If so inclined, the Rangers could amnesty Gaborik or Richards and sign a big name free agent either this year or next year.
Not really. They have to re-sign Hagelin, Stepan, and McDonagh this off-season. Even if each of them only get the 2 year contract treatment, I expect that to cost them $8M/season. The year after that, most of the team is either UFA or RFA. They have to be banking on a $9M contract for Lundqvist, $6M for Calalhan, etc. I also think the Gaborik contract is easily traded if they're so inclined.
Amazingly Richards makes $57M in the first 6 years of his contract actually, so it's even worse.
http://www.capgeek.com/player/690
I think it's a fair deal for Getzlaf, but considering other teams could only offer 7 year deals I do think it's uncertain someone would have beaten that offer in UFA and the Ducks maybe could have waited. A 7 year deal worth 66M is a AAV of ~9.5, which would be difficult for another team to handle. Maybe Getzlaf prefers a 7 year deal worth $63M for an AAV of 9.0 M. Someone would have offered that I bet at least but it's not entirely clear which contract is better. It only takes one legitimate offer though...
Getzlaf would be 35 at the end of a 7 year contract. Is it unfair to assume that he would get 5M a year coming off that? If injuries don't do him in he still should be a solid 2nd line center.
