The projected opening two-to-three week absences of top-six wingers Ryan Callahan and Carl Hagelin following their respective postseason labrum surgeries has created an opportunity for Mats Zuccarello to remain a Ranger, but it also has limited the cap space available to sign restricted free agent Derek Stepan.
Zuccarello, who might not have received a qualifying offer if not for the rehab confronting Callahan and Hagelin that is expected to go deep into October, signed a one-year, $1.15 million deal yesterday. He and the club thus avoided an arbitration hearing that had been scheduled for this morning.
The 24-year-old Norwegian, who recorded eight points (three goals, five assists) in 15 games after rejoining the Rangers in late March following a full KHL season in Magnitogorsk and had seven points (goal and six assists) in 12 playoff matches, will compete in training camp for at least a temporary spot on incoming coach Alain Vigneault’s top two lines.
Rick Nash has one such spot, andon lockdown Chris Kreider, Benoit Pouliot, J.T. Miller, Danny Kristo and Taylor Pyatt appear to be the other contenders.
The Rangers seem to have between $2.8-$3.6 million of roster-cap space with which to sign Stepan, the first-line center who is a restricted free agent without arbitration rights — and by extension, without leverage beyond withholding his services.
The Rangers could create additional space by placing either Callahan or Hagelin on Long-Term Injury, but a player must miss 10 games and 24 calendar days in order to qualify for the exemption.
The medical staff does not believe either winger will miss that much time to start the season that opens on Oct. 3 with a nine-game road trip concluding on Oct. 26. The Garden opener on Oct. 27 represents Game 10.
As such, the club will be forced to carry cap charges for 14 or 15 forwards (plus a combined $217,000 hit for Arron Asham and Darroll Powe if the veterans are waived through to the AHL Wolf Pack) through the opening few weeks of the season.
Hence, the squeeze on Stepan … unless a competitor steps in with an offer sheet the Rangers surely would match but would force general manager Glen Sather to make training camp roster moves not currently contemplated.