TOMapleLaughs Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 TSN's Bobby Mack sez: Now that the CBA has been ratified by NHL owners, the New York Rangers have to decide how to proceed with Wade Redden. In the old CBA, it wasn't too difficult to figure out. Because a player could be "buried" in the minors and not count against the team's NHL salary cap, sending Redden to the AHL farm team in Hartford was simple and easy. Out of sight, out of mind, off the salary cap. But there's a provision in the new CBA that doesn't allow the hiding of NHL contracts in the minors, save the first $900,000. So Redden, with a cap hit of $6.5 million in each of this season and next, means the Rangers are now faced with using valuable cap space on a player who is not remotely part of coach John Tortorella's plans. So now what? The Rangers actually have three options but probably only one that makes sense. It would be nice for the Rangers to entirely get rid of Redden's cap hit this season and next but what's behind Door No. 1 isn't an attractive option. That is, give up an asset or assets (draft picks and/or prospects) as inducements to get another team with lots of cap space to take Redden in a trade. The Rangers won't like that because they don't want to deplete any future considerations on what amounts to a housekeeping matter for them. Door No. 2 would be to send Redden to the AHL, absorb his $5 million-plus cap hit this season, which they have room for because teams can spend to $70M this season, and then use a compliance buyout this summer to erase the problem for next season. Compliance buyouts do not count against the salary cap. But that route is fraught with peril. If Redden were to get hurt in the AHL this season and the injury carried over to the summer, an injured player cannot be bought out. Were that to happen, the Rangers could get saddled with Redden's full $6.5M cap hit next season and under no circumstances can they allow that to occur. Next year's cap shrinks to $64.3M and it would be a disaster if the Rangers had to account for Redden's $5M+ instead of having no cap hit on a compliance buyout. Which bring us to Door No. 3. The only other option for the Rangers is to take Redden's cap hit this season but not play him. Not in New York. Not in the AHL. Not anywhere. Put him in bubble wrap, cold storage and call it a year. Make sure his cheques show up on time and wait for the compliance buyout period this summer and cut all ties. The Rangers are still reviewing the new CBA but sometime before training camps open on Sunday they'll have to come to terms with what's behind one of the three doors. It would seem obvious which door they'll choose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goalie13 Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 I'm glad that they finally did something about NY and other teams burying contracts in the minors. The Redden contract mistake will affect NY is some negative way this season, certainly. Good. I wonder if they'd be able to trade him though, even if they wanted to. Tough pill to swallow for any team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nas19 Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Maybe there's a team out there that could use Redden's cap hit to make sure they get to the floor? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobble Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 I have completely forgotten about Redden. Hard to imagine a player with such a large cap-hit being hidden in the AHL for years. Was he even worth the 6.5mil cap hit when they signed him, or was it just a feeding frenzy on July 1st? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UFCanuck Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 I think he's on a Giet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goalie13 Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Every team is already at the $44 Mil floor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Master Mind Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Glad that that was addressed. I think though that they'll end up playing him since they're already paying for him. He can't be worse than 6 of their D I'd imagine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lockhart Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Can he not play the 3rd pairing until being bought out this summer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elvis15 Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 His last two season in Conneticut: 2011/12: 49gp, 4g, 16a, 20pts, -8 2010/11: 70gp, 8g, 34a, 42pts, -1 Hardly compelling numbers, but he could be a could 5/6 guy that can fill in as a top 4 if his salary was reasonable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elvis15 Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Can he not play the 3rd pairing until being bought out this summer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bookie Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 But again, if he gets injured, they can't buy him out in the summer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lockhart Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Ok, but even if he did get injured, wouldn't it be in his best interest to say he's good to go. I'm sure he would prefer being bought out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aladeen Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 He could play in the NHL, the AHL or elsewhere, but the argument is if he plays but gets an injury that lasts into the summer, they can't buy him out while he's injured. Then they'd be stuck with his salary when the cap goes down to $64M, which is very bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snake Doctor Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Healthy scratch this season and will take a roster spot. Then he will be bought out. Or traded for nothing to a team with lots of cap space. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lockhart Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 He was good in Ottawa, I don't see how he couldn't regain some of that (to a point) The rumour was he had addiction problems? And I don't think his AHL stats carry much weight, I can't see him trying to that hard given the situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baercheese Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Meanwhile he's earning 6.5 million not doing anything What a life Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jägermeister Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Stu Bickel played 51 games on the Rangers backend last year, I'm sure if the Rangers had any intention at all to get Wade back into the NHL, it would have happened already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woot Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 I have completely forgotten about Redden. Hard to imagine a player with such a large cap-hit being hidden in the AHL for years. Was he even worth the 6.5mil cap hit when they signed him, or was it just a feeding frenzy on July 1st? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coconuts Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Good news for Redden. He could likely play in the NHL at some capacity, but he's just not worth what he's being paid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elvis15 Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 I see the article stating that but if he did get injured to the extent that he couldn't be bought out couldn't they just put him on the LTIR and get potentially 6.5 million in cap relief. To me this sounds like the way to go for the Rangers. Make Redden play this season and just absolutely grind him to a pulp in the 48 + games. Work him to the point of injury then just put him on LTIR, then fudge his rehab lol. Now the goons have a new role for NHL teams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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