New York Rangers about to let one elite defenseman leave due to cap space issue?

Elite defenseman about to hit the UFA market! 

New York Rangers will have to be creative if they want to keep all their players (especially their defensemen) as they are tight under the salary cap. Upcoming UFA Brendan Smith met with his agent and here’s what Smith’s party had to say regarding Smith’s future in New York.

“Brendan has told me that he enjoyed the entire experience of playing in New York and being with the Rangers and that he certainly would consider signing a new deal and going back instead of becoming a free agent,” Anton Thun told The New York Post. “But at the same time, I want to make it clear that he hasn’t told me, ‘Get a deal done with the Rangers.’

‘He’s looking for a good fit with a good organization, and the Rangers certainly qualify. But to pass up free agency, Brendan’s going to need a contract that reflects market value.’

According to Larry Brooks of the New York Post, it will likely take a deal of four or five years between $4 million and $4.5 million per to keep Smith from sniffing around the open market. 

Brandon Smith, 28-year-old, has been drafted by the Detroit Red Wings organization on the first round (28th overall) in 2007. The defenseman scored 16 goals and registered 55 assists in 309 game in the NHL.