The Core: (Will be back next season)- Henrik Lundqvist, Marian Gaborik, Marc Staal (RFA), Ryan Callahan, Chris Drury, Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov, Sean Avery, Michael Del Zotto and Michal Roszival.

Should I Stay or Should I Go: (Players who may or may not be back, with my best guess)-UFA’s: Vinny Prospal (will be back if he accepts one year deal with small raise), Olli Jokinen (Don’t Let the Door Hit Ya!!!!), Alex Auld (probably gone), P.A. Parenteau (will get a better offer somewhere else), Anders Eriksson (gone), Jody Shelley (I think the Rangers will bring him back based on his play down the stretch), Corey Potter (I would let him walk). RFA’s: Staal (long term deal), Dan Girardi (might be priced out by Staal but my guess is he returns), Erik Christensen (50-50 I think he goes), Brandon Prust (could be a choice between him and Dane Byers, he gets my vote), Byers (probably edged out by Prust), Enver Lisin and Ilkka Heikkenen (nice to know ya!).

Fire Sale: (players who should be in Hartford or will be offered around for a bag of pucks)- Wade Redden, Aaron Voros, Brian Boyle and Matt Gilroy.

I have read many articles over the last few days (from some great writers like Larry Brooks of the NY Post and Steve Zipay at Newsday) about what the Rangers need NOT to do this offseason. I agree with most of what they say about free agency and trades. The Rangers do NOT need Vinny Lecavalier, Patrick Marleau, Illya Kovalchuck, Joe Thornton, Pavol Demitra or any of the other big name, huge contract suspects that will most likely be available at season’s end. The one thing I haven’t read in any of these articles is a plan for what the Rangers SHOULD do once the final buzzer sounds on another NHL campaign. Most likely the Blueshirts will have anywhere from $10-14 million dollars in cap room this offseason to re-sign Marc Staal and a few others but Glen Sather should not go on a boldface buying spree in hopes of filling his team’s needs. He should show restraint, sit down behind his desk, light up a cigar and make three phone calls. That’s it, 3 simple calls.

Call 1: Dean Lombardi, GM, Los Angeles Kings- Jack Johnson is the type of physical, edgy, stand up defenseman the Rangers have not had put on their sweater since the days of Jeff Beukeboom. A 23 year old physical specimen who plays with a chip on his shoulder and goes right up to the whistle. The Kings would love to retain Johnson to a long term deal but Lombardi has been unable to come to an agreement with him (and may not want to, looking at the huge payday that Drew Doughty will no doubt seek in a few seasons) and he is currently one year away from hitting the open market with a cap number for 2010-11 of 1.425 million. Sather should call Lombardi and ask what it would take to get the hulking defenseman to Broadway and continue to listen even after the discussion begins with the name Evgeny Grachev (whom the Kings might have interest in if they lose Alexander Frolov via free agency). If Sather could get Johnson to MSG and lock him up long term, the Rangers could have their No.1 pair (along with Staal) under contract for the foreseeable future.

Call 2: Bobby Ryan‘s Agent- The Rangers have a number of promising youngsters in the pipeline (Stepan, Kreider, Grachev, McDonagh, Bourque, Hagelin) and nobody is suggesting that Sather mortgage the future by sending these youngsters away in a deal for a quick fix but signing a 23 year old forward who is on the verge of being a top 5 power forward in the league to an offer sheet and surrendering draft picks in return if the offer is not matched is not the kind of move that could hurt this franchise. The Rangers have built up depth through the draft as of late but no one knows if any of these youngsters or anyone that the Rangers draft during the next year or two will ever be stars at the NHL level. Here is a chance to get a young player who has already proven himself on the biggest stage and will only get better. John Tortorella wants younger players who come to work every night. If the Rangers got Ryan they could have three forwards under the age of 25 who could conceivably put up 30-goal campaigns with Dubinsky, Callahan and Ryan.

Call 3: Alexander Radulov- We already had the Nik Zherdev saga, with the young talented winger who left the NHL for Russia and now here is another young, supremely talented sniper who might just be ready to give the NHL another chance. Nashville GM David Poile has had enough of Radulov and his agents and would probably be more than happy to move this headache for a mid round pick and a prospect. Reports have said that Radulov is interested in returning to the league and the idea of playing on the brightest stage in NYC might just be the dangling carrot that gets the deal done. Wouldn’t Radulov fit perfectly playing across from Gaborik on the top line next season?

I know these three moves aren’t all the GM needs to do to make sure this team takes the next step. I know it’s easy to throw out names and scenarios and think that you know better than a guy who has multiple Stanley Cup rings. I know nothing is easy in the NHL especially winning. I’m not saying I have all the answers and that the powers that be (who get paid much more than I do) haven’t already pondered these moves but what I am saying is no one gets better by standing still or staying pat. Nobody gets better by hoping that players with potential will someday mature into leaders and superstars. The Rangers have a superstar backstop entering his prime, a game changing sniper ready to rise to another level, a shutdown defenseman about to become known on a league wide basis and a group of hard working youngsters on the verge of being valuable NHL performers. Now is the time for creative thinking, creative moves and creative building. Now is the time for Glen Sather to stop filling holes and start building a winner.

