Jeff Gorton said on Saturday that he has had "lengthy" discussions with four of the Rangers five arbitration eligible RFAs.
The players he has spoken with include Jimmy Vesey, Brady Skjei, Vlad Namestnikov and Kevin Hayes.
Gorton said that he intends to speak with Ryan Spooner's agents this week.
He said that the Rangers know what their RFAs are looking for and "what it might take" to get them signed.
Larry Brooks writes that Kevin Hayes is reportedly seeking a five-year deal in the neighborhood of $5.5 million per season. (NY Post)
Brooks notes that Hayes remains as the Rangers most "marketable asset." (NY Post)
It's been speculated that the Rangers won't bring all of their RFA forwards back.
Adam Rotter: If I had to guess, I think that the Brady Skjei and Jimmy Vesey are the two RFAs least likely to be moved. In a big enough deal, where the Rangers land a high-level 23 of 24 year old, sure, but i think those two will get their shot to blossom under David Quinn's watch.
I expected Namestnikov to be property of another team by now and still think that is a distinct possibility. Same with Ryan Spooner unless the Rangers bring both back on one-year deals to use as asset to trade as rentals during the season. Then there is Kevin Hayes and the decision the Rangers have to make about whether they want to invest between 3-5 years and, at least, $4 million dollars per season. Hayes seems like more of a sure thing, in terms of what he would bring and his production, than JT Miller would have been, but part of why the Rangers moved Miller was because they didn't want a potential long-term deal in the way of the rebuild. That said, nothing would stop the Rangers from locking Hayes up this summer and then moving him at the deadline or next summer.