Fifth in a season-long series of “The Negotiator,” where we’ll tap into the front office experience of Daily Faceoff’s Steve Greeley, who most recently served as assistant general manager of the Buffalo Sabres.



Taylor Hall for Adam Larsson is the trade that still gets Edmonton Oilers fans riled up.



But the New York Rangers acquiring Ryan Strome from Edmonton in exchange for Ryan Spooner is also one of the best NHL trades of the last decade, a suave swap in 2018 by newly introduced Montreal Canadiens executive vice president Jeff Gorton.



<figure class="wp-block-video"><video controls="" src="https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/StromeTwitter.mp4"></video></figure>



That trade was also, ahem, one for one.



Strome has racked up 53 goals and 155 points in 206 games as a Ranger. Spooner is in his third season skating in Russia’s KHL. 



Now, up for a new deal for the second time in New York, Strome has made no mistake in his contract year as he continues to pile up points. He’s consistently played a significant role in the heart of the Rangers’ lineup, averaging 18 minutes per night.<div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="172"></div>



The question is: Can the Rangers afford to keep Strome in a tight salary cap window? 



New Rangers GM Chris Drury made the decision last offseason to move Pavel Buchnevich, a talented player who was due a raise to $5.8 million that the Rangers simply couldn’t work under their cap.



Let’s look at the case for Strome:



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Ryan Strome</h2>



Team: New York Rangers Position: Center Age: 28 Career: 563 games, 112 goals, 205 assists, 317 points, plus-30 Last Season: 56 games, 14 goals, 35 assists, 49 points, plus-6 This Season: 16 games, 3 goals, 11 assists, 14 points, plus-5



Analysis:



Strome’s most common linemate with the New York Rangers over the last three seasons has been superstar winger Artemi Panarin. While it would be easy to say any center can play with Panarin, it would be unfair to say that these two players do not have great chemistry. This is where I believe the problem lies for the New York Rangers right now. <div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="158"></div>



Yes, Panarin was a superstar before he arrived on Broadway, but with Strome there is no denying that Panarin has done everything then GM Jeff Gorton hoped when he re-signed him two years ago.



In a negotiation, how do you separate the player from the apparent points-per-game bump that he might get from playing alongside such a prodigious producer like Panarin? Strome’s career average is 0.56 points per game and in New York he is at 0.75 points per game.



You have to think the Rangers see the value in keeping the Panarin-Strome connection going. But that’s what will make this tricky, in part because it is not a decision independent of others. The Rangers have the likes of Kaapo Kakko, Alexis Lafreniere, K’Andre Miller and Filip Chytil all coming due as RFAs over the next two seasons. <div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="2" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="139"></div>



They’ve achieved some additional cost certainty with Norris Trophy winner Adam Fox locked up for the next seven years at $9.5 million and Mika Zibanejad at $8.5 million. Igor Shesterkin is also signed for the foreseeable future. Knowing all of that helps in a big way to put the puzzle together. 



Drury’s Rangers will also gain $1 million in buyout (dead cap) savings this offseason, and in two years that debt will be off the books, which should account for a large chunk of Strome’s salary.



In other words, the answer is yes, if they can get through next season with Strome on-board, they will be well suited in the long-term cap picture once those buyouts come off the books.



The bigger question might be: What will the Strome camp be looking for in this deal?<div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="3" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="137"></div>



While Strome does have the undeniable chemistry with Panarin, Strome is not the Rangers’ top center. The Rangers will want to pay Strome like a second line center and I believe that’s a fair assessment by the team.



In the end, I think the Rangers and Strome will find a way to get a deal done as Strome has loved his time in Manhattan and would be thrilled to know where he is playing for the long-term. There is potential for a meet in the middle combination of a salary cap hit that meets NYR’s short-term needs but an extra year or two tacked on to get Strome the total dollars needed so the Strome-Panarin duo can keep producing.



Comparables: Ryan Strome, C, New York Rangers, Age 28, .56 ppg (career)<div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="4" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="131"></div>



Potential Team Comparables: Charlie Coyle, C, Boston Bruins, Age 28, .50 ppg (career) 6 years x $5.25 = $31.5 million&nbsp;&nbsp; Phillip Danault, C, Los Angeles Kings, Age 28, .51 ppg (career), 6 years x $5.5 = $33 million



Potential Agent Asking Price:



Brayden Schenn, C, St. Louis Blues, Age 28, .64 ppg (career),&nbsp;8 years x $6.5 million = $52 million Kevin Hayes, C, Philadelphia Flyers, Age 27, .59 ppg (career), 7 years x $7.14 = $50 million



The Negotiator Projection: 7 years x $5.65 million = $39.55 million For more from The Negotiator, check out the other player payday files on Daily Faceoff:



New York Rangers defenseman&nbsp;<a href="https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/the-negotiator-what-does-mcavoy-deal-mean-for-norris-winner-adam-fox/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Adam Fox</a> Calgary Flames winger&nbsp;<a href="https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/the-negotiator-how-much-term-for-johnny-gaudreaus-next-deal/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Johnny Gaudreau</a> Dallas Stars defenseman&nbsp;<a href="https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/the-negotiator-john-klingberg/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">John Klingberg</a> Anaheim Ducks defenseman <a href="https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/the-negotiator-can-the-ducks-afford-to-lose-hampus-lindholm/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hampus Lindholm</a>