The potential free agent class of 2014 is being whittled down one by one — a Joe Pavelski here, a Jay Bouwmeester there, contract extensions for essential players everywhere.
Except in New York, where the Rangers have been curiously reluctant to engage in negotiations with Henrik Lundqvist, Ryan Callahan and Dan Girardi, all of whom can go free (alternate meaning) next summer.
Understand, it's not as if negotiations with any or all of the Big Three have hit snags. Fact is, Slap Shots has been told, negotiations have yet to even begin with the franchise goaltender, the captain or the first-pair, right-side defenseman.
Why? Who knows? General manager Glen Sather's email response to Slaps Shots this week when asked about the status of negotiations was, "We will be talking."
There is much time to talk, that much is true. There is no impending deadline. Fact is, the Rangers have until late next June to keep Lundqvist, Callahan and Girardi off the open market.
But 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?"
There's no money to be saved by dawdling, either. Seriously, no one's price ever goes down as free agency beckons. A guy has a bad season, he makes more. A guy has a good season, he makes a lot more.
The market is established. The Rangers are going to have to pay market value for each of these athletes, while staying within the tagging parameter for 2014-15, something that might complicate matters to some degree as the season evolves but is a lesser evil with which to deal than, say, the goaltender sniffing free agency.
For Lundqvist, clearly the most essential athlete on the roster and currently at $6.875 million per year, the questions are whether the number is closer to $8.5M or $9.5M per, and whether the contract is for seven years or the maximum eight?
The Rangers likely are going to want to pay him as the league's best goaltender. Lundqvist likely is going to want to be paid as one of the league's best players.
David Clarkson, for whom no general manager in his right mind would trade Callahan, got seven years at $5.25M per year from Toronto when the free agent market opened on July 5, after rejecting a larger offer from Edmonton.
Los Angeles captain Dustin Brown received an eight-year extension worth $5.875M per year. Winnipeg gave Blake Wheeler, who had filed for salary arbitration and would have been an unrestricted free agent next summer, a six-year deal worth $5.6M per. And San Jose signed Joe Pavelski to a five-year extension for $6M per year.
Callahan is going to be paid in that ballpark by somebody. You better believe that Buffalo, for one, would be willing to do pretty much whatever it would take to bring the Rochester native close to home.
For the captain, currently at $4.275M per year, the question is whether the term is longer at slightly less a year as per Clarkson or Brown, say, seven or eight years at around $5.6M per year, or whether the term is shorter at a higher average annual value as per Pavelski for say, six years at $6.2M per year.
Free-agent defensemen always get paid. Matt Carle is on a deal worth $5.5M per year. Mark Streit got $5.25M per year. Dennis Wideman is in long term at $5.25M per year.
Girardi isn't only a first-pair defenseman, he is the Rangers' first-pair right defenseman. There is no one within the organization equipped to fill that role should Girardi escape. No one. The club's second-pair right defenseman is Anton Stralman, who, by the way, is also on track for 2014 free agency.
Who would they get to replace him? Dan Boyle? Dion Phaneuf, less dependable and surely equally as expensive?
Girardi finished sixth in the voting for the Norris in 2011-12. He has played the second-most minutes in the NHL over the past two years, his ice time exceeded only by L.A.'s Drew Doughty. The Rangers evolved into a chip-it-out team, but Girardi is a first-pass defenseman who should thrive this season given more room to breathe and without being expected to act as a human shield on every turn.
For the alternate captain, currently earning $3.325M per year, the question is solely how much and for how long? Bouwmeester just re-upped with the Blues for five years at $5.4M per year. That's where the Rangers would have to start.
There is a price of doing business. The Rangers are going to have to pay it eventually, one way or another.
Now is as good a time as any.
larry.brooks@nypost.com
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