NYR TODAY Sat 8/20: Gorton/Vesey Conference Call, Alumni Birthdays, TDINYRH

Rangers GM Jeff Gorton and newly acquired forward Jimmy Vesey spoke to the media on a conference call Friday night following the announcement of Vesey's signing. 

     Vesey said his list included eight teams, and while the decision was tough, he felt comfortable with the Rangers' pitch. "It was definitely a tough decision, but myself, my agent and my family were very impressed with the Rangers in our meeting."
    Vesey added he was impressed with Gorton, coach Alain Vigneault and particularly Chris Drury, who was added last year as director of player development. "Chris Drury was the one I was really impressed with during the meeting with the Rangers."
    Vesey said he tries to play a mix between a power and skilled forward.
    Although he tried to stay off social media all week, Vesey said he got texts from friends and family about the celebrity pitches on Twitter.
    Gorton said the Rangers had a lot to sell to Vesey, including being an Original Six franchise in a city like New York.
    Gorton said he did not want to commit Vesey to a particular line or spot just yet.
    Gorton added that he likes the way Vesey can score consistently: "I think that he's got ability to score. ... He can come in and play."


NYR Alumni Birthdays 8/20: 
Chris Drury C (2007-2011) Al Hamilton D (1965-66,1967-70) Ernest Kenny D (1930-1931) Steve Valiquette G (2003-04,2006-07)

Chris Drury
Regular-Season Games with Rangers: 264
Playoff Games with Rangers: 21
Acquired: Signed with the Rangers as a free agent on July 1, 2007.
Named the 25th Captain in team history on October 3. 2007.
Uniform Number: 23
Retired from NHL: 2011
Current Position: NY Rangers director of player development.

Al Hamilton
Seasons with Rangers: 4 (1965-66; 1967-1970)
Regular-Season Games with Rangers: 81
Playoff Games with Rangers: 6
Acquired: Scouted and signed by Rangers organization as a free agent in 1965.
Departed: Claimed by Buffalo in NHL Expansion Draft on June 10, 1970.
Uniform Numbers: 25, 6
Retired from NHL: 1980

Ernest Kenny
Seasons with Rangers: 1 (1930-31)
Regular-Season Games with Rangers: 6
Playoff Games with Rangers: 0
Acquired: Pro hockey rights sold to Rangers by Tacoma (PCHL) on Jan. 3, 1931.
Departed: Released following 1930-31 season.
Uniform Number: 16
Retired from pro hockey: 1940

Steve Valiquette
Seasons with Rangers: 2 (2003-04, 2006-07)
Regular-Season Games with Rangers: 39
Playoff Games with Rangers: 2
Acquired: Signed as a free agent on July 1, 2006.
Uniform Numbers: 45, 40
Current Position: Studio analyst for MSG Network covering the Rangers.

Today in NYR History August 20, 2001: 

Rangers acquire Eric Lindros and with conditional first-round draft pick (conditions not met) from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Jan Hlavac, Pavel Brendl, Kim Johnsson, and a third round pick in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft (Stefan Ruzicka).
Seasons with Rangers: 3 (2001-2004)
Regular-Season Games with Rangers: 192
Playoff Games with Rangers: 0
RANGERS DEBUT
Oct. 5, 2001 (Rangers at Carolina Hurricanes)
MAJOR NHL AWARDS/ACHIEVEMENTS WITH RANGERS
NHL All-Star Game — 2002 (injured, did not play)
RANGERS TEAM AWARDS
Boucher Trophy (Most Popular) — 2003-04
Rangers Good Guy Award — 2003-04

RANGERS TEAM LEADER
Most points — 2001-02
Most goals — 2001-02

INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENTS WHILE IN RANGERS ORGANIZATION
2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah

Lindros had seasons of 73, 53 and 39 points during his stint with the Rangers, and left the team as an unrestricted free agent following the 2003-04 season.

Lindros would announce his official retirement from the game in November of 2007. Lindros finished his career with 372 goals and 493 assists for 865 points, in 760 NHL games.

NYR TODAY SAT 7/23: Gorton, Signings, Cap, TDINYRH

Jeff Gorton brings in RFA's Under Cap Restrictions with Room to Spare
@RNYRF Staff Report
With yesterday's signings of Chris Kreider and Kevin Hayes, the Rangers have $4.35 million in cap space according to Cap Friendly.

With Kreider's arbitration hearing looming Gorton was able to wrangle up a 4 year deal at a decent rate. Kreider will receive the following payout throughout the 4 year span; 16-17: $5 million, 17-18: $5 million, 18-19: $4.5 million, 19-20: $4 million. The deal includes an 11-team no-trade list in the final two-years of the deal. Kreider reportedly insisted on a 4 year deal.

Hayes' signing came soon after with a 2 year, $2.6 million contract with a payout of $2.1 million this season, along with a $500,000 signing bonus and have a salary of $2.6 million for the 2017-18 season.

With recent RFA signings of J.T. Miller, Dylan McIlrath, Josh Jooris and now with Kreider's contract in what seems to be the fair market value for a player with his point production and Hayes which some think was just a bit higher than norm Gorton has shown patience and "smarts" in his first full offseason. The moves so far show that Gorton is committed to the "younger" players and the days of just trading away talent for a win now scenario or just to make a trade to clear cap space are coming to an end. What remains to be seen if any more moves are made before the start of the 2016-2017 season are made to improve the team to get the Rangers back once again to the Stanley Cup Finals or head them into a partial rebuild.

