It was far more than Dan Girardi ever could have expected out of his career, but the undrafted defenseman is no longer a Ranger.
The Rangers announced Wednesday they are buying out the three remaining years on Girardi’s contract, which carried an annual $5.5 million salary-cap hit. With the buyout, they will have dead space on the cap for the next six seasons, the value going from $2.61 million next season, followed by two seasons of $3.61 million and three seasons of $1.11 million.
“Dan’s contributions to the New York Rangers organization have been immeasurable,” team president Glen Sather said in a statement. “He has been a role model through his relentless determination, giving everything he had to this organization both on and off the ice.”
Girardi, 33, played 788 games with the Rangers, plus another 122 in the playoffs. The 33-year-old from Welland, Ontario, played through countless injuries, including three cracked ribs during the most recent postseason run, which ended in a second-round loss to the Senators.
Girardi’s game peaked with his lone All-Star star appearance in 2011-12, when he finished sixth in voting for the Norris Trophy as the league’s best defenseman. He technically never was asked to waive his no-move clause for the sake of being exposed in the expansion draft, set to take place on June 21. After early discussions with his camp, it became clear that waiving the clause would necessitate a quid-pro-quo assurance from the Rangers that Girardi wouldn’t get bought out, which the Rangers could not give. The same can be said for longtime blueline compatriot Marc Staal, who might have saved himself from a buyout by having a far better season and being three years younger, as well as having an extra year on his contract — meaning an extra two years in dead cap space.
Girardi also bypassed the option of going on waivers, instead now entering the world of free agency for the first time since the Blueshirts originally signed him on July 1, 2006.
“I poured my heart and soul into this team for the past 11 seasons and I enjoyed every minute of it,” Girardi said in a statement released by the team. “I want to acknowledge that the Rangers are a first class organization who have always treated our players in a first class fashion. My family and I are most grateful for the way we have been treated during our stay in New York.”
Girardi’s time on Broadway was defined by a success that just never secured the elusive Stanley Cup. His 122 postseason games are the most of any skater in franchise history, second on the all-time franchise list only to goalie Henrik Lundqvist’s 128. He was the epitome of an ironman for so many years, including a stretch from Jan. 27, 2007, through the end of the 2014-15 when he played 651 of a possible 656 regular-season games — one of those absences being the final game of the season when then-coach John Tortorella made him sit.
Henrik Lundqvist paid tribute to his defensive mate with an instagram post:
Since his NHL debut, Girardi led the NHL in blocked shots (1,691) and ranked fourth among NHL defensemen in games played (788).
“I would like to thank Dan for everything he has given of himself to the Rangers over 11 seasons,” general manager Jeff Gorton said. “He has been one of the key contributors to our success over the past decade. We have the utmost respect for Dan and wish him all the best going forward.”
Girardi played 63 games this past season while dealing with a gash in his ankle, sustained — fittingly — while blocking a shot. Rangers coach Alain Vigneault tried to mix and match Girardi’s partner throughout the season, but found he was most effective alongside captain Ryan McDonagh — not exactly the type of top-pair duo that best suited an elite player such as McDonagh.
That leaves the Rangers still looking for a top-pair right-handed defenseman — as is the rest of the league — with roster turnover expected in the next few weeks via the expansion draft (June 21), the amateur draft (June 23 and 24) and then the opening of free agency on July 1.
And for the first time in over a decade, Girardi is not a part of the Rangers’ picture.
“I want to acknowledge how great it has been to play alongside all of my teammates, including some Hall of Famers, for the past 11 years,” he said. “I am going to miss all of the friends I have made along the way, but my family and I are looking forward to the next chapter in our lives. I wish the Rangers good luck and success in the future.”