Marc Staal finally comes home, Reaction

Unless you live under a rock, you've already heard that the Rangers and RFA D Marc Staal have agreed to a new pact, a 5-year, super-saving number just under 20 million. This means the Rangers have committed nearly 14 million on a core duo of Staal and Dan Giardi for the next few seasons, with Del Zotto, Gilroy, Ryan McDonaugh, Dylan McIllrath, and others waiting in the wings. It's safe to say the Blueshirts are building a strong blueline for seasons to come.

There are 2 main things to take away from this contract:

1) This all but signals the end of Wade Redden's tenure as a New York Ranger. His burdening 6.5 million cap hit can, and by all indications, will be sent to the minors, where he can be the best Wolfpack player for the next few seasons. Unless other contracts are moved out (Rozival, Gilroy?) or some trade magic is worked, there's no feasable way to keep Redden on the team and keep the others. Rangers' fans won't shead a tear to see Redden go.

2) In the context of the contract, the Rangers made a spectacular deal. They forego some of Staal's prime free agency seasons, keep the cap hit under 4 million, and do not have a no-trade or no-movement clause attached to it. My fear was that, sensing they needed to make this deal before training camp and how others on the team make a fortune, Staal would be overpaid. Yet, his contract seems fair compared to his abilities right now, and when Staal blossoms over the next few seasons it'll become one of better deals ever consummated by Glen Sather. You have to give credit where it's due, and Sather has earned it here.

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