Red Wings use excess cap space to acquire Marc Staal and a 2nd rounder from the Rangers
Anthony Scultore
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Steve Yzerman is ready to start wheeling and dealing. Tonight, he acquired veteran defenseman Marc Staal and a 2nd rounder from the Rangers. The move was solely for the purpose of clearing caps space for the Blueshirts, and the Wings benefitted.
Yzerman on acquiring Staal
Red Wings GM, Steve Yzerman addressed the media after the trade and explained the move. “As part of our rebuilding process, we’re trying to add draft picks, prospects, young players, future assets, really, to help us down the line. That’s kind of where we are,” he explained.
“In this trade, obviously we’re acquiring [Marc Staal] and we get a second-round pick in the [2021] draft,” Yzerman continued. “We’re trying to be competitive. We’re trying to improve at the same time. So in this deal, not only [do] we get a defenseman that will go right into our lineup, that plugs a huge hole for us, we add future assets as well.”
The second round pick is the sweetener the Rangers needed to add for the Wings to take on the full contract. As far as the future considerations, we will see if it is a late round pick in 2020 or one in 2021.
Rangers clearing cap space to sign their RFA’s and maybe add others
Marc Staal played 13 seasons with the Rangers and was an absolute warrior. Jeff Gorton did not retain salary in the deal and will get the full $5.7 million added to his cap space which is now at $20 million.
That number is expected to reach at least $23 million once Henrik Lundqvist is bought out. Jeff Gorton may try to get Hank to waive his no move clause and facilitate a trade, if one is even out there.
However, in trying to dig for updates to see if any talks with RFA’s have progressed I was given a subtle hint. One source had nothing new on the negotiations front with the Rangers, but expects it will get serious after the buyout. That “buyout” is very likely Lundqvist.