Rebuild? Forget it. Not happening.
The Rangers aren’t going to rebuild, nor can they. At least not in terms of tearing down the current roster and replacing a lot of pieces. It can’t happen with the team up against the salary cap, and it can’t happen because of no-move, no-trade clauses in contracts.
Rangers GM Jeff Gorton – who once, as interim GM, did a massive upgrade on Boston’s roster and helped build a championship team – will have to pull rabbits out of hats this summer to fix what is broken. His first full summer on the job is a massive undertaking, a make-or-break franchise summer.
The whole job might not be possible to do in one summer. The 2016-17 Rangers could well be a borderline playoff team on its way to restocking toward bigger things the following season.
But the fact remains, the Rangers’ core is still solid. Many franchises outside the playoffs, and a few that were in the playoffs, would love to trade cores with the Rangers.
That said, the Rangers as constituted aren’t good enough to contend seriously for a championship. They took a step or two backward this year and will probably take another step backward before being able to go forward again.
There are no untouchables, nor should there be. Not one.
(By the way, the three teams that played the most playoff games the last five years are all out after the first round).
As far as rebuilding, tearing it down, even if they could to it, what would that guarantee? The Islanders have been rebuilding since 1993, and they finally won a playoff series with a team that’s not better than the Rangers. Edmonton’s been rebuilding since 1990, and isn’t close despite all those early first-round picks. How long did Los Angeles and Chicago absolutely stink? Look how long Pittsburgh was down before it was able to draft Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
I don’t think the Rangers are ever going to draft a Crosby and a Malkin in our lifetime. And if they do, then they will have been awful for 7-10 years.
If the Rangers chose to go full rebuild, they might was well start with Ryan McDonagh, Derek Stepan, Derick Brassard, Chris Kreider and others, because those players will be on the downside, if not retired, when they are “rebuilt” to contend. Not to mention Henrik Lundqvist.
No, Gorton is going to have to do magic to reshape his roster and his salary-cap situation, and that means starting with Rick Nash and his $7.8 million cap hit and limited (12 teams) no-trade clause. The Rangers will have to eat some of the cap hit in order to get something good in return, assuming Nash would agree to a trade to a team that would/could take him.
And even then, trading Nash would open cap space while removing the one legitimate top-line forward from the roster. Replacing him how?
The back end is where the largest problem exists. Dan Girardi and Marc Staal both have anchor contracts with no-move clauses. Girardi’s game deteriorated far worse than Staal’s did, but Staal didn’t play near his standard either. Perhaps Girardi would be considered a buyout candidate later on in his deal, but that would require the Rangers to carry dead cap space for years. Not likely. Not this summer.
The Rangers have to hope and pray that, with a full summer to recover – for the first time in five years – both are better next season.
We pretty much know who won’t be back. Dan Boyle is retiring. Eric Staal (on ice for 10 Pittsburgh goals, none by the Rangers) has to be allowed to go as a free agent (maybe he returns to Carolina at a discount).
Dominic Moore and Viktor Stalberg are questionable keepers – Stalberg’s pricetag the question. I would try to keep his speed and willingness to be physical if relatively cheap. They would probably like to re-up Antti Raanta, again, depending on the cost. Otherwise they will need a backup goalie.
The most difficult question is whether the Rangers can or will keep Keith Yandle, who will get north of $6 million per (from Boston?) as an unrestricted free agent, and who would seem a good fit going forward in Alain Vigneault’s system, assuming Vigneault is back of course.
And though I threw out all the possibilities of Vigneault’s demise yesterday, and though I honestly don’t know what Gorton thought of his performance this season, he’s probably coming back, perhaps with a different staff.
If Yandle walks, the Rangers — until they fill holes – have Ryan McDonagh, Girardi, Staal, Kevin Klein and Brady Skjei on defense. Maybe Dylan McIlrath. I don’t see why Raphael Diaz would re-sign here for any price after being stuck in Hartford all season.
There are questions about the restricted free agents, too. It would be foolish to not keep Chris Kreider, despite his disappointing season, unless a trade would bring a windfall. Still a marvelous box of tools in that kid, stuff you rarely find in a player, and when he does figure it out (again, partly a coaching/teaching failure, IMO, this season) he’s going to be a special player. Will that be here? And how high will Gorton have to go on a new contract with him? Maybe he comes somewhat cheaply given the way he played this season.
.J.T. Miller, the one Ranger who took a step forward this year – yes, one — is a must-sign, even if Vigneault doesn’t completely trust him. He still makes crazy decisions and plays with the puck, but man, a combo of skill, speed, snarl and strength. Built for playoffs. You don’t want to lose those.
Speaking of which, Dylan McIlrath, you would have to think will be elsewhere on opening night if the same coach is here. He’s a top-six defenseman in the league – plenty of teams are playing a No. 6 worse than him, some of them still in the playoffs — but not likely with Vigneault.
Then there’s Kevin Hayes, whose effort was questionable – being kind — all season, and whose game slipped after a promising rookie year. It might be risky to let him go, might be risky to keep him. Doesn’t defend. Doesn’t use his size. Not a great skater. Terrific mitts.
As they were, the Rangers weren’t enough.
Gorton’s got a lot of questions to answer, and a lot of magic to try to perform.
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Heading over to breakup day this morning, starting around 9-ish … going to eventually post some audio (fingers crossed), but won’t be able to post much if anything on the blog until much later on. So keep an eye on the widgie over there on the right ——>
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