It’s two restricted free agents signed and three to go for the Rangers in this productive first full week of July after Michael Sauer and Artem Anisimov re-upped yesterday with a minimum of fuss and muss.
Sauer, who became an essential top-four, shutdown defenseman in his rookie season paired with Ryan McDonagh, signed a two-year deal for $1.25 million per season. Anisimov, who had a productive sophomore season centering Brandon Dubinsky and Ryan Callahan much of the way, signed for two years at $1.875 million per.
Anisimov, who recorded 44 points (18-26) and averaged 16:12 of ice time per game, did not have salary arbitration rights coming off his Entry Level deal. Yet he was able to more than double his base salary after at least one KHL team expressed interest in bringing home the big 23-year-old Russian with the emerging game.
Sauer, who turns 24 early next month, was a revelation in leading the Rangers with a plus-20 rating, fourth best among NHL freshmen. He also more than doubled his wages after filing for salary arbitration on Tuesday.
The twin signings completed a week that began with the additions of unrestricted free-agent targets Brad Richards and Mike Rupp and the retention of favored unrestricted winger Ruslan Fedotenko.
Now general manager Glen Sather and assistant GM Jeff Gorton face talks with Dubinsky, Callahan and Brian Boyle — the three remaining unsigned free agents — that could take some time to reach fruition, with all three forwards seeking long-term contracts after having filed for salary arbitration.
The dates of the three arbitration hearings were set yesterday; Dubinsky is scheduled as first up on July 21, Boyle next on July 25 and Callahan last on July 28. The parties will continue to negotiate until either a deal is reached or a hearing is held.
The filings triggered a second buyout window for the Rangers that will be open for 48 hours starting three days after the last arbitration-eligible player’s case is settled, either through a hearing or a negotiated deal.
Winger Wojtek Wolski, who carries a $3.8 million cap hit, would appear to be in jeopardy of a buyout. The 25-year-old winger, as much of an enigma in New York after coming to the Blueshirts in January in exchange for Michal Rozsival as he had been in previous stops in Phoenix and Colorado, can be bought out at a one-third rate because he is under age 26.
A Wolski buyout would come with a cap charge of $467,000 this year — a saving of $3.33 million — and $667,000 for 2012-13. The Blueshirts already are committed to carrying $3.717 million of dead space this year and $1.667 million of dead space the following season resulting from the Chris Drury buyout.