Cap games have started.
The Blueshirts have been involved in a wave of taxi staff moves this week. Colin Blackwell, who co-piloted Thursday’s 3-2 overtime win in Buffalo, has moved into the taxi roster twice since his original Jan. 23 record, saving the club $ 6,250 at the limit in the day he is off the NHL list. The move costs him real money in the end, his daily pay to the taxi staff is $ 1,810.34 less than he earns with the Blueshirts.
Expect to see younger guys like K’Andre Miller and Kaapo Kakko as well. As early as Friday, Blackwell, Miller and Kakko were assigned to the taxi staff. Miller’s play saved the Rangers $ 10,560.34 at the limit, while costing the defender $ 5,137.93 in salary, the same as Kakko. Any day Kakko is on the taxi roster saves the Rangers $ 30,818.97 in maximum space. Lafreniere cannot be sent to the taxi squad because he currently plays the QMJHL, to which the 19-year-old would have to be assigned if not with the Blueshirts.
Jack Johnson, currently injured, and Brendan Smith would need resignations to spend time on the taxi staff. The Blueshirts would save $ 9,267.24 each day, without veterans ’pay being affected by being on one-way contracts. In fact, they would save on the warranty deduction while they were on the taxi staff.
Similarly, the Rangers have moved players from the AHL roster to take day trips to the taxi squad while the Wolf Pack performs a workout. Anthony Greco and Tim Gettinger have been receiving the call for a day, with CEO Jeff Gorton trying to spread the wealth. AHL camp players are not paid. Those who are part of the taxi staff receive their full salaries from AHL. So it was $ 1,274.14 for Greco (with a minor league $ 200,000 salary) and $ 560.34 for Geter ($ 65,000).
The Rangers hope Ryan Strome, who suffered an unidentified lower body injury with 3:47 left in regulation, will be good to go to Saturday’s Garden game against the Penguins.