Suddenly, the Rangers have gone from a team with money to a salary cap constrained team. The status of Al Montoya is very different now than it was a few weeks ago. Part of the Rangers incentive to get Lundqvist under a long term contract is the need to address this situation.
Assuming the numbers at NHLSCAP.COM are correct, there is no chance of Montoya playing with the Rangers in 2007-08 except if Lundqvist is placed on the injury list. His cap is simply too high to be a backup.
A year from now he will be a restricted free agent. The Rangers will either have to sign him to a large contract (no longer feasable), see him poached as a RFA (in return for a 2009 draft pick) or trade his rights prior to reaching RFA status. In other words, our hand is going to be forced into doing something.
I was an advocate of trading Montoya for a center before we hit the Daily Double last Sunday. Now I wonder if he could be the centerpiece of a deal that brings back a young well rounded defenseman and allows the team to shed some salary? And I also wonder if this is why there has been a holdup to the Lundqvist, & Shanahan signings.
I'd love to hear from some of the salary cap savvy posters on this one.
Montoya's large cap hit is due to his performance bonuses of $850k. His base salary is actually $984,200, which is still expensive for a backup goalie. However, we can exceed the salary cap to pay performance bonuses (and take the hit as dead cap space next year) if necessary. Next year, Montoya will not be on an entry-level contract, so he is not eligible for performance bonuses in his new contract and his cap hit will be lower (I'd guess around $1-1.25 mil). The lower hit, along with several salaries coming off the books and no one in line for a big raise, should allow Montoya to get a long look in the NHL next year. But for this year, Valiquette and his $618k cap hit are the way to go.
Montoya's large cap hit is due to his performance bonuses of $850k. His base salary is actually $984,200, which is still expensive for a backup goalie. However, we can exceed the salary cap to pay performance bonuses (and take the hit as dead cap space next year) if necessary. Next year, Montoya will not be on an entry-level contract, so he is not eligible for performance bonuses in his new contract and his cap hit will be lower (I'd guess around $1-1.25 mil). The lower hit, along with several salaries coming off the books and no one in line for a big raise, should allow Montoya to get a long look in the NHL next year. But for this year, Valiquette and his $618k cap hit are the way to go.
If Montoya is an RFA next year (and assuming that his 07-08 season is at least as good as this year), don't you think someone in need of a goaltender might sign him to an unmatchable $2.3MM offer sheet and give up a second round draft pick in 2009? The Rangers could match but then would have to keep him for one full season.
couldn't we just take him to arbitration to prevent someone from giving him an offer sheet? i think we'll know what we want to do with him by June of '09.
If Montoya is an RFA next year (and assuming that his 07-08 season is at least as good as this year), don't you think someone in need of a goaltender might sign him to an unmatchable $2.3MM offer sheet and give up a second round draft pick in 2009? The Rangers could match but then would have to keep him for one full season.
I don't think other teams covet unproven goaltenders as much as we think they do.
I don't think other teams covet unproven goaltenders as much as we think they do.
true, but if he has a stellar season on the Pack, or plays well as a backup for Hank, wouldn't it be worth it to risk a 2nd round pick for him? we are still talking about a potential franchise goalie.
true, but if he has a stellar season on the Pack, or plays well as a backup for Hank, wouldn't it be worth it to risk a 2nd round pick for him? we are still talking about a potential franchise goalie.
He won't backup Hank because we're going to be right up against the cap and Valiquette has a much smaller cap hit. He might have a great season in Hartford, but what team is going to give up a 2nd and $2.3m in cap room for an unknown? No one really knows if Montoya will be ready to step into the NHL, let alone establish himself as a #1 goalie.
Are we really worrying about this now? A back up goalie that won't hit the NHL for another year?
Yes he's a big asset, but let's see what the cap # is like next year and if it continues to go up and where players like Mara and MM and their >$5mil in salary is come this time next year.
If Staal is what he’s supposed to be one of these guys will be gone anyway. I'll throw Cullen in that mix too.
He won't backup Hank because we're going to be right up against the cap and Valiquette has a much smaller cap hit. He might have a great season in Hartford, but what team is going to give up a 2nd and $2.3m in cap room for an unknown? No one really knows if Montoya will be ready to step into the NHL, let alone establish himself as a #1 goalie.