C/LW Vinny Prospal

According to reports, The New York Rangers have signed veteran forward Vinny Prospal to a one year deal worth 1.1 million dollars. The 34 year old became an unrestricted free agent last month when he had the remaining three years of his contract bought out by the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Prospal, who struggled to get on track last season when he recorded 19 goals and 45 points while amassing a -20 rating over 82 games, is known for his strong play on the puck and gives the Blueshirts a veteran option should Brandon Dubinsky (who remains unsigned) struggle as the team’s default first line center.

Prospal has scored 20 or more goals four times in his career and reached the 30 goal plateau just 2 seasons ago while splitting time with Tampa Bay and Philadelphia.

Analysis: At first look, this signing seems like another Sather reclamation project but I think Prospal is different. He gives the Rangers multiple options on the wing and down the middle and is only one season removed from a 33 goal campaign. The 6-2, 198 lb. forward will probably be given the chance to win a spot on the second line but could end up centering Gaborik on the top line with the team’s brain trust still unsure if Dubinsky can handle those duties. I think this is a smart signing at an affordable price and at only one year it won’t block the path of one of our younger players (Grachev or Lisin) who may be ready to contribute full time come 2010.

I don’t really understand this signing if it comes to fruition. Bouillon is not a crease clearing d-man that the Rangers desperately need and does not bring an offensive repertoire to the team. This move would definitely qualify as a “head scratcher” by Glen Sather.

To see the original article, click here.

Let me say before I begin that I believe the best move for the team, not only for this coming season but also for the future, would be to give the youngsters currently in the system a chance to fill these spots through a training camp open competition. I believe Brandon Dubinsky has proven his ability to play with an all world talent on his wing (Jagr) in the past and is on the verge of a breakout season much like Ryan Callahan had last year. I also believe Evgeny Grachev could be the answer at wing should Zherdev depart. Grachev has shown an ability to not only score but also an improvement in his game without the puck.

If the Rangers don’t think these two, amongst others, are the solution at those positions, there are a few veterans still jobless who might fit in for the short term (and the right price) until the youngsters prove themselves worthy.

Alex Tanguay-  Reports of Tanguay signing with Florida were premature and I believe he is either waiting and holding out hope for the ideal situation (possibly a return to Colorado and a scene of past glories) or for some team to become desperate and offer a huge payday (think the Thrashers 4 year 16 million dollar deal with Nik Antropov) and if this is the case then scratch him off the Rangers’ list. If the case however, is that Tanguay realizes he may need to look short term (perhaps a one year deal with incentives) to rebuild interest in himself after an injury plagued season, he could be a perfect fit on the Rangers top line opposite Marian Gaborik.

Robert Lang- Let’s face facts, Lang is no longer a number one center in the NHL. Some would argue that he’s not even worthy of second line center minutes at his age but he is still the only viable option for a team looking for help down the middle left in free agency. Lang showed flashes of his former self last season (18-21- 39 in 50 GP) before injuries cut his season short. Rumors have KHL teams interested in the crafty playmaker but indications are that he wants to finish his career in the NHL. If Sather believes Lang has enough left in the tank to keep up with the speedy Gaborik, a one year deal and the opportunity to end his career on Broadway might be enough to persuade Lang to call the Garden home. More than likely, Sather will address this position through trade.

Todd Bertuzzi- The buzz is that the Rangers would like Brendan Shanahan to return to the team after his one year hiatus across the river but if they are going to give minutes that should be slotted for a younger player to a veteran, I believe Bertuzzi has more to offer than Shanahan at this point in their respective careers. Bertuzzi is not the All-Star he was earlier this deacade but he still brings size, strength and good hands in front of the net to any team he plays for. While there is no question that Shanahan is the better locker room presence, Bertuzzi seems to have more left in the tank on the ice (and plays with more of an edge) than Shanny, who disappeared for long stretches during the second half of his last season on Broadway.

Marc Andre Bergeron- Bergeron has one of the best slapshots in the NHL from the point on the power play. The Rangers showed that this is something they desire when they traded three players to Phoenix for Derek Morris at last year’s deadline. Morris didn’t work out and will most likely not be brought back. Bergeron is an offensive defenseman who struggles in his own end and is not overly physical (see Tom Poti) but does play hard every shift and brings another dimension to the man advantage that the team is currently lacking. If the Rangers decide that Sergei Zubov is not worth pursuing or that they have no interest in trading for Anton Babchuk of Carolina, Bergeron could be a one or two year answer until one of the organization’s many prospects (Sanguinetti, Del Zotto) is deemed ready to contribute.

