Things just got more difficult for the New York Rangers, argues Larry Brooks of the New York Post, who posits the Dylan Cozens contract will have a serious effect on negotiations with Filip Chytil this offseason. The 23-year-old Chytil has 32 points in 43 games this season and is currently on a five-game goal streak, bringing his total to a career-high 19 on the year.
With the Rangers looking destined for the playoffs and connected to just about every high-profile trade target, they’ll have to remember to leave enough room to extend their young breakout center. New contracts are also due for several others, including K’Andre Miller, who has flashed his own moments of superstar talent this season.
- Speaking of high-profile trade targets, San Jose Sharks forward Timo Meier has been connected to the Rangers, and the club is listed in Matt Larkin’s deep dive today for Daily Faceoff as a potential destination. The piece looks at five landing spots and how Meier would fit in, both this season and on a potential extension. There will be endless speculation regarding the winger over the next few weeks as he enters deadline season with plenty of heat.
- Meier has also been tenuously linked to the Toronto Maple Leafs, who are the focus of Chris Johnston’s latest for NorthStar Bets. The NHL insider details the Maple Leafs’ openings and assets, hinting they may make multiple moves this deadline to bolster different positions. Just as we wrote in our recent Trade Deadline Primer, though, Toronto’s pile of assets to choose from is looking rather small at the moment.
I fail to see how Cozens contract will have any effect on Chytil’s contract negotiations. He’s on pace for a career high in points with 61 (if he played a full 82-game season). Cozens on the other hand is on pace for 71 points in 82 games. 10 points doesn’t seem like a whole lot in the grand scheme of things but Cozens looks poised to build on that or at least repeat it every season going forward given his pedigree and development. Chytil seems like he’s overachieving. This is his 6th NHL season and his previous career high in points is 23. I don’t think his pace is sustainable either given that he’s not playing top 6 minutes and the Rangers are likely to add another top 6 forward prior to the deadline. Chytil will realistically get a shorter term deal in the 4$ million dollar range IMO if he stays with the Rangers. They may even look to use him as bait at the deadline.
Chytil is finally looking like a real NHLer but he’s no Dylan Cozens.