New York Rangers’ General Manager Jeff Gorton continues to wait out the market for a top six center. Is he handling things the right way?
When Jeff Gorton traded Derek Stepan for Anthony DeAngelo and company, popular opinion became that the General Manager had another trick up his sleeve. Yet it’s September, and the New York Rangers remain lacking a top six center replacement for Stepan.
The easy answer to questions regarding the gap up front is that Jeff Gorton is playing the waiting game. Teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers are still figuring out their salary cap issues, and may be willing to move players such as Tyler Bozak or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.
Gorton cannot decide for other teams that they must move their players, so it appears he is waiting out the market. Still, with every day that passes, New York inches closer to starting the season with Mika Zibanejad, Kevin Hayes, and Lias Andersson or J.T. Miller as the top three centers.
Considering all three centers would be in a role they never played in before, that’s unacceptable. So, does Gorton have the right plan? Let’s look closer.
Regretting the Stepan trade
The simple solution is one that cannot happen anymore. Gorton’s best maneuver would have been buying out Marc Staal, retaining Derek Stepan, and moving forward with the roster accordingly. Buying out Staal would have ensured the Rangers could keep Stepan on the books in addition to Kevin Shattenkirk.
However, Gorton felt the Rangers must trade Stepan before his no-movement clause kicked in, forcing the Rangers to put themselves in a hole at center. Part one of his plan was a failure, so now the General Manager must make up for his own mistake by finding a capable replacement.
Avoiding the market thus far
Step two in Gorton’s waiting game included failing to make a splash in free agency and the trade market thus far. Considering Joe Thornton signed a massive one-year deal, Patrick Marleau signed a three-year deal, and centers have been impossible to come by, Gorton passes this test.
It would have been simple for Gorton to have panicked and gotten ripped off in a deal for Stepan’s replacement. To this point, he has stood his ground, knowing that other teams have concerns to fix as well.
However, step two only works as a success if step three works as well. New York cannot end up with no replacement whatsoever for Stepan.
Related Story: Should the Rangers trade J.T. Miller for a center?
Moving Forward
We now arrive at the present day, as Jeff Gorton continues to wait out the market. The Los Angeles Kings could use another defenseman, paving the way for a potential Nick Holden for a bottom six center trade. The Toronto Maple Leafs may need to move Tyler Bozak, while the Edmonton Oilers could still trade Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.
Perhaps the Florida Panthers will make another splash and trade a young center?
Many possibilities exist, and Gorton cashing in on one of them will determine the success of his master plan. Going into the season with Zibanejad, Hayes, and Andersson or Miller as the top three centers will represent a failure on the leader’s part.
Acquiring a top six center at a discount ala the New York Islanders acquiring Johnny Boychuk and Nick Leddy for pennies on the dollar a few years back would make the Stepan deal far less painful, and the future far brighter.
Next: Rangers' most important player: J.T. Miller
As we continue to wait, Jeff Gorton continues to wait out the market. He is taking a major risk with each day that passes, but a risk that could pay off if handled correctly.