Today in NYR History July 23, 2012

The Rangers acquire Rick Nash from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Artem Anisimov, Brandon Dubinsky, Tim Erixon, and a first round pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

RANGERS GM GORTON TALKS DRAFT AND MORE

Rangers GM Jeff Gorton spoke after the draft on Saturday and said (NYR):

On the picks, "As far as the picks go, obviously it's the same. You come out with the guys that you want and the guys work hard all year and put together a list and hope to get good value with the picks. That is what we felt we did. It's always difficult when you don't have a first round pick or second round pick, I can't stand here and say we are going to have a player who will play for us next year but we are encouraged with some of the picks that we made."
On Sean Day, "the guys have done their homework on the player. They have talked with everyone around him. I think we knew it was kind of a possibility, it's similar to Duclair in a lot of ways. He was falling and there were reasons, supposed reasons and you do your homework and you hope that you are right."
What is the priority now, "our priority is that we have development camp, guys are coming in, and then free agency. We are still in a lot of conversations with trying to make our team better and that is our priority, to get better."
Where are the Rangers right now, "it's hard to say that, Larry. We are in a spot where we are trying to get better, trying to make some deals to get better. We are in a lot of conversations, we are listening to everything, we are close on a few things that didn't materialize today. There wasn't a ton of deals the last few days, we will see where it goes over the next week."
On the RFAs, "I have reached out and talked to them, a couple of them more than once. I told them that I needed to know where the cap was, I needed to get through the draft, now we have done that and will have some harder conversations. I have an idea of what it's going to be for these guys depending on the term for all of them. We will move forward from there."
"We like our RFAs, yes."
Were you close to moving into the first round, "there was a couple of things that we had...yea, I would say that it was close but obviously it didn't happen. We tried to do some things, we thought it was close. It didn't go the way we wanted to but at the same time we weren't going to be forced into a deal that doesn't make sense."
Have you started talking to any UFAs, "we have a few guys we are trying to reach out to. We are into that process and see where that goes."
"I think it's fair to say that we are keeping our options open, whether it's the top free agents, role players, those kind of things, we are talking to them all because things can happen and happen quick. We are just trying to be ready."
Is there a certain area you are targeting in free agency, "I think so, but I'd rather not say. I don't think it will help me to tell you who we are targeting but you can probably look at our roster and pick that apart and figure out what we need to do. I'd rather not say that we are looking for this guy or that guy because I don't think it's going to help us."
Do you consider yourself to be a contender, "It's June 24th, I would say that by the fact that you are asking me the question that you would probably say no, but I think we have things to do to get us where we want to go. We lost Yandle who was a real good player for us, terrific guy. It's a big hit and we are looking to see where we can go from there and how to get better whether it's on defense or at forward. Are we going to make a big trade? Sign a free agent, we are going through all of those scenarios and hopefully, yes, we will be among those teams that have a chance to win."
On a new assistant coach, "closer, yes, but nothing imminent. We will probably take another week or so here and then decide something."
Isn't there anyone you haven't qualified who might be a surprise, "uhh, I don't think so. I don't think any of them would be a surprise."
"We just made at trade with Colorado, we traded a fourth rounder next year for Nick Holden. Defenseman. That should be coming out right now....I think Holden is a guy who has gotten better every year in the league. He is a well rounded guy, kill penalties, play both sides, is real responsible, can skate. I think that he's good depth and see where he fits in."
On the expansion draft, "I don't think it impacts everything we are doing but we have to be mindful of what is going on. We are going to lose one player, at the end of the day everyone loses one player so we can't disrupt everything that we are doing and to make a bunch of trades to satisfy these requirements. I think we know what is going on, we have laid it out with different scenarios and each move we make we will pay attention to it but I can't see us making a move just because of the expansion draft."

Jeff Gorton on the state of the Rangers right now

Jeff Gorton on the state of the Rangers right now

10:02AM

Jan 5, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers defenseman Keith Yandle (L) is congratulated by his teammates after scoring a goal against the Dallas Stars during the first period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports (Andy Marlin)

Jeff Gorton said that the Rangers went through a tough stretch in December and would "like to think" that the Rangers are starting to come out of it. (Ranger Rants)

He said that he would like to see more and that they need "a number of players to all play better." (Ranger Rants)

Gorton said that he is calling around to teams in the league and doing their "due diligence" and that things will be evaluated in the stretch leading to the trade deadline. (Ranger Rants)

He said that he is having a lot of conversations with other teams but every team wants young/cheap players and added "you have 100 conversations to have one trade."(Ranger Rants)

Gorton said that he has faith in this team and that the their past success and history is on their side, adding "the core has done a good job and it's still intact."(Ranger Rants)

Adam Rotter: It's all about stringing wins together with good performances. The Rangers were good against Dallas and if they can follow that up with a similar performance against the Caps, the Rangers would seem to be on their way towards finally righting the ship after the last 5-6 weeks.

Jeff Gorton says that the Rangers can’t trade their first round pick every year

November 18th, 2015 6:39 pm

Prior to the season, Jeff Gorton was asked about the Rangers recent history of trading their first round pick to acquire proven/veteran players. (ESPN Insider)
The Rangers traded their:

• 2013 first round pick to acquire Rick Nash
• 2014 first round pick to acquire Marty St. Louis

• 2015 first round pick to acquire Marty St. Louis. (Was originally a second round pick that became a first round pick when the Rangers reached the 2014 Eastern Conference Final)
• 2016 first round pick to acquire Keith Yandle. (Becomes a 2017 first round pick if the Rangers miss the playoffs.

Gorton said that “everybody knows we can’t do that every year.”  (ESPN Insider)
He said that it was worth it for the Rangers to make the deals they did, saying “we got good players, we tried to win, came close and that’s what happened.” (ESPN Insider)

Gorton said that the players with the highest success rate of playing in the NHL are drafted in the first round. (ESPN Insider)

He added that the Rangers are hoping to get over the edge and win without it costing them “down the road.” (ESPN Insider)