Rumor: Rangers, Boyle Continuing Talks; Will He Be Next RFA To Sign?

Having come to terms with restricted free agents Michael Sauer and Artem Anisimov the Rangers will look to finalize contracts with Ryan Callahan, Brandon Dubinsky and Brian Boyle before their respective arbitration dates.  Andrew Gross is reporting that talks between the Rangers and Boyle are continuing, though nothing is imminent.  Crossing Boyle off the list next would make sense as he should be another short term deal and it would allow them to focus on the longer, more complicated contracts for Callahan and Dubinsky.

Pegging a number on Boyle is more difficult than it was for Sauer or Anisimov given his age and only having the one good year at the NHL level, but I would expect it to be a one year deal somewhere around $1.6 million.  Though, as I wrote yesterday, if no deal is done before the hearing, Boyle would be the most likely of all the restricted free agents for the Rangers to walk away from.

Arbitration Hearing Dates Set For Dubinsky, Boyle, Callahan

Each of the three remaining restricted free agents for the New York Rangers has the potential to go to an arbitration hearing to settle their contract issues with the team.  Today the NHLPA announced when those hearings would be held, if they are necessary.  

• Brandon Dubinsky: July 21
• Brian Boyle: July 25
• Ryan Callahan: July 28

As I said these dates are only if necessary because deals can be worked out before these ever come to be, as was the case with Michael Sauer this morning.  The order of the dates is intriguing because most would expect for Callahan to have been the next contract done, and he still could be, but with Dubinsky having the first hearing there could be more focus on getting that deal hammered out before a hearing ever happens.

The best part about these dates is that it means the contracts for all three should be decided before August.

Rangers Re-Sign Artem Anisimov

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

Update: Andrew Gross is now reporting that the deal will pay Anisimov $1.875 per season for the two years. Earlier in the summer I had surmised that Anisimov would get $1.8 million so I was in the area, but credit to Dave Shapiro for going with $1.85 million and being even closer.

Andrew Gross is reporting that the New York Rangers have agreed to a two-year deal with center Artem Anisimov.  The deal for Anisimov would mark the second restricted free agent to sign today with MichaelSauer also getting a two-year deal earlier.  The Anisimov deal getting done is not that surprising considering Andy Strickland reported Saturday that Anisimov would re-sign in relatively short order after the Richards deal was done.

Anisimov, 23, showed improvements in his second season scoring 18 goals and adding 26 assists while playing all 82 games.  There is still room for growth in Anisimov's game as he needs to improve his strength and be more aggressive to reach his potential as a possible 60 point player in the NHL.

Rangers Sign Sauer To Two-Year Deal

According to Larry Brooks of the New York Post the New York Rangers have agreed to a two-year, $2.5 million contract with Michael Sauer.  The $1.25 million per on Sauer is right in line with what was expected for the 23-year-old defender.  Sauer went from an afterthought coming into training camp last season to a key part of the Rangers top four on defense.  In 76 games he had three goals and 12 assists, but Sauer is not in New York for his offense. He is here to provide his defensive awareness, position and attention to detail.  He hits, clears the crease and will fight to defend his teammates which is something the Rangers had been lacking in the defense corps recently.

Signing Sauer takes one of the Rangers restricted free agents and arbitration cases off the list this summer.  Glen Sather's very good summer continues.