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New York Rangers Rebuild From Within Starts Now

By Mike Ries

Apr 21, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers left wing Rick Nash (61) has the puck knocked away by Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Ben Lovejoy (12) during the second period in game four of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 21, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers left wing Rick Nash (61) has the puck knocked away by Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Ben Lovejoy (12) during the second period in game four of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /
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No more big moves will occur for the New York Rangers this offseason, and that may be a good thing for them in the long run.

As expected, the New York Rangers were very quiet on July1st, staying away from the list of high-end free agents, choosing instead to sign Michael Grabner, Nathan Gerbe, and Adam Clendening to their roster.  The new regime has shifted focus from the past practices of bringing in high-priced talent and stripping the team’s youth from their minor league system.

The team also seems intent on keeping their draft picks in the coming years and restocking a fairly thin talent base in their system.  It has been proven in the age of the salary cap that you can no longer buy a championship team. The core players on a winning club must come from astute scouting and drafting, while staying away from the urge to sell the farm to make short gains.

Jeff Gorton has a plan and will stick with it through the rough times ahead

General manager Jeff Gorton is focused on rebuilding the prospect pool which was torn apart during the previous regime.  Do not be surprised if there is a steady movement from the Hartford Wolf Pack to the Rangers through the upcoming season.  With the signings of the 3 players mentioned, who will fill second and third line spots the Rangers face some tough decisions with the current bottom 6 forwards currently on the roster.  Long gone are the days of New York plugging holes with aging veterans

I am specifically talking about Tanner Glass, and Dominic Moore, who no longer have the tools to compete in the new-look NHL.  The number one attribute that teams desire in forwards whether it be top or bottom 6 is speed.   J.T. Miller is a player worth resigning and would fit nicely with either Grabner or Gerbe.  Brady Skjei, Nicklas Jensen will see extended time with the Rangers through the upcoming season and also depends on how their progression is, they may well earn a roster spot.

The most talented newbie the New York Rangers have is Pavel Buchnevich, who finished this past season with SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL .  He was signed in mid-May by the Rangers to an entry-level contract and will be given every opportunity to make the big club out of training camp.  He has been described to me by several NHL scouts, as an immediate impact player.  He is in the ilk of Vladimir Tarasenko and has the chance to make the Ranger faithful forget about the lack of true talent in the minor league system.  He is a complete player, first and foremost a playmaker.  His vision on the ice and skating speed is at an NHL level.  What he lacks is foot speed and at times defensive

He is a complete player, first and foremost a playmaker.  His vision on the ice and skating speed is at an NHL level.  What he lacks is foot speed and at times defensive responsibility but those are things that can be corrected.  He is the top talent at any level in the Rangers system and with the abundance of older and slower forwards with the big club he will be slotted on the second line and given the ice time to show his skill set and mature into an NHL player.

Next: Home Improvement: Building the New York Rangers

No quick fixes in the Rangers future. The Ranger faithful will have to weather the storm that is to come.

With aging and slow-footed defensemen and forwards, the Rangers have little choice but to evaluate the talent that is in the system and see if they can find any gems, bring them along slowly and develop them into the players they believe they can be.  Every year it seems the team is going to trade Rick Nash and company and bring in this free agent or that free agent.  Those days are gone and the Ranger faithful will have to weather the upcoming storm for at least a season or two.

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