Well, all it takes is 1. I'm not saying it Will happen, I just think that it's a possibility.
What I would do, is keep Montoya down at HFD, and have Kasper down there as well since both of them are counted in that cap # I believe. That will free up about 4 mil in cap space. Use Montoya as a trading chip at the deadline improve the team immeaditly and hope it helps a run for the cup.
If Montoya is an RFA next year (and assuming that his 07-08 season is at least as good as this year), don't you think someone in need of a goaltender might sign him to an unmatchable $2.3MM offer sheet and give up a second round draft pick in 2009? The Rangers could match but then would have to keep him for one full season.
Are you sure they have to KEEP him if they match the contract? I thought only the team that signed him to the offer sheet would have to keep him if the team didn't match?
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"Of course giving Sather cap space is like giving teenagers whiskey and car keys." - SBOB "Watching Sather build a team is like watching a blind man with no fingers trying to put together an elaborate puzzle." - Shadowtron
Sestito still on the make a wish tour. - rholt168
The deal was Luongo and Jokinen for Parrish and Kvasha. The #1 pick never changed hands. Milbury just took DiPietro instead of keeping Luongo, and using the #1 pick on Heatley.
The deal was Luongo and Jokinen for Parrish and Kvasha. The #1 pick never changed hands. Milbury just took DiPietro instead of keeping Luongo, and using the #1 pick on Heatley.
Did Montoya ever play for the Rangers in a game? From what I have seen on the NYR website and games (I haven't been watching every Rangers game from 1st period to 3rd period due to college ), he hasn't even played a period for the Rangers. I think Renney made a huge mistake. We are paying good numbers for him, and he instead put Valiquette in there (don't get me wrong, Vali was real good one game), but I feel that Renney should have played Montoya just as well for a couple of games/periods this year. He is a highly touted prospect, more highly touted than Valiquette was.
No one really knows how he will perform at the NHL level now especially when our CAP is so restrained and I think Renney is putting Valiquette ahead of him, which is a problem. It will be really hard for us to keep him unless we truly know how much he has matured at the NHL level. Given his zero play time in the NHL, I guess the Rangers are definitely going to trade him to clear up some space. He is also very injury prone (shoulder surgery, three injuries in one year! I looked at the player profile on the NYR website). This is just reminding me of Danny Blackburn and the nerve problems in his shoulder. As sad as this sounds, I don't forsee a long future for Montoya and the Rangers, given Lundqvist's incumbency.
I don't ever want to see Montoya he is the draft bust of all draft busts. The future has to be Henrik as far as the cap i'm not updated on where the Rangers stand but this whole not signing Henrik thing could ruin this franchise again. But i'm convinced he's gonna stay here how many players actually leave the Rangers? Think about it everyone wants to play hear noone they want ever leaves.
If we ever see him it's cause Henriks gone. I think I speak for most Ranger fans when I say lets hope Henriks here for many years leading the franchise to titles while Montoyas in the minors or traded.
If we ever see him it's cause Henriks gone. I think I speak for most Ranger fans when I say lets hope Henriks here for many years leading the franchise to titles while Montoyas in the minors or traded.
You guys gotta all be Yankee fans. I mean seriously years and years of bad Rangers hockey we finally catch a break with getting Henrik and now everyone sticks up for Weekes clone in hfd. What a joke. I might have to root for Henrik to leave now just so when Montoya's booed like he was when I seen him I can just watch you guys rant about what garbage he is.
You guys gotta all be Yankee fans. I mean seriously years and years of bad Rangers hockey we finally catch a break with getting Henrik and now everyone sticks up for Weekes clone in hfd. What a joke. I might have to root for Henrik to leave now just so when Montoya's booed like he was when I seen him I can just watch you guys rant about what garbage he is.
), he hasn't even played a period for the Rangers. I think Renney made a huge mistake. We are paying good numbers for him, and he instead put Valiquette in there (don't get me wrong, Vali was real good one game), but I feel that Renney should have played Montoya just as well for a couple of games/periods this year. He is a highly touted prospect, more highly touted than Valiquette was. 
