NHL rumors: Ryan Malone working out with Rangers, contract next?
Ryan Malone will hope to start rebuilding his career and reputation after what had to be the most trying season of his NHL years in 2013-14. The veteran forward was bought out by the Tampa Bay Lightning after a poor season that culminated with an arrest on DUI and drug charges. Malone, who is participating in the NHL/NHLPA Substance Abuse/Behavior Health Program, is now an unrestricted free agent and looking for work.
Larry Brooks of the New York Post reported that Malone is free to sign after being given the green light from the NHL and is not expected to face further discipline in the wake of his arrest. Malone recently pleaded no contest to the DUI charge and agreed to a pretrial diversion program on drug charges.
One of the teams with interest in possibly giving Malone a second chance appears to be the New York Rangers. Malone was invited by a group of Rangers to the team’s informal skates according to agent Mike Liut (via the Post).
Malone had been skating with Ryan McDonagh and Derek Stepan at their agency’s camp in Minnesota. Additionally, Martin St. Louis and Dominic Moore were labeled as part of the group that invited Malone to come to camp. St. Louis and Moore played with Malone in Tampa Bay.
According to Steve Zipay of Newsday, Malone was on the ice at the Rangers’ informal skate Monday morning.
So will this lead to a contract for the 10-year veteran?
According to Brooks, the team is expected to have formalized contract talks with Liut, who said the two parties would be talking early this week.
This development comes not long after a report surfaced in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that the Pittsburgh Penguins were “kicking the tires” on Malone. According to Liut, who was quoted in the Tribune-Review report, the Pens have merely shown interest and have not made any offers.
Perhaps Malone will at the very least earn a tryout opportunity with the Rangers now that he's in New York. There’s also the chance of awarding him a cheaper standard contract. The Rangers are tight to the salary cap already, but given Malone’s most recent season and his run-in with the law, his value isn’t very high. He could be put on a one-year prove-it contract at less than $1 million and give the Rangers a veteran depth player that comes on the cheap.
Malone had 15 points in 57 games last year for the Lightning, easily his worst campaign as a pro. He is a veteran of 641 NHL games and has 370 career points between the Penguins and Lightning. He has eclipsed 20 goals six times in his career, most recently in 2011-12. Malone also has 43 career postseason appearances including during Pittsburgh’s run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2008.
Malone may be a risky candidate for a contract and roster spot given recent events and his on-ice struggles last season, but he’d also be the recipient of an inexpensive second-chance kind of deal. If Malone is able to take advantage of that second chance, it could be mutually beneficial for himself and whichever team signs him.
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