Less than two weeks after the Rangers survived their Rick Nash injury scare, their plus-minus leader, defenseman Ryan McDonagh, is headed overseas to play in the Russia-based Kontinental league.
The 23-year-old has signed to play for Barys Astana of Kazakhstan, where former Ranger Nigel Dawes is already on the roster.
McDonagh rebounded from a Matt Cooke elbow in his rookie year to play all 82 regular-season games last season. He had seven goals and 25 assists and a plus-minus rating of plus-25.
Nash suffered a minor shoulder injury last month while playing for Davos in the Swiss league, reminding teams that they can lose major players during the lockout.
Meanwhile, the Negotiations to Nowhere resume today in Midtown, with the NHL and its players association again expected to avoid the crucial issue of hockey’s revenue split.
This lockout, which completes its first month Monday night, has already cost the NHL the first two weeks of the season, which was due to open tomorrow. The owners want a significant cut in the players’ share of revenue, while the players have been willing to moderate the increase in their pool, but not accept an outright pay cut.
The league has modified its July proposal of a slashing of the players’ share from the current 57 percent to 43 percent, last offering a deal based on an immediate cut to 49 percent, dropping to 46 percent over six years. The players have offered to limit the amount of their net share increase, from its current $1.87 billion to $2.1 billion over three years.
Among side issues already discussed are pension, medical treatment and travel arrangements.