Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Restricted free agent center for the New York Rangers, Derek Stepan, was removed from the Rangers’ active roster the other day and said to not be travelling with the team out west to finish up the preseason.
I wrote about this in my last article and I said that even though there were no further updates on his current contract negotiations that those two updates prove that both sides are far apart in coming to an agreement for this season.
I hate to say it, but I was right.
According to NBC Sports and TSN‘s Darren Dreger, Stepan is now “unlikely” to start the regular season with the Rangers as he and his agent are far apart in contract talks with Rangers GM Glen Sather. Do you want to know how far?
Supposedly this current dispute is over $500K.
Are you serious?
Stepan and his agent are being really childish, idiotic, and unreasonable in my opinion because they need to realize the Rangers’ current cap situation. Yes Stepan has talent, but he has not even been in the league long enough to give a long term deal. He needs to just take Sather’s two-year bridge deal worth $3 million per season, and if he has two great years under that contract then he is due for an even bigger payday.
Stepan and his agent are only hurting themselves by not taking Sather’s deal, and I applaud Sather for not overspending for Stepan’s original six-year contract worth $5 million per year. To be arguing over $500K and willing to not start the regular season because of that is just moronic.
Take the two-year, $3 million per season deal now, Stepan. Go out west with the team, attend training camp, and be ready for the regular season.
It’s just ridiculous in my opinion if this lingers into the regular season.
Steven Carollo is a New York Rangers’ and sports writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter, add him on Facebook, connect with him on LinkedIn, and join his Google network.
Related Links:
Derek Stepan No Longer A Member Of New York Rangers’ Active Roster?
New York Rangers Head Coach Alain Vigneault Needs Derek Stepan In Camp Immediately
