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New York Rangers: What’s missing from the rebuild

By Steve Paulus

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - SEPTEMBER 17: Lias Andersson #50 of the New York Rangers skates against the New Jersey Devils during a preseason game at the Prudential Center on September 17, 2018 in Newark, New Jersey. The Rangers defeated the Devils 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - SEPTEMBER 17: Lias Andersson #50 of the New York Rangers skates against the New Jersey Devils during a preseason game at the Prudential Center on September 17, 2018 in Newark, New Jersey. The Rangers defeated the Devils 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 1: The New York Rangers salute the fans after the 2018 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at Citi Field on January 1, 2018 in New York, New York. The Rangers won, 3-2.(Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 1: The New York Rangers salute the fans after the 2018 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at Citi Field on January 1, 2018 in New York, New York. The Rangers won, 3-2.(Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Rebuilding is the best strategy based on where the New York Rangers were, but the the team has to do it the right way and there is one thing missing from the plan

It was a bold move for Jeff Gorton and Glen Sather to commit to a rebuild and give up on the the 2017-18 season even though the team was in striking distance of a playoff spot. For the longest time the New York Rangers were committed to trying to win the Stanley Cup with Henrik Lundqvist in net.

Surprisingly, the front office did not delude themselves into believing the in house assets were good enough to push for a playoff spot. Instead, the trade deadline auction resulted in a boatload of draft picks and the team has a pipeline of young talent for the first time in years.

This is the way business is conducted in the modern NHL. Elite players do not typically hit free agency, so the best course of action for a team is to try and acquire one in the entry draft.

Related Story. David Quinn is a breath of fresh air. light

It will be 2020-21 when the team will really see the results of this rebuild.  Are they doing enough?  Probably not. That’s because management failed to acquire the one key ingredient that is proven to end Stanley Cup droughts.

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