Seidenberg Re-Signs in Boston – Affects Rangers Plans?

Another potential blueliner is off the market. Boston Bruin defenceman Dennis Seidenberg this weekend re-signed with the Bruins on a 4 year deal worth $13m.
This is worth noting for a few different reasons for The Rangers. Not only does it take a potential target off the market (and weaken the already average free agent market) but it also somewhat sets the price of other blueliners becoming free agents.

German born Seidenberg had a good season and set several career highs but he has been somewhat of a journeyman throughout his NHL career. When a well travelled pro can get a $3.25m/year long term contract it has to make you wonder what the likes of Volenchkov, Michalek and Paul Martin will get. With the supply starting to dwindle and demand remaining high, guys like the aforementioned trio and even lesser players will be in stronger positions to make a pretty buck or two more than they may have anticipated.

What will The Rangers being well to pay for help? The going rate may have just been set.

Grachev Finished in OHL, Rangers Looking at Seidenberg?

This info courtesy of Beyond the Blueshirts and their Twitter page. Just note that this news is unconfirmed as of this moment.

Evgeny Grachev’s time in the OHL is over. The Rangers have informed the Brampton Battalion that they will not be returning him to juniors next season. If the 19-year old Grachev does not make the Rangers out of camp, which is still a very strong possibility, he will be in the AHL with the Wolfpack to start the season. My bet is still AHL.

For those of us keeping track, the AHL has an age restriction of 20 years old. This rule only applies to North American players, and European players who were drafted out of the CHL. Grachev was drafted out of Russia, thus this rule does not apply to him.

Initially, I was surprised the Rangers are doing this. The kid is 19 and could definitely learn a lot from another season in Brampton. However, the more I think about it, the more it makes sense. Grachev has shown he is a class above the junior level, and it’s time to show it at the AHL level. Hartford, with Anisimov probably headed to the NHL, will need a front line scorer, and Grachev is now their man for this season. Hopefully, if all goes well, the Rangers won’t have to rush him through the AHL, and it will allow him to adapt to the increased speed and intensity of the AHL game.

I’m looking forward to seeing Grachev on a line with Gaborik, or Callahan, in the future. That will be fun to watch.

In other news, the Rangers are apparently interested in Dennis Seidenberg, the 28 year old defenseman who played with Carolina last year. He has some offensive touch, but was a -9 with the Canes last year. He would be the 5th defenseman, which means the Rangers aren’t all that content with starting two rookie defensemen every night.

They have the cap room to match his $1.2 million salary from last season, which leaves about $3.2 million in cap room for Brandon Dubinsky, a 13th forward and a 7th defenseman. If the rumors are true, and Dubinsky will play for his qualifying offer, then the Rangers are in good shape cap-wise for this season.

I know, I’m shocked too.