WHAT IF NYR Bought Out Goodrow

Team: 2023-24 New York Rangers

Initial Creation Date: Jul. 24, 2023

Published: Jul. 24, 2023

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

I understand the buyout would have hit the cap for 8 years. However, I feel the hits to the cap would have been more than manageable with salary cap projecting to go up b/t 3-4 mil a year over the next few seasons. It would have been worth it
yr 1: 200K credit
yr2: 100K credit
yr3: 1,258,333 hit
yr4: 3,650,000 hit
yrs 5 through 8: 1,258,333 hit

ASSUMPTIONS WITH GOODROW BOUGHT OUT
1) with the 3,841,667 from their buyout, NYR target a mid-six RW, mid-six C and better backup G on day 1 of FA. NYR do not rush to sigh Belzile, Riley Nash, Bonino, and Quick. They still would have signed Wheeler, Pitlick, Gustafson, and Mackey
3) Depth signing would have been pushed further into FA period. You can target solid players younger and more upside and at the same price points as Belzile, Nash, Bonino

ROSTER CONSTRUCTION
I will move the players I feel NYR would not have signed to LTIR so I can get their cap space - easier than just trading them to random teams to reclaim the cap space
To fulfill assumption #1 I will select who I felt would have been the best fit from Day 1 signings only
To fulfill assumption #2 I will look to sign best fit from current remaining free agents only

Kreider will be on the 3rd line - I know everyone is going to complain about this one. Get rid of the old-school thinking of line construction - the game has changed alot. He will still get plenty of ice time on PP and PK and it helps create a better balance on the team

1.

2.

3.