The Rangers are expected to know by early afternoon whether Dan Boyle, their primary target moving into tomorrow’s trade deadline, will be available.
The Post has learned that Tampa Bay ownership and management will meet this morning to consider the feasibility of signing the impending free agent defenseman to a contract extension that is likely to come at a cost of between $6.5-7M for five or six seasons.
If negotiations between the club and Boyle fail to produce an agreement, GM Jay Feaster will then ask Boyle to provide a list of teams for which he’d be willing to waive his no-trade clause. The Rangers would be at the top of a very short list, should the 31-year-old, dynamic game-changer agree to that request.
Sources have told The Post that the Rangers’ interest in Boyle goes far deeper than merely acquiring the defenseman as a rental. Indeed, it is believed that GM Glen Sather would ask for permission to negotiate a long-term contract with Boyle, among the most feared power play quarterbacks in the NHL, prior to pulling the trigger on a trade.
The Boyle situation is complicated by incoming ownership’s strong preference that Brad Richards, whose contract runs for three more seasons at $7.8M, be moved as a pre-condition to keeping the defenseman. The Post has learned that Richards, who also has a no-trade clause, has provided Feaster a list of teams he’d be willing to join, though the Coyotes, one of the club’s on the list, have rejected the Lightning’s advances.
The Rangers would be able to absorb the cost of a long-term Boyle contract because of the number of young forwards under Entry Level contracts – plus top-tier defenseman Marc Staal and top-tier blue line prospect Bobby Sanguinetti – projected to form the roster’s core over the next couple of years.
Contrary to reports, the Rangers have no interest whatsoever in Toronto defenseman Bryan McCabe. The Blueshirts do have interest in renting St. Louis’ prospective free agent defenseman Barret Jackman, but the price in return is expected to be far too high for Sather’s liking. Adam Foote has indicated a desire to sign a new deal in Columbus rather than become a rental; in any case, Foote is believed to have no interest in waiving his no-trade to come to New York.
As reported in yesterday’s Post, the Rangers are keenly interested in winger Rob Schremp, Edmonton’s 2004 first-rounder who is toiling in Springfield (AHL) and has fallen out of favor with GM Kevin Lowe. Schremp, an offensive talent who was selected 25th overall, subsequently recorded 57 goals and 145 points for OHL London in 2005-06.
The Post has learned that Hugh Jessiman, the 12th overall selection in 2003 who has made considerable progress this season and is currently projected to compete for a spot on next season’s Rangers’ roster, has been part of the conversation with the Oilers. Lowe, however, is believed to be asking for much more than Jessiman.
That would be poetic justice, for one club official who has dealt recently with Sather told The Post, “Glen is trying to win every deal, 10-0. That’s not going to happen.”