Following
the completion of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, GM Glen Sather met with the media
to discuss the team’s future as well as the decision to trade Evgeny
Grachev. In terms of the current roster,
Sather informed the media that Brandon Dubinsky, Ryan Callahan, Brian Boyle,
Artem Anisimov and Michael Sauer were given their qualifying offers for next
season.
The
only restricted free agent that was not qualified by the Rangers was defenseman
Matt Gilroy who would have required a $2.1 million offer to retain his
rights. In not receiving a qualifying
offer Matt Gilroy becomes an unrestricted free agent. The Rangers did offer to bring Gilroy back at
a reduced salary, but he apparently rejected the offer and is going to test the
market on July 1.
The
news on the restricted free agents is exactly what was expected both in who did
and who did not get extended the necessary qualifying offers to retain them.
Per
Jesse
Spector Sather also told the media that the team could wait to sign the RFA’s
to actual contracts in order to save room under the salary cap as they begin
free agency. This is a clear signal that
Sather is fully intending on spending large money come next Friday and Brad
Richards is the clear target to receive that money.
The
updated Grachev news can be found here.
