Two questions this week. As always, submit your questions using the form on the right, and we will answer them in our weekly mailbag.

4eac4f30-2dea-11e4-b0ad-dd19e08c2c59_NHL-articleLarge

asfjr asks: With the possibility of expansion coming in the next 2 or 3 years, what rules are there for protecting players with NMC/NTC? Say expansion happens after the 15/16 season, would the Rangers be required to protect Marc Staal since he will still have an NMC, but still be able to expose Dan Girardi since he will only have an NTC?

Now this is an interesting question that I simply can’t answer right now. There are no provisions in the current CBA that account for an expansion draft, so this is something that would need to be negotiated by the league and the union. When expansion is approved by the Board of Governors (and yes, it’s a when, not an if), then this will be a hot topic.

No-move clauses are designed to protect against any involuntary movement, meaning trades or demotions. However, there are varying degrees. Take Derek Stepan: He has a full no trade for part of his deal, and a limited no-trade for part of his deal, but he has full no-move throughout. What I am interpreting this to mean is when his NTC goes from full to limited, his NMC will protect him from a demotion. A full NTC and NMC covers everything. A limited NTC and a full NMC covers demotions and limited trades. That’s just my guess though.

To answer the question: My guess is that the league and the union will settle that NMCs cover expansion drafts, as that is involuntary movement, and players with NMCs will need to be protected. An expansion draft is not a trade, thus NTCs will not be covered. Again, just my guess.

Jared asks: So I was speculating and thinking if you are GM and Dylan McIlrath or Brady Skjei make the big club roster or even impress at camp, do you trade Kevin Klein? If so what do you want (depth center?) and what does he bring? If neither of them impress you out of camp, do you think you try to trade McIlrath? If so what is he bringing in return?

I was in favor of trading Klein at the draft, simply because last year was the best you’re going to get out of him. That said, if McIlrath and/or Skjei impress, you have to create room for them. Raphael Diaz will be the 7th defenseman, so neither Skjei nor McIlrath will sit regularly. As for the return for Klein, I think you have to target futures, a prospect and/or a pick. The Rangers need the cap space and seem to have enough depth in Hartford to deal with injuries.

If neither impress, you have a few options. Skjei can easily be sent to the AHL, that’s no problem. McIlrath, since he needs to clear waivers, is the bigger issue. The Rangers have a few choices:

  • Waive him early and try to sneak him through waivers: This is their best bet, since teams are trying to figure out what they have and injuries haven’t really taken their toll yet.
  • Waive him late in camp: This is probably their second best bet, since it’s unlikely a team puts in a claim unless they were decimated by injuries in the preseason. This is much riskier though.
  • Keep him on the roster: This is the safest move, but costs them significant cap space down the road. Every penny counts.
  • Trade him: This means getting nothing for your five year investment that cost you Vladimir Tarasenko or Cam Fowler. The Rangers got a 2nd and a 6th for Bobby Sanguinetti at the 2010 draft (6th used on Jesper Fast), but my guess is McIlrath doesn’t fetch that return. My guess is he brings a struggling prospect that needs a change of scenery, or a mid-round pick.

Share: 

More About: