Dan Fritsche, the young center from Parma, Ohio, a restricted free agent who earned $750,000 last season, is believed to have received a raise to $875,000 and avoided arbitration. He had filed earlier this month with 14 other NHL players.
That $125,000 is no huge deal, considering the Rangers shed Ryan Hollweg's $525,000 on Monday when the left wing was traded to the Leafs for a fifth-round draft pick.
So, it appears as if Fritsche will get a shot at third or fourth-line center, a spot in which he posted 12 goals last season and 10 the previous year, each of which were shortened by April hand and wrist injuries
Which begs the question: What's next for Blair Betts, who is signed through the season? If Scott Gomez centers the first line, Chris Drury the second and sophomore Brandon Dubinsky the third unit, well....Unless a decision is made to move Dubinsky to the top six as a power forward. I could see that experiment in what is shaping up to be, as I've said before, a very intruiging, competitive training camp.
Then again, what does this all say for the chances of C Artem Anisimov of making the jump from Hartford in October? Betts, of course, a quality PK guy and defensive center, is due to earn just $615,000 this season before becoming an unrestricted free agent.
The signing leaves Nigel Dawes, Fredrik Sjostrom and Brendan Shanahan still unsigned. Again, you have to appreciate Shanahan's devotion to the game, but at 40, is it really the right move to sign him to kill penalties and score on a shootout or three?
The Rangers are seriously re-tooling, with at least seven players already gone from last year's opening day roster: Jagr, Straka, Avery, Hollweg, Tyutin, Malik and Strudwick. There's no guarantee that Shanahan would score 20 again. If Shanahan---who remains savvy but slower, and likely would want $1.5 million-plus (and remember, any performance bonuses count under the cap)---was No. 8, would it really be so horrible? How about taking a hard look at prospect Lauri Korpikoski instead?
And meanwhile, in the background, waits Mats Sundin, the veteran center. I'm puzzled about his reluctance to sign with Vancouver for $10 million a year, or Montreal. Today marks two full weeks since July 1. Why hasn't he gone for the gusto? I can't believe he's ready to retire or go back to the Leafs, but....
Can the Rangers possibly still be in the hunt?
At least two things would have to happen: the Rangers would have to shed around $3 million plus in salary (Purely for math's sake, let's say Petr Prucha ($1.6), Betts ($615,000) and Paul Mara ($1.95 million) or Dmitri Kalinin ($2.1 million) or Patrick Rissmiller ($1 mil) and Sundin would have to accept far, far less, perhaps $5 million. And then the Rangers would need another defenseman.
Sundin would really, really have to convince himself---or be persuaded by Swedish acquaintances----to come to New York and that scenario would open yet another series of revolving doors.
Where does Drury play? On the wing with Gomez or Sundin? And Dubinsky as the third-line center? Or does Dubinsky move up to the wing, Fritsche is in as third line center and Rissmiller/Anisimov as No. 4 pivot?
Just some mid-summer daydreaming here:
Naslund-Sundin-Drury
Zherdev-Gomez-Callahan
Dawes-Dubinsky-Sjostrom
Voros-Fritsche-Byers/Orr/Korpikoski...and/or one of the prospects or untraded above?
Is your correspondent feverish, hallucinating, a victim of sunstroke?
Or legit speculation?
Thoughts?
Comments (37)
Doesn't Dawes and Sjostrom have to make a decision by today on their qualifying offers?
Too early in putting Sundin in as 1st line center. Zip, give us what the line would be TODAY and then modify as needed. I heard that Hutchinson signed with somebody else...is that true? I liked him as a 7th defenseman this year and cracking top 6 next year. Let us know.
Hutchinson signed with Tampa Bay.
Zip,
According to Jackets fans, Fritsche played mostly on the RW in Columbus. He could play with Dubi to provide a pretty hard hitting 3rd line.
Steve do you really think Sjostrom is more than a 4th liner?, not from what we saw last season, he's all arms and legs, tons of speed yes,but limited ability...
steve, did malik sign with anyone yet?
Sundin? Shanahan? no thank you. Just dump Betts, Orr, Sjostrom, Prucha and maybe Rissmiller for picks and we are set.
Feverish Zip.
At this point in re-tooling the team, Sundin would be a mistake. Granted it shores chances for the playoffs, but becoming a stronger faster team? that's counterproductive! I'm not commenting on Sundin's abilities to pivot. I say no to Sundin and yes to a second line scoring winger. Korpi would be great in that roll, I'd think. Parentaeu would be awesome if he was to pan out for a top 6 PF, this would be his year. Even Callahan. there are options and that's good to have. I just think that it might be better for the season as a whole to find a 3-4 year vet with some upside looking for a new home. or trade up as we say on Draft Day.
Dubinsky will play on the wing this season. Anisimov will be our new Betts(PK) with a scoring upside. Renney will place him in Drury's shadow. *ding ding* prediction!
- can someone provide Fristche position last year with line-mates? Like a starting nightly roster link? I wouldn't know where to find it, otherwise I'm looking now.
This of coarse changes my angle on the Rangers needs for a second line winger.
Slick
Fritsche looks like a 3rd line RW to me along with Callahan. Their Center should be Anisimov.
Drury is a goalscoring winger who happens to be good on faceoffs.
perhaps Sundin wants to play in NY and is giving Sather some time to clear the cap space, why else would he hold off on that 10M deal?
??? = try outs for these positions.
??? - Gomez - Naslund
Zherdev - Drury - Dubinsky
Dawes - ??? - ??? (Callahan)
??? Betts - ???
