Although neither side is sounding as if there is a crisis, the Derek Stepan contract negotiations are entering a new phase. The unsigned Stepan will now start to miss scrimmages and exhibition games and that usually does not bode well for a player's upcoming regular season performance. "Any player because of injury or contract issues or whatever consequences that doesn't start at the same time as his fellow teammates, he's got some catching up to do. It depends on individual, depends on the player, it depends on how far behind they are" said Ranger coach Alain Vigneault. Hopefully, Stepan can resolve his contract issues with the Rangers shortly. Otherwise, we would mark him down a round or two on our draft lists.