Rumor Mill: Boston Herald says Rangers still in mix for Phil Kessel

by Jim Schmiedeberg on Sep 17, 2009 8:27 AM EDT in NHL News

Whether its true, or just conjecture, the Rangers are still being mentioned as pursuers of Bruins winger Phil Kessel.

This is from today's Boston Herald: (click link for full story)

TORONTO - Because of the looming threat the Bruins [team stats] will not be able to match an offer sheet for free agent Phil Kessel [stats], two well-placed sources in Toronto said the team is close to pulling off a blockbuster trade involving the 21-year-old sniper.

According to the sources, the deal likely will be finalized within the next week, as four teams are in the running. Toronto and Nashville have made the best offers in talks with B’s general manager Peter Chiarelli. Minnesota and the New York Rangers also are in the mix.

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i dont see how it is true that the rangers are in the mix since we are approximately 2.5 mil under the cap at the moment and kessel wants 5 mil a year. In constructing a roster that is somewhat like based on what we have seen i took 13 forwards (after Kessel), 7 d-men, 2 goalies.

F: Gaborik, Prospal, Avery, Higgins, Drury, Kotalik, Artem, Cally, Boyle, Lisin, Brashear, Parenteau (cheap extra)

D: Staal, Girardi, Gilroy, Redden, Rozy, MDZ, Potter

G: Lundy, Vally

This roster pre kessel is about 3 mil under the cap so unless we can have the bruins take kotalik or rozy back i dont see this working cap wise. also i think there would be a HUGE level of hypocrisy here for the rangers to pay a guy who is holding out for more money as an rfa after refusing and bad mouthing Dubinsky for doing exactly the same thing.

by Michael Gleich on Sep 17, 2009 11:05 AM EDT reply actions

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Is it possible (or likely) that the Bruins are suggesting the Rangers are players for Kessel in order to bolster their own bargaining position with teams more likely to make an eventual trade? Everything I have seen indicates Toronto is the most likely destination for Kessel, outside of a rather unlikely resolution with the Bruins. Perhaps the Bruins’ front office is simply trying to convince Burke that he has competition for Kessel’s services and the Rangers’ reputation for being interested in any big name lends legitimacy to the idea.

by Reginald Perrin on Sep 17, 2009 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions

someones thinking like a gm

i like it

by Conway on Sep 17, 2009 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions

They can’t do that because it is lying to the press. Plus, Sather could deny any involvement if the Rangers weren’t in talks with the Bruins.

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by rmc235 on Sep 17, 2009 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions

QFT

“…i think there would be a HUGE level of hypocrisy here for the rangers to pay a guy who is holding out for more money as an rfa after refusing and bad mouthing Dubinsky for doing exactly the same thing.”

Along with everything else (e.g. cap issues) – this statement stands out.

by dbmaven on Sep 17, 2009 1:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Dubinsky’s days numbered?

by Tophubufu on Sep 17, 2009 11:40 AM EDT reply actions

Only if he keeps being stubborn

Sather has no reason to cave with Grachev looking ready to play and Prospal available for 1st line center duties.

I don’t know who is to blame but Dubi’s gonna have to suck it up and deal with it if he wants to see ice time this year. And even that’s tentative…I could certainly see Tortorella sending him a message and sitting him on the 4th line even if/when he does sign and making him earn his ES ice time.

Camp Tortorella - Where Vomit is a Mainstay

by George E. Ays on Sep 17, 2009 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions

at this point

i dont think the rangers will be budging on their contract so for dubi to stay he would have to stick his tail btw his legs and take the offer for 700k or whatever it was. and with each passing day of camp and preseason dubi seems more and more expendable so we will see soon if dubi ‘really wants to be a ranger’

by Conway on Sep 17, 2009 1:03 PM EDT reply actions

I'm starting to think

if Dubz really wanted to to be a Ranger he and is agent would realize they have no leverage and to wait sometime down the line to negotiate. This is becoming rediculous and tiring, just sign, go to camp, and move on.

by John Mjr on Sep 17, 2009 1:33 PM EDT reply actions

I’d rather let them play grachev and let him hit his rookie bumps now with torts to guide him… Torts turned St. Louis and Lecavalier into what they are… who better than torts for Grachev?

by Tophubufu on Sep 17, 2009 2:18 PM EDT reply actions

i actually agree with that entirely… It doesn’t seem so bad because losing Dubi would be giving way to more homegrown talent.
I love Dubi, but I’m sure I’d love Grachev just as much… AND I think Grachev has more potential than Dubi. He’s bigger, stronger, a better goal scorer and he works hard (though Dubi works hard too)…

Rumors are the Rangers are still looking for a veteran d-man. I haven’t been impressed with Semenov, and it doesn’t look like the coaches are either. I wonder if they’ll try to trade Dubi for a cheap vet d-man in some sort of package deal, or for prospects and sign someone like Boullion.

by j-red on Sep 17, 2009 2:43 PM EDT reply actions

i could see heikkenen filling the 7th spot… i think its very over played how they want a veteran d… i think it’s more likely they pick up a veteran d at the deadline than at the beginning of the season…

by Tophubufu on Sep 17, 2009 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions

look at it this way. matt duchene played with grachev this past season grachev put up a couple more points and duchene was drafted 3rd overall by colorado. Grachev is impressing the team more and more as each day passes and it looks like dubinsky’s days are numbered. I’m curious to see how this whole kessel situation plays out because I can’t see how the rangers can afford to pay him unless they get rid of a decent sized contract.

by jdileone on Sep 17, 2009 3:24 PM EDT reply actions

There is not enough cap room for Kessel, flat out.

