When the New York Rangers openly admitted to fans that the team would undergo large changes as they look to tear down and then rebuild their roster, they made it quite clear what they were after. In a letter from Glen Sather and Jeff Gorton, the team claimed to be “focused on adding young, competitive players that combine speed, skill and character.”
Today, Andy Strickland of Fox Sports tweets that he has heard the Rangers are more interested in acquiring prospects and roster players than draft picks as they start their rebuild, one that could include dealing key players like Ryan McDonagh and Mats Zuccarello. While obviously the team will likely add at least a few draft picks over the next few weeks, a focus on bringing in young players who can compete in the NHL sooner rather than later gives us an insight into how long they believe the rebuild will take.
The Rangers selected twice in the first round last year, selecting Filip Chytil and Lias Andersson to beef up their prospect pool significantly, and still have a young core to build around in players like Brady Skjei (23), J.T. Miller (24) and Mika Zibanejad (24). If their trade deadline and subsequent summer sell-off results in several other high-profile prospects or young roster players, perhaps a rebuild won’t take as long as many have expected.
That’s good news for Henrik Lundqvist, who isn’t getting any younger and is still looking for that elusive Stanley Cup. The 35-year old goaltender has posted a .922 save percentage through 128 career playoff games, including 10 shutouts, but somehow has still not been able to get his team over the hump. With three more years remaining on his current contract, maybe the Rangers will be ready to compete before he sails off into the Swedish sunset.
Lundqvist would have to go down in history as one of the greatest to never lift the Cup
He couldn’t hold the leads the Rangers got him in 2014
Because it’s 100% the goalie’s fault when a goal is scored. Got it.
The Rangers struggled offensively throughout the Cup final and Quick was great
It’s true. Rangers haven’t had a true sniper in…wow, it’s been awhile.
Lol my comment was part sarcasm part serious. He could have played better in their cup appearance but it was not all on him. He played poor in some of the game. But kept them in it during the many OT’s
Defense never gets blamed for goals as much as goalies.
It’s sad but true
They package they have been talking about for a McDonagh and a bruins trade the bruins need to say no thanks it’s Carlo the guy they drafted in the first last yr and a first this yr
I would do Seneshyn, Czarnik, and a first.
For Mcdonaugh
They want DeBrusk plus a Carlo/grzelcyk and a pick… no thanks
I wouldn’t do anything for him we don’t need him a guy like Nash would help a lot more
Czarnik very well could be a ufa this summer so that’s no good
He will most likely be the guy traded in any deal that happens with any team he’s a solid 3-4 line guy
The Rangers are so jealous of what the Yankees did but they don’t have the pieces to orchestrate that sort of immediate turnaround.