Larry Brooks: Breaks Down NYR Arbitration Situation
Brassard brings fire game in and game out (AP)
Arbitration Week is coming up starting next Wednesday (7/23), when Chris Kreider will have his hearing. That will be followed up on Friday (7/25) with Mats Zuccarello and Monday (7/28) for Brassard’s hearing.
Per Larry Brook’s of the NY POST, he predicts that Kreider will get a 2 year award somewhere between 2.1 to 2.5 million. Zuccarello, who was the Rangers leading scorer by default, due to Marty St. Louis’ late season acquisition and off years by Rick Nash and Derek Stepan, will get about 4 million. Brassard is looking at an award close to 4.5 million.
Brooks made it clear that Glen Sather and the Rangers are attempting to negotiate long-term contracts with both Zuccarello and Brassard. The objective being to own some of their prime years and avoid them becoming UFA’s in their late 20’s.
However, in order to do this NY will have to give them both more than what they will be awarded in arbitration. Zuccarello closer to 4.5 and Brassard at about 5.5. That would total up to an even 10 million of the remaining 14 million in space.
The Rangers also have the option to walk away from either player, but have no intention of doing so. This leaves the Rangers in a pickle of possibly losing these players next year to unrestricted free agency, if they can’t work any long term deals.
We at FT Rangers Magazine feel extremely confident that a long term deal with Mats Zuccarello will be worked out (possibly this weekend / early next week). Our confidence for a similar deal with Brassard is not as high.
Still, the uncertainty is brutal for not only the RFA’s, but for the entire organization and it’s fan base.
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