New York Rangers: Five reasons for optimism following this offseason
Jeff Gorton and his staff worked hard to make the New York Rangers Stanley Cup contenders this offseason. Here are five of the offseason highlights that should have Rangers’ fans optimistic.
The 2017 offseason is almost in the rear-view mirror for the New York Rangers. Training camp and on-ice practices are just around the corner. In no time the Rangers will be competing against the rest of the NHL’s best.
While it is important for the team to perform come season time, Jeff Gorton has done his part in constructing a competitive roster. It began with some pre-draft wheeling and dealing and ended with a big splash with the league’s biggest free agent.
People around the Rangers’ organization and fans alike should be excited for what next season has to offer. In no time, this team could be a Stanley Cup contender. Here are the five reasons to be optimistic following the 2017 offseason.
Addressed the defense
Heading into the offseason, there was one glaring issue. Not just the Rangers knew it, the entire NHL was aware. That issue, the defense, is now the team’s biggest strength.
Gone are the days with Dan Girardi as Ryan McDonagh’s partner. Inserted in Girardi’s place is Kevin Shattenkirk, one of the league’s best offensive defenseman. That duo will be one of the best in the NHL.
Brady Skjei and Brendan Smith will solidify the second pairing. Meanwhile, Marc Staal and Nick Holden may seem to have the inside edge for the Rangers’ final defenseman. However, worthy prospects wait in the wings.
Newly acquired Anthony DeAngelo and Russian prospect Alexei Bereglazov both have legitimate claims to starting roles. In just one offseason Jeff Gorton has transformed the Rangers from the bottom of the barrel to Stanley Cup contenders for years to come.
Addition by subtraction
The New York Rangers found a variety of ways to get better this offseason. Some of the decisions were harder than others to make, but necessary nonetheless. Luckily, the absence of a few key players in the lineup will make it worth the frustration.
I’ve already mentioned the departure of Dan Girardi, the anchor to Ryan McDonagh’s perennial Norris trophy odds. His veteran leadership, locker-room presence, and true grit on the ice will be missed. However, his ill-advised snow angels and inability to make routine passes will not be.
Perhaps the least talked about of the Rangers offseason successes will be the exodus of Tanner Glass. The trouble-making enforcer seems to have played his final game as a New York Ranger, and possibly as an NHL player. Glass had a nice final run during the Rangers’ playoff run.
If this offseason is any indicator of Gorton’s intention moving forward, the future will continue to get brighter. The Rangers front office and coaching staff continue to become more progressive. That should mean less costly contracts, financially and strategically, like Glass and Girardi’s should be encountered.
Salary cap conscious
The New York Rangers front office accomplished a ton this offseason, but one aspect stands out. The future is around the corner, and Jeff Gorton is two steps ahead of everybody.
In a trade prior to the draft, Gorton shipped off assistant captain Derek Stepan and backup netminder Antti Raanta. The return was the seventh overall pick, Anthony DeAngelo, and a ton of cap space.
The $7.5-million in savings from Stepan and Raanta has been used wisely. Kevin Shattenkirk was brought in for a reasonable price and term. Meanwhile, the Rangers have replaced their first line center internally, and for a discount with Mika Zibanejad.
Should Marc Staal or Nick Holden be traded the salary cap savings will further increase. Jeff Gorton and the Rangers will have plenty of wiggle room when the trade deadline and 2018 offseason roll around.
High-end prospects
The New York Rangers prospect pipeline is among the shallowest in the NHL. However, the 2017 offseason offers a glimmer of hope for the team’s future stars.
The headlining piece of the Derek Stepan trade is Anthony DeAngelo. He immediately becomes one of the Rangers’ top prospects on defense. DeAngelo’s offensive potential from the back end is rivaled by few when he is effectively playing his game.
Gorton added to the Rangers’ forward prospect pool as well. For the first time in what seems like an eternity, the Rangers held two first-round picks in the entry-level draft. They selected Lias Andersson and Filip Chytil with the seventh and 21st picks, respectively.
Andersson, a Swedish prospect, will immediately compete for a spot on the NHL roster at 18 years old. Meanwhile, Filip Chytil has been one of the more exciting selections in the Rangers recent memory. He has the high-end scoring ability the Rangers have been lacking for years.
The new guard
Former fan favorites Derek Stepan and Dan Girardi have new teams to lead. In their absence remain two unclaimed assistant captain positions. That means there is an opportunity for other players to become part of team leadership.
The Rangers lineup as assembled is lacking in true veteran leadership. Outside of current captains, Henrik Lundqvist, and Mats Zuccarello, the roster is overall young. However, a few returning members are not lacking in experience in the trenches of the NHL and Metropolitan division.
At the forefront of the team’s new wave of leaders should be Chris Kreider. He has played a key role in the Rangers success since joining the team in the playoffs of 2012. Another name that may surprise people is Brady Skjei. Skjei will play an equally important role for the team’s future success moving forward.
Next: New York Rangers: Analyzing Pronman’s Prospect Pool Ranking
With an emphasis being placed on extending the Stanley Cup window, young players will be forced to prove themselves early. The absence of veteran leadership for this Rangers team should be embraced by some of the team’s young players as an opportunity to become stars in New York.