Hartnett: Expect Talbot Trade Talks To Go Down To The Wire
By Sean Hartnett
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In a high-stakes poker game ahead of the 2015 NHL Draft, Rangers general manager Glen Sather doesn't appear to be breaking a sweat. Cam Talbot is the big trade chip being dangled as the hours tick closer to the 7 p.m. draft.
With the Edmonton Oilers, Dallas Stars, San Jose Sharks, Calgary Flames and Florida Panthers hoping to entice the Rangers to part with their backup goaltender, Sather seems content to wait things out.
Talbot's agent, George Bazos, told WFAN.com via e-mail: "Looks like it is going down to the wire. There's not a lot that I know or can add."
Sather does not back down from what he believes is an appropriate return for his assets. This approach has allowed the Rangers to remain among the NHL's elite in recent seasons, as the Blueshirts have reached the Eastern Conference Final in three of four seasons.
Surprisingly, Talbot wasn't the first goalie to be dealt ahead of the 2015 Draft. The Buffalo Sabres completed a curious deal, giving up the 21st overall pick in this year's draft for Ottawa Senators backup goaltender Robin Lehner and center David Legwand.
While Lehner's upside was attractive to a Sabres team that is rebuilding through a youth movement, Talbot remains the jewel coveted by rival GMs hoping to secure a definitive No. 1 goalie. Talbot was expected to be the first domino to fall. Even though that wasn't the case, his return value remains sky-high.
The Rangers' plan has always been to deal Talbot to move into the first round. Currently, the Rangers are without first-round picks in each of the 2015 and 2016 drafts. As things stand, their highest pick in Friday's draft is in the second round at 59th overall.
Sather appears to be holding out for more than a first-round pick. Now is the time for the Rangers to shave salary and recoup early-round picks sent away in recent blockbusters. The Rangers are currently $11.9 million under the $71.4 maximum cap threshold. Derek Stepan, Carl Hagelin, Jesper Fast and J.T. Miller are all unsigned restricted free agents. It would make sense for the Rangers to complete a deal that would free up cap space and gain them valuable early-round picks and/or prospects.
Two contracts that the Rangers might consider moving are Kevin Klein's remaining annual-average cap hit of $2.9 million -- which runs through the 2017-18 season -- and Tanner Glass' cap hit of $1.45 million, running through the 2016-17 season. Defensemen Dan Girardi, Marc Staal and Dan Boyle each have full no-movement clauses. Captain Ryan McDonagh is a franchise defenseman. His no-trade clause kicks in next season. The Rangers would not be willing to deal away Keith Yandle given his inexpensive cap hit of $2.625 million, as the Arizona Coyotes are being charged an equal half of Yandle's full cap hit of $5.25 million.
Sather appears to hold all the cards. With Lehner arriving in Buffalo, Eddie Lack of the Vancouver Canucks and Martin Jones of the Los Angeles Kings are fallback options for teams missing out on Talbot. These rival GMs desire the big fish. One will get an itchy trigger finger and meet Sather's high price for Talbot.
Follow Sean on Twitter @HartnettHockey.
