derek stepan

Stepan (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)

Derek Stepan signed yesterday, as new GM Jeff Gorton fit the final piece of the offseason puzzle into place. Stepan’s deal came in at six years, $39 million ($6.5 million cap hit). The deal has a full no trade for the first four years, and then a limited no trade for the final two (I believe). Stepan has a no-move clause throughout, meaning he can’t be sent to the AHL.

  • This is a solid deal for both sides. There is no doubt that Stepan left money on the table, probably about $300k per year, or $1.8 million total. That’s no small amount. The deal fits under the cap for this year and in the future, and locks up their 1C through age 31. As for Stepan, he ensures he gets at least one more big payday when this contract expires.
  • A few folks have issues with the length of the deal, but I don’t quite understand that. If Stepan were 30, then I would understand. But the kid is 25, and this deal locks up his prime years. The decline starts in the mid-30s, not the mid-20s.

  • As for the dollar amounts, some are saying this is a lot to pay for Stepan. Honestly, it’s market value, and Josh’s cap evaluation tool has shown that his current numbers outperform this contract. If you make the assumption that his possession numbers rebound this year, since he won’t be anchored by Martin St. Louis, then any real qualms should be put at ease.
  • I get that he’s only 45% on faceoffs, or something like that. Honestly, I’m not even looking up the actual value because that’s how little it matters. Most draws are ties, and the wingers are the ones that get to the dot and win the puck battle. That’s what Jesper Fast did on Stepan’s series winner against Washington.
  • There were some complaints about Stepan’s lack of hitting. I…am not addressing that. It’s silly.
  • Last point on Stepan: This is a solid deal for both player and team. I’ve found that a lot of the folks complaining are just finding reasons to complain. He’s not a perfect player, but he’s a solid 1C and well worth the money.
  • How about this offseason for Jeff Gorton? If we go with free agency as official start date, then we have the following moves:
    • Acquired Magnus Hellberg from Nashville for a 2017 6th round pick
    • Signed Raphael Diaz to a one year, $700,000 deal as a 7D
    • Signed Viktor Stalberg to a one year, $1.1 million deal
    • Signed Emerson Etem, J.T. Miller, and Dylan McIlrath to their qualifying offers
    • Signed Oscar Lindberg to a two-year deal worth $650,000 per year, less than his qualifying offer
    • Signed Jesper Fast two a two-year deal worth $950,000 per year
    • Signed Derek Stepan to his six year, $39 million deal
  • Gorton had a tough cap situation, and managed to get a lot of key role players in for cheap deals, leaving as much room as possible for Stepan’s deal.
  • There are some concerns that the Rangers won’t be able to re-sign Chris Kreider next year, but that’s a bit silly. Dan Boyle comes off the books, and the Rangers can make a few moves within their depth players to ensure they keep Kreider. Specifically, they are paying $4.35 million to two guys to play on the bottom pairing and 4th line/13F. That’s expensive.
  • Hopefully this is the last post about Stepan in the offseason. I mean that in the nicest way possible, but boy did he control the blog for a while.

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