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by Dave Shapiro on Sep 17, 2009 3:25 PM EDT reply actions

Well, if there is any truth at all to rumors of obtaining Kessel, there has certainly been internal talks about clearing the cap room to facilitate it.

But it’s also probably true that the only room to be cleared is the two R d-men, and given Tortorella is looking for more, not less veteran D-men, it’s ridiculously unlikely that either gets unloaded. So if that’s “flat out,” then that’s correct.

Camp Tortorella - Where Vomit is a Mainstay

by George E. Ays on Sep 17, 2009 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions

I think the kessel situation is just like it’s been said, a way to pull more from a team using the rangers as a ploy… however the bigger situation is dubinsky, is there room for both dubinsky and grachev? With Prospal taking most of the center duties in camp and in preseason games torts looks to have moved on from dubinsky, and i think it’s like the rangers give him the take it or leave it option today, if he wants more he’s gone or they’ll hold onto him and wait him out… he’s not going to want to sit out a season, that will make him earn less money next year…

by Tophubufu on Sep 17, 2009 3:48 PM EDT reply actions

They could pay Dubi double the so-called latest offer (700k, rumored) and still have cap space including Grachev.
If the offer remains at 700k, including Grachev they’d have 1.7mm remaining cap space with these 23 players:
Gaborik/Drury/Avery/Kotalik/Callahan/Higgins/Brashear/Prospal/Anisimov/Lisin/Grachev/Dubinsky/Boyle/Byers
Redden/Rozsival/Gilroy/Girardi/Sauer/Staal/Potter
Lundqvist/Valiquette
(using CAPGEEK.COM)

by dbmaven on Sep 17, 2009 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions

The Rangers are going to get Heatley….mark my words…….OK, just kidding. Hmmmmm, Kessel would not be a horrible signing and he has more tools than Dubinsky. I would beleive that the players going the other way would give some salary relief, a little anyway since Boston is maxed out. Dubinsky, Kotalik and a 2nd rounder? that would give us another 4 mil. + whatever we are currently under….2.5? for a total of about 6.5 to work with for Kessel. I can’t worry about who needs to be signed next offseason, it will work itself out. Can’t be a gun shy GM, or you handicap yourself in the present…..cause you may not be here in the future…….why pay Dubi anything more than he is under contract for? What has he done to earn the reputation of a 1st tier player? I’ll let you know….nothing. He is a solid 3rd liner., He is not going to turn the Rangers around on the first line. He is simply not the golden one that all of us are thinking he is. I would have rather kept Prucha for scoring ability. Dubi is a grinder, like Drury…..who himself should be a better first line center but he isn’t. Prospal will be the first line center even if Dubi signs.

by earthworm on Sep 17, 2009 4:32 PM EDT reply actions

The whole reason that Boston isn’t signing Kessel is that they don’t have money. They’re not going to take salary in return.

So the only way to trade for him is either a 3-way deal or to clear the cap elsewhere first.

Dream on that Kotalik gets traded..with his spot and PP skills + 3 year contract = he’s not going anywhere.

Camp Tortorella - Where Vomit is a Mainstay

by George E. Ays on Sep 17, 2009 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions

spot

= shot

Typing is hard.

Camp Tortorella - Where Vomit is a Mainstay

by George E. Ays on Sep 17, 2009 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Lwt me say, not give Kessel the whole 6.5…..that would be satherish. Say 4 to 4.25 for 3yrs.
Those are good numbers. Don’t you wish you had Micheal Sammulson or Nylander back….Even Straka….those guys scored a little, had some speed.

by earthworm on Sep 17, 2009 4:34 PM EDT reply actions

if we coukd

by RangerFan5 on Sep 17, 2009 6:25 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

if we could i would..........

love to add kessel…… He us gushing upside while we have no idea what dubys ceiling is….. Duby is acting like he is the one who had the 30+ goal season…. I understand why he feels like he does with voros and riismiller getting undeserved million dollar deals but enough already…. If u don’t wanna earn ur keep when the team has all the leverage than go play in the alaska league!!!!!!

by RangerFan5 on Sep 17, 2009 6:35 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Can’t see the fit as far as cap is concerned. Not only that but it screws up our roster for next year as well with the RFA’s. I can see us signing Staal and losing Girardi and bring up DZ and another rookie on D if we trade Rozi. These contracts that do not produce are still hurting this club from moving forward and until those contracts are corrected, we are screwed. plain and simple

by Rick 4 NYR on Sep 18, 2009 1:32 AM EDT reply actions

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