran posted career worsts in goals (10) assists (24) and points (34) in 77 games.
According to one plugged-in party, clubs inquiring about Dubinsky are interested in moving him back to his natural center position after he had spent the last two years at left wing.
Dubinsky, who will be entering the second season of a four-year contract carrying a cap hit of $4.2 million per, would be part of any hypothetical trade for Nash, but the likelihood of a deal is nil unless Howson returns to Planet Earth.
The Ducks are seeking inexpensive young talent in return for Ryan. Derek Stepan ($850,000) fits neatly into that category, but The Post has been told the Blueshirts are not willing to include their 22-year-old sophomore center in a package for Anaheim’s high-scoring 25-year-old left wing.
Skjei, a Minnesota native described as “an elite skater with a bomb [of a shot]” by Rangers director of player personnel Gord Clark, is entering his freshman year at the University of Minnesota.
The Pittsburgh-Carolina deal was the most dramatic of the night, the Penguins sending Jordan Staal to the Hurricanes to join his older brother Eric, in exchange for last night’s eighth overall selection (defenseman Derrick Pouliot) and two other players.
Jordan Staal has one year remaining on his contract after having rejected a 10-year, $60 million offer from Pittsburgh on Thursday, but Carolina GM Jim Rutherford expressed confidence the ’Canes would sign the center to a long-term extension.
“For many years the family has said that they wanted to play together, and now they are together so I don’t know why he’d want to go somewhere else,” said Rutherford, who stared straight ahead stone-faced and silent when asked if his next move would be to acquire Marc Staal from the Rangers.
The Blueshirts’ alternate captain, who has three years remaining on his contract, is not available.