Obviously these 4 players are not going to carry a team the way the Rangers hope Gaborik can but they all bring something to the team (at the right price and term) that could make a difference in the team’s fortunes this upcoming season. If I am Sather, I am at the very least checking in on each of these guys and seeing what their asking price is in the hopes of maybe getting a bargain that could turn out to be a steal.

Kotalik, the 6-2, 227 lb. , 30 year old winger from the Czech Republic has scored 20 or more goals four times in his 7 seasons in the NHL and posted 20 goals and 23 assists in 75 games while sharing time with the Buffalo Sabres and Edmonton Oilers last season. He has also played 21 games for the Czech National team during his career.

Props to Brian Monzo of SNYRangers Blog for breaking this story…..More details to follow…

UPDATED (6:45 PM)- The terms of the contract are reported to be 3 years 9 million dollars (3.0 per). Here is the official release from the team. This signing would seem to signal the end for Nikolai Zherdev on Broadway as it looks more and more like the Rangers will walk away from the arbitration award.

Derek Morris

Chicago Blackhawks forward Kris Versteeg is close to re-signing with the team for a reported 3 years at around 9 million dollars. This will almost surely (along with the Marian Hossa and Cam Barker signings) force the Hawks to make a trade and move some money as they still have to sign a backup goaltender to Cristobal Huet and are right against the cap for next season. The prevailing thought is that forward Patrick Sharp could be made available. If this happens, the Rangers should put in a call to GM Dale Tallon to see what it would take to bring him to NY. Sharp is a talented and young (27) winger who excels in front of the net on the power play (something the Rangers lack in their current forward group) and makes a reasonable (by current standards) 3.9 million per season. He could probably be had for a prospect and a pick considering the Hawks current cap situation.

For the full Morris article on The Fourth Period click here. For some theories on what the Rangers might do to fill up the remaining spots on their blueline, Dan Akeson brings up Marc Andre Bergeron, Mathieu Schneider and some other UFA options here.

Remember if any news breaks, we’ll bring it to you right here.

UPDATE (2:10 PM)- The Rangers have come to terms with restricted free agent Brian Boyle , whom they acquired from the Kings on Draft Day. Specifics of the contract were not disclosed. In other news, Saku Koivu has signed a one year 3.25 million dollar deal with the Anaheim Ducks.

For some observations from the Rangers’ week long prospect development camp, check out Steve Zipay’s Blue Notes and for some comments from Marian Gaborik about his joining the blueshirts click here and here.

The Rangers also signed a trio of depth forwards that are almost certainly destined to begin the season with the team’s affiliate, the Hartford Wolfpack. Tyler Arnason, a defensive forward and NHL veteran having spent time with the Chicago Blackhawks and Colorado Avalance was signed to a two way contract and could get a chance to make the fourth line of the big club during training camp. Chris Chappell, an undrafted free agent who scored 38 goals and added 38 assists for Owen Sound of the OHL last season and Corey Locke, who lead the AHL’s Houston Aeros in scoring last season were signed to minor league deals. The Rangers also re-signed P.A. Parentau who plated for the Wolfpack last season.

For the official releases on these signings, click here: Arnason, Locke, Chappell, Parentau.

The Brashear signing was met with mostly anger and disbelief from the blueshirt faithful as this was the same player who ended Blair Betts season prematurely during last year’s playoffs with a cheap shot elbow that broke Betts’ orbital bone. Brashear has been a lightning rod for controversy in the past with his endless taunts and late hits of Rangers players such as Jaromir Jagr, Brendan Shanahan and others. GM Glen Sather explained the signing of this seemingly past his prime, one dimensional enforcer as a necessity after losing fan favorite and character guy Colton Orr to the Maple Leafs (4 years @ 1 million per) earlier in the day.

The bigger and more welcomed news came as the frenzy of early signings seemed to be slowing down, The Rangers announced they had come to terms with the Minnesota Wild’s all time leading scorer, winger Marian Gaborik on a 5 year deal. Gaborik is one of the NHL’s fastest and most dynamic talents and is a threat to score every time he is on the ice(a component the Rangers haven’t had since the departure of Jagr). The only question mark concerning Gaborik is his history of hip and groin injuries which have kept the mercurial winger out for extended periods over the last few seasons. According to GM Sather, the team has been in touch with the surgeon who performed Gaborik’s hip surgery (the same doctor who performed A-Rod’s surgery) last season and also had their doctor’s look over the reports and everything came up clear before they decided to make the commitment. Gaborik is a world class talent who has scored 40 goals in a season once and reached the 30 goal plateau in 5 of his 8 professional seasons. If he can stay healthy, he brings to the Garden a dynamic one on one presence that will excite the fans and put pucks in the net on a consistent basis. He is a game changing forward. If the injuries persist and Gaborik can’t stay out of the trainer’s room, this will be a long season and the Rangers might be stuck with another albatross of a contract but all indications and hope from the front office point towards the opposite being the case.

Rangers Newest Forward Marian Gaborik

To see the official releases of both signings, click the links here: Brashear and Gaborik