There are many more offseason questions for the Rangers beyond the seemingly inevitable amnesty buyout of Brad Richards, and two unrestricted free agents who implied they were more out the door than back in were forward Brian Boyle and defenseman Anton Stralman.
Boyle has made it clear he is looking for a bigger offensive role, although he was proud of what he did this season as a member of the fourth line.
“I was on the fourth line, and I didn’t really like it, but it wasn’t the fourth line I was used to,” said Boyle, who had three postseason goals (one empty-netter) after six in the regular season. “We had three lines that could score on any shift — it was different, it was just different.”
After saying how much he loves the Rangers and the opportunity they gave him, Boyle relayed the message sent to him from coach Alain Vigneault.
“I know what my role would be coming back here,” said Boyle, likely looking for a two- or three-year deal in the range of $3 million to $4 million per. “In the playoffs and on a team that’s going to win in May and June, it’s an important role. But everybody wants to score more goals.”
Stralman was a top-four defenseman for the past two seasons, and is likely looking at an open-market value between $4 million and $5 million per on at least a three-year deal, if not longer.
“The only thing in my mind really is security for me and my family,” Stralman said. “We’ve been moving a lot — four teams in seven years. All we’re really looking for is stability, to stay in one place. This is obviously where we want. I’d like to stay. I hope it can happen. We’ll see.”
Stalwart defenseman Marc Staal said he hopes to have a contract extension in place before training camp, this upcoming season being the final one on his current contract.
“I think any hockey player would prefer to be locked up before you start playing,” Staal said. “It’s not going to be the end of the world if nothing happens, but, obviously, you’d rather something be done than not.”
Defenseman Dan Girardi said he dislocated his right pinkie in Game 2 against the Kings, but had it set and was no worse for the wear. … Backup goalie Cam Talbot said he broke a bone in his hand during warm-ups for Game 6 of the conference finals against the Canadiens, and couldn’t hold a stick. He didn’t need surgery, and his timetable would have been to get back on the ice on this past Sunday. … Restricted free-agent forwards Mats Zuccarello, Derick Brassard and Chris Kreider all expressed their desire to return.
That desired was reciprocated by Vigneault, who said of Zuccarello, “I definitely want Mats to be at training camp next year, so I want him to get his contract issues taken care of.” As for Kreider, Vigneault said, “As he gets more experience, he’s got a tremendous amount of upside. I see a real bright future for that young man.”
Assistant coach Ulf Samuelsson is a hot candidate for a couple head coaching vacancies, including the Hurricanes.
Yet Vigneault was not willing to admit a contingency plan for the possibility of Samuelsson leaving.
“I don’t know where we are with that,” Vigneault said, before a team spokesman added: “We’re nowhere official yet.”