Rangers can exceed salary cap with Derek Stepan out
Derek Stepan of the Rangers looks on during the game against the Montreal Canadiens during Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final in the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bell Centre on May 27, 2014 in Montreal. Credit: Getty Images / Francois Laplante
With center Derek Stepan now officially on long-term injured reserve, the Rangers can temporarily exceed the $69-million salary cap until he returns in November after 10 games.
Then, they must make moves to be cap-compliant.
At this point, it appears they could carry the maximum 23 players when rosters are finalized Tuesday: 16 forwards (only 14 active with Stepan and possibly Kevin Hayes on IR), seven defensemen and two goalies. Or, 15 forwards, for flexibility, if Chris Mueller is claimed on waivers, which doesn't appear likely to happen.
The math:
GOALIES
Henrik Lundqvist ($8.5 million)
Cam Talbot ($562,500)
DEFENSEMEN
Dan Girardi ($5.5 million)
Ryan McDonagh ($4.7 million)
Dan Boyle ($4.5 million)
Marc Staal ($3.975 million)
Kevin Klein ($2.9 million)
John Moore ($850,500)
Matt Hunwick ($600,000)
FORWARDS
Rick Nash ($7.8 million)
Martin St. Louis ($5.625 million)
Derick Brassard ($5 million)
Mats Zuccarello ($3.5 million)
Derek Stepan ($3.075 million, LTIR)
Chris Kreider ($2.475 million)
Carl Hagelin ($2.25 million)
Dom Moore ($1.5 million)
Tanner Glass ($1.45 million)
Kevin Hayes ($900,000, IR)
Lee Stempniak ($900,000)
J.T. Miller ($894,167)
Jesper Fast ($805,000)
Anthony Duclair ($772,500)
Ryan Malone ($700,000)
Chris Mueller ($600,000)
That equals $70,334,667. If nothing changes by early November, decisions would have to be made on two (or three) players to make room for Stepan.
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