Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
It is now Aug. 5, and New York Rangers GM Glen Sather has yet to reach a deal or even talk to Rangers star goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, who is an unrestricted free agent after the 2013-14 season.
Now there is still a possibility a deal could get reached before the end of the summer, but that won’t happen if more days pass by without even negotiating.
As a Rangers fan, I am extremely worried of the possibility of Lundqvist walking at the end of next season. Even though Hank loves New York City, does he still love the Rangers and their ineptness of giving him some good goal scoring in front of him and a chance to win the Stanley Cup?
Who knows?
But what I do know is that the longer Sather waits, nothing good can come from that. As Larry Brooks said in the New York Post a few days ago, referring to Lundqvist and other Rangers’ free agents after this upcoming season:
“…there is nothing to be gained by stalling or procrastinating. There is nothing good that can come of allowing these players to go into this season without extensions or by negotiating during a season that’s going to be challenging enough even if all goes well.”
And there most certainly is nothing good that would come with constant chatter throughout the winter focusing on Lundqvist’s future on Broadway.
“Uh, what are your thoughts on being a trade-deadline rental if you’re unsigned by then, Hank?”
“So King, do you think you might be willing to take less to play with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin?”
None of this sounds good from a Rangers fan perspective.
I don’t always agree with Brooks but I agree with what he said about procrastinating. Putting contract extensions off until later, when dealing with a star player, is always the enemy. I just do not understand why Sather is waiting. I just don’t.
If Hank was feeling any doubts about whether he can win a cup with the Rangers, the longer Sather stalls with his contract extension, Lundqvist will also feel doubts about if the Rangers organization even wants him here.
He is your most important player and the backbone of your team. Where would the Rangers be without Lundqvist? Sign him long-term Glen.
Do it now!
