So, after letting the disappointment of the Rangers season ending loss to the Washington Capitals on Saturday afternoon seep in for a few days, I am now officially "over it", and am ready to talk off season moves.
Despite the fact that the Rangers struggled down the stretch just to make the playoffs, and bowed out in the first round, there were a lot of good things to come out of this season. The question now is what next? What do they have to do moving forward this off-season? How can they take that "next step", and go from a young team that barely made the playoffs, to an upper echelon team in the NHL? Do they stay the course as Glen Sather has continuously preached these past few years, and continue to build through the farm system? Do they explore the trade market, and try to trade some pieces for an impact player? Or do they dive into free agency, throw big money at another big name (let this read Brad Richards) and hope it works out?
I think we all know how well that last choice has worked out in the past. And while I don't think the Rangers should just open up the check book, and throw a king's ransom at another 30 plus year old player who has had big success elsewhere, I also don't think they should turn a blind eye to Richards either. Like many other free agents the Rangers have pursued in the past, he appears to be "the solution" to a lot of their problems. He is a legitimate # 1 center, a big time threat on the power play, and it does make sense to bring him here. The downside to all of that is, he is 31 years old, coming off a bad head injury, and has typical free agent bust written all over him for the Boys in Blue. That doesn't mean he can't be successful here, but the Rangers need to be very cautious in their pursuit of Richards and make sure that if they do bring him in they a.) don't hand out another ridiculous contract, and b.) give him the tools to be successful in New York.
The truth of the matter is the Rangers have done about as much as they can with rebuilding. All of the "home grown" elements are now in place. They have a top 5 goalie in the league in Henrik Lundqvist. Marc Staal and Dan Girardi are one of the best shut down defensive pairings in the league. Michael Sauer and Ryan McDonagh both had strong rookie seasons, and round out a very solid top 4 tandem, that are sound defensively, and very good at what they do. Brandon Dubinsky and Ryan Callahan have developed into the unquestioned leaders of this team, and from this point on should be consistent 23-27 goal scorers. Artem Anisimov, whom I thought might take a step back this year, actually progressed, and along with Derek Stepan, have the potential to develop into consistent 55 to 60 point players. The bottom line is the Rangers have produced more players since the lockout then in any period I can remember in recent memory, but at this point there really is nothing more that they can do through the farm system.
This team now needs difference makers.
They need to go out and acquire the players necessary to put them over the top and put them up there with the elite teams in the Eastern Conference, and eventually, the rest of the league. Teams like Washington, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia. These are the teams the Rangers need to be up there with, and in order for them to do that, they need a legitimate, #1 play making center, a legitimate power play quarterback, and most importantly, Marian Gaborik either needs to bounce back next season, or the Blueshirts need to trade for another legitimate scoring sniper, and get rid of him. That is most likely not going to happen, and in all honesty, it doesn’t need to. Get the right pieces in here and Gaborik can return to the 40 to 45 goal scorer he has been in previous seasons. So, as upset as everyone may be because he had an off year, and made that bone headed play in Game 3, get over it. When healthy, Marian Gaborik is an elite player in the National Hockey League, something not easy to come by, and a player the Rangers can’t afford to just give up on. Yes, he needs to stay healthy, but the Rangers need to help him out, and give him what he needs to be successful here.
They need difference makers, skilled players. Brian Boyle and Brandon Prust are grinding, balls out type players, who will do the grunt work, and provide a little scoring, but they’re not goal scorers. Boyle is more likely a 10-13 goal scorer, then the 20 he potted this season. Anyone else notice he hadn’t scored a goal since March 18th, and before that, February 25th? Cause I sure did.
Free agency is definitely a route, but trades are more what I am suggesting. Am I saying they mortgage the future? Not at all, but Glen Sather needs to be smart here. He has an awful track record with free agency, which has been well documented. For some reason however, he seems to do a lot better when it comes to trades, at least when it comes to getting rid of a big contract for an expiring one. So, instead of waiting until mid-season like he usually does, and trading a big contract for the Wojtek Wolskis and the Olli Jokinens of the world, perhaps he should explore the forbidden route of trading a few prospects for someone who is already established, but is still young and still in his prime. You can't hold on to every single piece in your farm system, and never take a gamble. And besides, not all of them are going to pan out anyway. They already have a nice established young core that is in place, and is very good.
But if the Rangers ever hope to be any higher than a 5th or 6th seed, and get past the 2nd round of the playoffs, they need to add to it. Last time I checked, Lundqvist is not getting any younger, nor is Gaborik. And as good as this current core is, they’re not difference makers. That’s not an indictment on any of them, it’s just reality. They need to get players in here that are going to compliment what they already have, and take them from a blue collar team, to a team that is a true Stanley Cup contender. Most likely, the farm system is not going to produce a player like that anytime soon.
So yes, get Brad Richards if you can. I’m sure all my fellow Blueshirt fans are already saving their pennies for a #91 home blue, or heritage jersey, and that’s fine (as long as it is not another a ridiculous contract). But more importantly, Sather needs to make some trades and get players in here who are REALLY going to make a difference. He can’t just open the check book July 1st, throw money at another big name, and say that’s it. That’s the reason free agents don't succeed here, because no one else is brought in to support them. Well, that’s not good enough anymore.
You have the pieces in the system to really improve this team Glen. So for once, be smart, and get some differences makers in here.
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