Report: Contract Talks Between Girardi, Rangers Hit Some Bumps

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- If Dan Girardi is to remain a member of the Rangers beyond the March 5 trade deadline both sides need to get cracking.

According to the NY Post, discussions on a new deal that would keep the 29-year-old stay-at-home defenseman in New York for years have hit a bit of a roadblock. When the week started the sides were deemed to be closing in on a new deal, but as the days have dragged on without an agreement the optimism has been shifted to neutral.

"There is still some negotiating to do," Don Meehan, one of Girardi's agents, told The Post via email on Thursday.

The Rangers have been fighting contract wars on two fronts, trying on one hand to work things out with Girardi while reportedly getting very little done with captain Ryan Callahan on the other.

Girardi, one of the more reliable and minutes-eating defensemen in the NHL, reportedly wants a six-year deal that would pay him $5.5 million on average.

Callahan has not budged from his request for a seven-year deal paying him $6.5 million to $7 million per season. It is widely believed that unless the 28-year-old forward comes down from those demands he will be traded prior to the deadline.

Rumors have swirled in recent days of Callahan perhaps being shopped to the Lightning for 38-year-old forward Martin St. Louis, but ever since WFAN's Boomer Esiason first reported that the trade was possible there has been a lot of backlash coming from the Tampa Bay camp.

Re-signing Girardi is considered a must by many in the know, with Callahan, despite his leadership, spirited play and endless intangibles, considered not worth the money he is commanding.

However, if the Rangers and Girardi's representatives do not hammer out a deal by the end of the weekend general manager Glen Sather will aggressively shop the veteran defenseman, The Post reported.

The Rangers will play their first game since returning from the Olympic break on Thursday night at home against the Chicago Blackhawks.

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