New York Rangers: Re-signing all of the RFA’s is the right move

The New York Rangers have remained silent this off-season. With some key restricted free agents still in need of a new deal, it is best to keep everyone at this point.

The word “uncertainty” would be an understatement if describing the mindset heading into this off-season for the New York Rangers.

Many expected drastic changes in personnel, but General Manager Jeff Gorton has been suspiciously quiet, even despite so many rumors that have come and gone.

The big talk approaching the summer was the high number of restricted free agents the Rangers had and speculation on how there are little to no chances on Gorton holding on to all of them.

I thought for sure we would see the first move at the NHL entry draft one month ago, but the front office stuck to acquiring young talent through the draft and left the roster as is.

Then July 1 came and I thought for sure the big moves were going to drop, but again, radio silence.

The Rangers let everyone else vie over the big names on the market while they sat from afar. Some were happy with this, some were not.

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As many Ranger fans are used to the big splashes in the summer months, this year we had to do without that satisfaction.

I for one think that this is the right thing to do. There is no sense in trading assets during a bonafide rebuild just to acquire a player in his prime.

The Rangers have a lot of interesting developments on this team right now, a lot of which being on that list of RFA’s who need new deals.

Those players would consist of Kevin Hayes, Brady Skjei, Ryan Spooner, Jimmy Vesey, John Gilmour, Vladislav Namestnikov and Boo Nieves.

Vesey, Gimour, Namestnikov and Nieves have all accepted new short-term deals, as Hayes, Skjei and Spooner, who are safe to say the three most valuable of the group, are still not signed to a new contract yet.

The three of them, along with Vesey, were the four Rangers to file for salary arbitration a couple of weeks ago.

The Rangers reached an agreement with the 25-year-old forward on a two-year $2.275 million per year deal this past week and avoided the arbitration hearing, as the other three are still technically scheduled to be meeting an arbitrator.

As I read through so many blogs and social media comments, it seems like everyone is still thirsty for a trade just for the sake of having a trade. This is ignorant.

There is no need to force a deal unless something is offered the front office cannot refuse, and clearly that has not happened as we approach the end of July and nothing has been done.

For those that think that Hayes or Spooner should be traded, you should hold your horses and let the season play out with David Quinn and the new coaching staff.

I understand there is the glut at center, but accommodations can be made where Spooner and Namestnikov play the wing if Filip Chytil and Lias Andersson both make the team (expectations are they absolutely should) out of training camp.

Some don’t want to sign Hayes to the five-year deal he wants if he is going to just be a third line center under Mika Zibanejad and Chytil.

Firstly, Hayes is a match up center and he also has been one of the best five on five players in the NHL in the last few seasons. There is a role for him that the Rangers need.

Spooner seemed to fit in with the Rangers like bread and butter when he was traded here for Rick Nash. Why not see what we really have in him and give him a chance to play before hastily trading him?

I admit that the defense isn’t anything to brag about and adding someone of value would help, but there is some top prospects like Libor Hajek and Ryan Lindgren that should have the opportunity to play and prove themselves.

Brendan Smith, as abysmal as he was last season, is getting a second chance with the Rangers. If he can redeem himself back to his regular game or even better, I like him playing in the top 4 with Kevin Shattenkirk, Skjei and Neal Pionk, who showed sparks of brilliance last year.

There isn’t much hype about the speculation of a Skjei trade, as he is viewed as an essential piece of the defensive core, but the Rangers still haven’t officially locked him down yet. I would think this should happen soon.

Next: Why the second round goalie makes sense

The Rangers have enough talent to compete and yet focus on the rebuild with this roster. Hockey is an unpredictable game and although the Rangers are clearly no favorite heading into the season, I think they are going to fare better with this team than at least what everyone anticipates.

Quinn and his assistants are going to breath new life into players who were being hindered by Alain Vigneault.

People can keep up the speculation all they want about moves still being in the works with roster players, but the more time goes by, the more inclined you should be to accept this roster for what it is right now and let the chips fall where they may.