The New York Rangers were busier than any other team at the trade deadline, tearing down their old core by trading players like Rick Nash, Nick Holden, Michael Grabner, J.T. Miller and of course Ryan McDonagh. Those moves came with the benefit of stockpiling draft picks, but that’s not necessarily where the work finishes.
Speaking with Craig Custance of The Athletic (subscription required) at the GM meetings in Florida, Rangers’ GM Jeff Gorton admitted he’s open to trading away one of the first-round picks he holds in the upcoming draft. New York has their own pick—which with every loss is getting higher and higher—along with those of the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning. Both of those picks will be closer to the end of the round.
Custance’s piece goes in depth on several other subjects from the meetings, but one thing remains clear. This Rangers rebuild isn’t going to be a long project. With the additions of prospects like Libor Hajek, Brett Howden and Ryan Lindgren, and promotions of some of their other young players, the Rangers could be just a few years from competitiveness. That’s good news for Henrik Lundqvist, who just turned 36 and has three years remaining on his current contract.
The Rangers have just 13 players in the NHL who are signed through next season, meaning this summer will bring many more decisions on who will be retained to be part of the solution. Players like Ryan Spooner, Kevin Hayes and Vladislav Namestnikov are all restricted free agents, and are already in the middle of their twenties. Gorton will be one of the most popular men on the draft floor, with many teams trying to mine his roster and draft stockpile for assets.
“We’re rebuilding through the draft” *trades first round pick*. Sounds like the Rangers. I don’t care if they have three first rounders. If you’re committed to a rebuild, use the three picks. You can rebuild much quicker now than you could 10-years ago. Commit yourself to doing it the right way.
He was very clear that they’re missing the guys in the 21-year-old range and that’s he type of player he would trade for—not an aging and/or expensive player.
If you trade it for a young controllable player it’s okay. If you trade it for the rights to Brett Hull it’s the old Ranger way.
No rewards are ever gained without taking risks. If you knew in advance Hull would be a Hall of Famer with over 700 goals scored, would you call a trade for his rights a mistake?
I think he meant Brett Hull as in an aging player not Hull as a rookie.
I believe he’s referring to an already aged Brett Hull.
Yes I meant Hull now. He could join Marcel Dionne, Guy Lafleur, Jaromir Jagr, and that Greatly kid as players I wished they’d somehow gotten a little younger.
I don’t know what he’s saying here though? The Rangers *just* a few years away from competitiveness would be a relief for Lundqvist who is 36 and signed for 3 more years?? That doesn’t seem like happy times for the King haha
Hajek, Rykov and Lindgren are close to all being NHL ready. Half of the top 31 draft prospects are Defensemen…do the Rangers expect to be needing more defensemen in their rebuild…or Gorton dangling bait to the teams that are way short on D…I believe the latter. With 3 first rounders, the Rangers need a few quick gritty wingers for Howden and Hayes to play with…Gorton hopefully has done his homework and brings in those type players to the Rangers. Rangers rebuild 2.0 includes them having 6 of the top 50 players not in the NHL (Hajek, Rykov, Howden, Chytil, Andersson and Shestyorkin). Might take 2-3 yrs but this could be a solid reset.
If done right…may not even take that long. Boston was in a similar spot only a couple years ago… Players tend to like playing for teams of this ilk, and sometimes sign for less as UFA’s? Ala Shattenkirk? Gorton is a good GM…so the bounce back could be quick for sure.
I was just questioning how he posted that haha
Look at the Blackhawks reset that while they missed the playoffs regularly, they drafted perfectly, they didn’t tank it as the Penguins clearly did to get Crosby and Mallon, but they built their reset and won a few Cups. Gorton will either prove to be a genius or a goat based upon what and who he drafts with the picks. Surely won’t be Hugh Jessiman, Pavel Brendl, Lauri Korpikoski or Dylan McIlrath…