5 open positions
I kept Betts in because the pros and cons equal out. IMO
There are a ton of players left over.
Front runners
Prucha LW/C
Voros RW
Fritsche RW/C
Sjostrom RW/LW
There is some versatility there. and 50+goals.
Leaving (as listed from nhlnumbers)
Orr
Rissmiller
Greg Moore
Parenteau
Duby Drury naslund
dawes gomez zerdev
prucha fritche cally
sjostrom betts orr
scratches- rissmiller, voros
dubinsky moving to the wing with naslund might work cuz of his style of play, kinda like naslund played with bertuzzi in Vancouver.
Naslund Sundin Dubinsky
Drury Gomez Zherdev
Korpikoski Fritsche Callahan
Sjostrom Betts Voros
Orr
Staal Redden
Rozsival Girardi
Mara Kalinin
Pock
Henrik
Vally
Please...... Bring Shanny back!
He has one more good year in him , and what a great leader on and off the ice for all the new guys!
Slick Willie, No matter how you look at it..This team will absolutely, positively, unquestionably SUCK this season. Jagr, Avery, Shanny,(ouch), Straka, all gone. The defense still stinks, and is Charmin soft. I can hear it already.....1994. 1994...1994........
i'd really like to see dubi and callahan on the same line -- a strong skating, straight to the net combo -- maybe with sjostrom on the other wing.
Wasn't Josh Gratton a restricted free agent? What compensation do we get for him signing with Nashville?
here goat here goat..
Well I know this, Renney still has his job. That team was built with Nolan Type Players (haha) and DP is underachieving. Were as Hank is a massive overachiever.
Shall I keep going or do you have an agenda pre-written?
I think Shanahan is handsome but not cute, I save cute for Chris Simon.
Ok anybody who puts Betts in the lineup and anybody who wants Shanahan back is officially retarded.
LOOK who's talkin'
Bob!
man, that's funny! good one Bob!
At this point to bring in Sundin would contradict everything Sather has done this offseason. He had an aging superstar at the end of his career looking for one more shot at a Cup and he let him walk. After all that, why would he go after Sundin when he could have had Jagr?
However, bringing back Shanahan is probably a good move. He doesn't have that "superstar ego", is good in the locker room and could be the leader this young team needs. Keeping Shanahan only makes sense because he can be had for a relatively cheap price.
How about these lines:
Naslund-Gomez-Zherdev
Dawes-Drury-Shanahan
Rissmiller-Dubinski-Callahan
Voros-Fritsche-Sjostrom
Redden-Kalinin
Roszival-Staal
Mara-Girardi
I wouldn't mind seeing Korpikoski and Anisimov getting shots. It may be time ti say goodbye to Prucha.
Naslund Gomez Zherdev
Dawes Dubinsky Drury
Prucha Ansinov callahan
Voros Fritsche orr ( Shoey ,Korpi )
Redden Staal
Rosie Giradi
Kalinin Mara
thats exciting!!!
Naslund-Dubinsky-Zherdev
Dawes-Gomez-Drury
Callahan-Anisimov-Fritsche
Byers-Moore-Voros
poor Korpikoski, Prucha, Rissmiller, Jamtin, Orr... Screw Sjostrom and Betts.
"What are you talking about..Sjostrom was one of our better players when he arrived here. Do you REALLY watch hockey, fella?? "
how was he one of our better players? He was invisible 95% of the time. Barely scored--only 3 points in 28 games, he is a joke and his hitting was almost as pathetic as Betts'.
Gotta keep Gomez and Zherdev together. Gomez thrives when he has a fast sniper on his wing. Naslund can also light the lamp off of Gomez's perfect passes.
Dawes and Drury are snipers too
the pot calling the kettle black, officially
Brian Gionta scored 48 goals in 05-06 on Gomez wing.
Zherdev will do the same!!!
Bob, there are other things besides hitting in hockey that are important, such as speed, penalty killing, etc... Every player has a role to play.
Sundin would have only made sense if we resigned Jagr.
Shanny would only make sense behind the bench at this point.
"Zherdev will do the same!!!"
and then go back to Russia for the rest of his life...
"Every player has a role to play."
if they only can do 1 thing, then I hope they are not part of this show
Yeah, like if they can only hit and do nothing else! Bob, again you prove to be clueless.
Dawes - Gomez - Zherdev should hands down either be the 1st or 2nd line, depending how the rest of the summer plays out. Dawes and Gomez had amazing chemistry together at the end of the year, and I was hoping every day Renney would reunite them for the playoffs. You give these 2 guys Zherdev on the wing, and this line will bring great speed (Gomez and Zherdev), great passing (Gomez and Dawes) and legit snipers (Dawes and Zherdev).
Dubinsky to the wing is going to happen. He reminds me of a young Messier with his attitude and fearless to use his strength. Now dont go crazy and think I am saying he is a young Messier (He is not) but I think he would be tremendous on the wing.
Dubinsky - Drury - Naslund
Zherdev - Gomez - Callahan
Dawes - Anisimov/Fristche - Sjostrom
Korporkoski - Betts - Voros
Redden - Girardi
Staal-Rozsival
Khalinin - Mara
I will be surprised if Voros turns out anything worth keepin....not expecting much....we have better talent in the minors than what this guy brings to the table.....guys dont get your hopes up.... we shall see
Can someone please tell me why Sjostrom deserves a spot on the roster? He did absolutely nothing last year.
His speed, intensity, and potential. Plus i think it wouldnt look good if they lost all 3 players (leneveu -anh, graton-nsh) they delt for in the montoya trade