OTTAWA – Glen Sather has told agents representing more than one of the Rangers’ five significant impending unrestricted free agents that he has no intention of signing any of them prior to July 1, The Post has learned.
Thus, barring an unexpected preemptive strike via a trade, the Blueshirts will enter the free agency market with a skeleton roster, absent first- and second-line wingers and a No. 1, first-pair defenseman, and with Jaromir Jagr, Sean Avery, Martin Straka, Brendan Shanahan and Michal Rozsival all free to solicit offers.
The GM has not made a post-season offer to any of the aforementioned athletes. And while Sather most certainly will check in with Jagr – who has heard sounds of silence loudly and clearly – and with Shanahan, it appears increasingly likely Avery will not be invited to return and that the team will seek to replace Rozsival.
It is believed the Kings’ dismissal of head coach Marc Crawford has opened the door for Avery’s return to LA. In a most ironic twist of fate, the Rangers may consider signing Avery antagonist and foil Darcy Tucker if he is bought out by the Maple Leafs, though the Toronto winger is but the most pale of imitations at this stage of his career.
Trade talk and free-agent posturing are dominating the lead-in to the first round of the Entry Draft that will be conducted here tonight, with the second through seventh rounds to follow tomorrow. Contrary to reports, the Rangers have not actively sought to improve their 20th overall draft position.
Indeed, the Blueshirts may well move down in exchange for an extra selection. If they do that, they may take a shot at Jared Staal, the Sudbury winger who is ranked 42d among North American skaters by Central Scouting, and is the youngest (and last) of the hockey brothers.
Still, while the immediate focus is the Entry Draft, which is being advertised as featuring the deepest pool in years – big help that is if the wrong choice is made, cough, cough, 2003 – Sather and management are doing their due diligence on the free-agent class.
Sources have told The Post impending free agent defenseman Brian Campbell, whom the Sharks rented from Buffalo at a trade deadline cost of Steve Bernier and a first-round pick, will not return to San Jose. The Rangers are going to be in on Campbell, a close friend of Chris Drury.
They also will be keenly interested in the price tag that Ottawa free agent Wade Redden will carry as a first-pair, power-play-directing operative. They continue to be very interested in physical Pittsburgh defenseman Brooks Orpik.
With Marian Hossa expected to be too expensive for the Rangers’ liking if he hits free agency, the Blueshirts appear inclined to attempt to trade for a first-line right wing if Jagr does not return – the Sharks are dangling Jonathan Cheechoo – though there is an outside possibility of a Group II offer sheet being presented to the Flyers’ Jeff Carter. The Kings’ Mike Cammalleri and Vancouver’s Ryan Kesler also are believed available.
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The Islanders, who have the fifth-overall pick in the draft, are likely to face a choice between grabbing one of the imposing defensemen at the top – Drew Doughty, Zach Bogosian, Alex Pietrangelo and Luke Schenn – or going after Russian winger Nikita Filatov, who is committed to playing in North America next year.
Penguins are indeed exploring the possibility of dealing Evgeni Malkin in order to construct a package of between $7.5-8M per to prevent Hossa from becoming a free agent. Red Wings are believed interested in Hossa if he hits the market.