The NHL buyout window is officially open, and so far there has only been one big name (Oliver Ekman-Larsson) on the buyout list. Buyouts aren’t the best cap management strategy, but sometimes they are necessary. Many are looking at the current cap crunch and hoping for some 2023 Rangers buyouts, but that is unlikely to be the case. At least not yet. For the most part, Rangers buyouts have been with 1-2 years left on contracts, save for Dan Girardi and Brad Richards (amnesty). Not many fit that bill.
The Rangers currently have five big figure contracts, all of which are at least 8% of the cap ceiling: Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, Adam Fox, Jacob Trouba. There’s also Barclay Goodrow’s contract, which is actually pretty buyout friendly. If the Rangers are in desperate need of cap space, they could consider the buyout route, but given the options, any 2023 Rangers buyouts are going to be painful.
For starters, two of the biggest cap hits: Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad, are both buyout proof. Panarin’s $11.6 million contract only comes with a $666k savings for the final three years of his deal, before getting hit with a $333k cap hit for three years. Zibanejad’s $8.5 million contract, if bought out and like Panarin’s only comes with that $666k savings over the 7 remaining years. This is because both are heavy in signing bonuses.
So if there are any 2023 Rangers buyouts, it won’t be Panarin or Zibanejad. We can throw Adam Fox’s $9.5 million salary there too, because they aren’t buying out a top three defenseman in the NHL. So for any 2023 Rangers buyouts to happen, it will be one of Goodrow, Kreider, or Trouba. We tackled Goodrow already as the only relatively buyout friendly contract, and both Trouba and Kreider are polarizing enough to warrant diving into.
First on Trouba, it’s hard to argue that his $8 million contract has been worth it, even if he’s the captain and the only vocal leader in the locker room. Of the 2023 Rangers buyouts, he’s the one that many seem to want gone, and his contract does come with your more traditional buyout savings.
- Year 1: $2.22 million cap hit, $5.77 million savings
- Years 2-3: $4.22 million cap hit, $3.77 million savings
- Years 4-6: $2.22 million cap hit
There’s a decent amount of cap savings for next year, and Chris Drury would be taking a risk that the cap ceiling goes up more in years 2-3 to eat that reduced savings. Still, this isn’t the best use of money.
As for Kreider, his contract comes with less savings. Kreider’s contract has the most years remaining, so a buyout goes the longest.
- Year 1: $4.9 million cap hit, $1.6 million savings
- Years 2-3: $2.9 million cap hit, $3.6 million savings
- Year 4: $3.9 million cap hit, $2.6 million savings
- Years 5-8: $1.4 million cap hit
Again, not the best use of money.
Don’t expect 2023 Rangers buyouts
Given what we know thus far, expecting any buyouts in this first window is a fool’s errand. The Rangers just hired Peter Laviolette, and there needs to be a solid plan in place to address the roster holes. We know the Rangers need help on RW, and we also know that Laviolette’s systems will drive who the Rangers target. Until that is finalized, they won’t make any huge moves like a buyout.
Cap savings can be managed later in the offseason as well. This is just the first buyout window, and the second will open as long as the Rangers or one of their RFAs opt for arbitration. Libor Hajek is the only player that is arbitration eligible, so expect the Rangers to plan on a second window, just in case, by going through the paperwork with Hajek. Remember, the second buyout period opens as long as the case is settled, so actually going to arbitration isn’t needed.
Still, unless there is a monumental trade where the Rangers need to shed cap quickly, it’s unlikely to see any buyouts this year.
Share:
More About:Offseason