New York Rangers: 5 Keys To A Successful Offseason

May 16, 2015; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers center

(28) battles for the puck with Tampa Bay Lightning center

(9) during the third period in game one of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

5.) Acquire More Depth.

One of the main problems with the Rangers this year was their lack of depth, both on defense and at forward. That is natural when you have cap problems and your coach hesitates to let young players off the leash. When Mats Zuccarello went down, you could tell how much harder it was for this team to produce. The third and fourth line did not do well enough for the postseason; and, in the fourth line’s instance, the majority of the regular season.

The Rangers are going to have trouble fitting depth players under the cap, but there will be plenty of affordable, under-the-radar guys, like there is every year. They need to get Dominic Moore some wingers to work with, as Tanner Glass anchors down the fourth line and hurts the usage of Moore. 

May 20, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Rangers defenseman

(8) during the third period of game three of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

4.) Trade A Defenseman

I can’t stress enough that the Rangers are up against the cap. They have key restricted free agents to sign, with Derek Stepan and Carl Hagelin in the market for significant raises. At some point, someone will have to be a casualty, and that person should be a defenseman.

The Rangers top defensive prospect, Brady Skjei, should be NHL-ready by next season, giving the Rangers seven defenseman for six spots. It is unlikely that Dan Girardi and his albatross contract get moved, so that leaves Kevin Klein and/or Dan Boyle. Klein started off this season great because of an insanely high shooting percentage, but crashed down to earth late and during the postseason, where many times he looked lost on the ice. Boyle, who was the whipping boy this year, will be the most likely to be moved, which would be a mistake, since he wasn’t as bad as everyone thinks. No matter what, however, the Rangers will need to move a defenseman. 

Mar 10, 2015; Uniondale, NY, USA; New York Rangers goalie

(33) makes a save against the New York Islanders during the second period at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

3.) Trade Cam Talbot

Lets face it, if it is not for Talbot’s heroic run as intern-goalie while Henrik Lundqvist was injured, the Rangers are not the President’s trophy winner, and most likely would have drawn a tougher matchup in the playoffs first round. However, with the Rangers having no first-round draft picks this year or next year, and with Talbot being their best trade-chip, the goal-buster must go.

If the Rangers are lucky, they might be able to get a late first-round pick from a team desperate for a goalie, like the Edmonton Oilers or San Jose Sharks, both teams rumored to be kicking tires on Talbot. Obviously, it will be tough to replace Talbot, as he and Lundqvist formed the best goalie duo in the league this year. There are always good bargains out there for backup goalies, and the Rangers have an abundance of goaltending prospects in the pipeline right now. 

May 29, 2015; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers left wing

(15) and right wing

(26) react after game seven of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

2.) Do Not Panic

There are already people ready to tear down this team and rebuild it. Seriously? There is no question that this team can be improved, but lets not forget that they were one period away from returning to the Stanley Cup Final. Lets remember two things. One, four of the team’s six defensemen had serious injuries. Two, the Lightning are a damn good hockey team. Despite everything we might think, the Rangers lost to a better team.

This core has been built up for years and has an exciting future, so there is no need to panic because of a playoff run that didn’t end the way it was supposed to. A few tweaks to the roster, including letting Martin St. Louis walk, and this team is right back in a position to compete for the Cup next season. 

May 26, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Rangers left wing

(61) celebrates his goal with New York Rangers defenseman

(93) and New York Rangers center

(10) during the third period of game six of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena. New York Rangers defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 7-3. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

1.) Add Skill, Not Grit

A quick question to all out there who believe that the Rangers lost to the Lightning because they weren’t tough enough: How many gritty, tough guys did the Lightning put in there lineup? Brenden Morrow is one of the few that come to mind, and he has been atrocious for a while now.

So, if the Rangers really want to improve, they have to get more skill. Players like Glass and Klein are not fit for the way this team should be playing. The Rangers missed Anton Stralman tremendously this year, and they must find a way to replace his excellent puck-moving skills. If they don’t, there possession numbers will continue to dwindle, and they will have to rely on goaltending and ridiculous shooting percentages in order to win.

Next: Rangers' Possible Targets For Each Position

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