Can the New York Rangers find a cheap solution to prevent rushing young players?
It’s no secret that the New York Rangers have some holes in the defense they need to hash out.
The quick thought would be to have young players like Brady Skjei play top minutes alongside a veteran like Kevin Shattenkirk.
This wouldn’t be the right choice, thrusting Skjei into this position before he is ready could hurt his development and slow his progress. Giving a player of his age and experience top-pairing minutes is dangerous.
With that said, the Rangers should go out and seek the services of a veteran defenseman still on the free agent market to act as a stop-gap solution for this season.
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Don’t waste assets
I understand the appeal of going after a player like Jacob Trouba and bringing him to New York. His contract disputes with the Winnipeg Jets certainly seems like he’s a prime candidate for moving on. But it’s just not the right thing for the Rangers to do at this time.
Trouba is a great young defenseman and a building block piece. The Rangers could definitely use his services now and for the future. However, the cost for acquiring him would most definitely be too steep.
Giving away crucial young pieces to bring in a defenseman is a move for a team closer to competing. It’s no secret that the Rangers aren’t there yet so, while its tempting, the Rangers should steer clear of these types of moves.
Who could they target?
The few players I’m going to mention are certainly below the talent level of Trouba or any young restricted free agent still on the market. The only appealing trait they bring to the table would be that they are candidates to accept a one year deal.
These players aren’t winning the Norris trophy any time soon; nor will they be an anchor for this defense going forward. What they will do is buy time for players like Brady Skjei, Libor Hajek, and K’Andre Miller to develop their skills.
While they won’t be the cream of the crop, Rangers fans should look a stop-gap signing as a one-off. This player isn’t a staple for years to come; their personal season won’t mean a thing to a team not competing.
So, moving past the mindset that the Rangers aren’t acquiring an immensely talented defenseman, who is out there?
The first name I think of is Dan Hamhuis, who is still on the market after having a serviceable year with Dallas.
Hamhuis has 14 seasons under his belt and would offer some veteran leadership to an increasingly young hockey club. With him still being on the market, the contract demand could be lessened to a one year stint.
This would be perfect for the Rangers, and even possibly for Hamhuis.
One other name that could be a realistic possibility would be Tobias Enstrom. Another veteran defender, Enstrom would offer many of the same benefits Hamhuis would going into next season.
The idea would be to take one of these players and have them fill a tough role that the younger players aren’t ready for. With the experience both players have, it’s not outside the realm of possibility that they would be able to handle the responsibility.
If I’m being honest, I don’t see either one of these players bringing the 2018-19 New York Rangers to the playoffs. While they are experience defensemen with leadership qualities, there is a reason why they haven’t been signed yet.
Looking at these players as stop gaps for the future, instead of expecting great seasons is the key.
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The fact of the matter is young players need time to develop; usually in less crucial roles. Putting too much responsibility on a young player might burn him out. So with that in mind, hopefully the Rangers can find a vet to take the load off the young guys.