New York Rangers Recent Contracts May Be Problematic In The Near Future and Here's Why
Photo credit: Brotherly Puck
The New York Rangers and GM Chris Drury will have to manage their contracts better soon. There remain five players, including Mika Zibanejad and Will Borgen, who could end up in negative surplus value should the team not recover from their dismal season in 2024-25.
The New York Rangers ranked 24th out of all 32 teams on The Athletic's latest article on contract efficiency.
According to the news outlet, the team has -$21 million in surplus value due to multiple Rangers players taking a step back this past season.
For the team, Mike Sullivan will have to do his best to put the Blueshirts back on a winning path. He'll have to keep watch of these three players in order to keep the team back in positive territory.
Three Rangers Contract Which Could Turn Out to Be Problematic
Will Borgen
Will Borgen was acquired in the Kaapo Kakko trade with the Seattle Kraken. He'd find himself a new home on the team's 2nd-pairing, and would mesh well with K'Andre Miller.
Soon after he arrived, GM Chris Drury wouldn't wait to extend the defensive defenseman with a $20.5 million deal. It'd be a five-year term, with $4.1 million AAV.
While it could look like a bargain, given the rising salary cap in the NHL, there still remains skepticism. He didn't look out of place on the team's 2nd-pairing, but has lived in the NHL his entire career as a third-pairing defenseman.
He has a limited NTC that will come into play after this season, but for some teams, a $4.1 million AAV price tag isn't worth touching.
Mika Zibanejad
For Mika Zibanejad, a 62-point (20-42) season is a "bad" season. Considering the type of production he's had as a top-six center before 2024-25 it may give us pause for concern, as he makes $8.5 million AAV, and has a full NMC attached to the deal.
He'll still be able to block 21 teams from acquiring him in the last year of his 8-year, loaded contract.
If he doesn't find himself rebounding to a 70-80 point year in 2025-26, the Rangers may have to consider other options to relieve themselves of the Swede who lost his touch.
Previously on NYRangersInsider
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