the rangers have 17.95 mil in bad contracts next year ( Drury, Brashear, Voros, Redden, Rosival) by releasing them they still owe them half their contracts (8.975 mil)and would have 22.192 mil next year to resign Staal and add 2 defensemen and 6 forwards. By buying them out they’d owe them 2/3 their contract over 2 times the remaining years (5.9 mil next year)and would have 25.244 mil to spend on the players they need they could afford to resign Staal, and go after Thorton or Semin in 2011.

But here is the other big thing numbers wise. We should expect Grachev and Sangunetti to make the big club next year and they will make close to nothing between them. so in theory the rangers could have 25.244 mil to spend on Staal, a defenseman, and 5 forwards.

These are the best options, because unless there is a huge problem with another 5.5 million dollar defenseman from another team, the Rangers aren’t going to be able to trade Redden, same with Drury.

A well-placed source has told The Post the Thrashers have set the cost as Michael Del Zotto or Marc Staal; plus Brandon Dubinsky or Ryan Callahan; plus Derek Stepan or Chris Kreider or Evgeni Grachev; plus a first-round draft choice.

Would you guys do this deal if it meant signing Kovulchuk to a long term deal? Id only do it if theyd take one of drury or redden as well.

On the NY Rangers…

Remember the Thrashers want someone who can help them now plus a prospect and perhaps conditional picks should he re-sign.

“The Rangers didn’t have the piece to help Atlanta this season before the Jokinen deal,” a source told me.