Who stays with the Rangers:
1: Marian Gaborik. His goal total fell off by 20, his point total by 38 and was often invisible on the ice in 2010-11. So why would the organization not try to deal him? He has three years and $22.5 million left on his deal. Also, according to John Tortorella, “he cares.”
2: Matt Gilroy. John Tortorella praised Gilroy as one of the players who understood what was needed to win as the series with Washington progressed. Gilroy, whose goal in the third period of Game 1 opened the scoring in the series, may have kept his job with his play against the Capitals.
3: Mike Sauer. A restricted free agent, Sauer was partnered with Ryan McDonagh on the second defense pair early in the season to form a formidable unit. Sauer and McDonagh were often the targets of praise from Tortorella for their work.
Who goes:
1: Chris Drury: Merely one of the greatest American-born players in history, the unfortunate reality is that Drury’s production (one goal and four assists for five points) does not equal his pay ($7.05 million). “I just kind of take it one day at a time,” Drury said when asked how he views his contract and the summer buy-out period. “I just kind of always prepare for the next practice and the next game.”
2: Vinny Prospal: John Tortorella admitted that he thought Prospal, who missed 53 games while recovering from knee surgery, would not play this season. Instead, Prospal returned for the stretch run and contributed nine goals and 14 assists for 23 points in 29 games. Still, he’s 36 and made $2.48 million last year.
3: Alex Frolov: Signed to a one-year, $3 million deal last summer with the idea that he would provide secondary scoring behind Marian Gaborik, Frolov was mostly invisible the first four months of the season and a target of the Garden denizens derision. Four goals and 16 points will do that.
Who the Rangers sign:
1: Brad Richards: Marian Gaborik has had a revolving door at center for two years. For two years, nothing has worked. Brad Richards is among the pre-eminent set-up centers in the league. Glen Sather did not mortgage the system at the trade deadline for Richards. Now all Sather has to do is ante up cash for the best UFA on the market.
2: James Wisniewski: John Tortorella said one of the reasons the power play struggled following the trade for Bryan McCabe was that the defenseman was forced to fill the roles of quarterback and shooter with the man advantage. Almost certainly, the Rangers will look at add a defenseman in free agency. Wisniewski, who earned Sean Avery’s enmity for a crude gesture in an October game at the Nassau Coliseum, can control the power play with his passing and shooting abilities.
3: Chad LaRose: The UFA left wing earned $1.7 million with the Carolina Hurricanes last year. He recorded 16 goals, 31 points, 59 PIMS, 196 hits and 23 blocked shots. His production and style of play matches the Rangers perfectly, as does his age, 29.
