Blue Line Station
Fansided

What the New York Rangers rebuild could resemble

By Jim Madden

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 08: Former Rangers color commentator John Davidson (R) and play by play announcer Sam Rosen (L) speak to the crowd prior to the game against Carolina Hurricanes during the 1994 Stanley Cup Anniversary event at Madison Square Garden on February 8, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 08: Former Rangers color commentator John Davidson (R) and play by play announcer Sam Rosen (L) speak to the crowd prior to the game against Carolina Hurricanes during the 1994 Stanley Cup Anniversary event at Madison Square Garden on February 8, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next

Chicago style deep dish

One of the most interesting and successful rebuilding stories of recent memory and the one that resembles the cycle the Rangers are in currently is the Chicago Blackhawks.  The Blackhawks have won three Stanley Cups this decade but their journey was anything but simple and easy.  To their credit, they stuck with a plan, experienced good fortune as well as finding treasure along the way while making shrewd trades to compliment the overall effort.

In 2004, ESPN Sports Network named the Chicago Blackhawks “the worst franchise in professional sports”.  To the surprise of no one, the award personified a fledgling period of ineptitude of qualifying for the playoffs but also due to the policies of then-owner Bill Wirtz.  Wirtz earned the name “Dollar Bill” for blacking out Blackhawk home games from local television in the Chicago area.  He claimed at the time it was unfair to the team’s season ticket holders.  Wirtz then raised ticket prices making them among the most expensive in the NHL.  All along this penny-pinching road the Blackhawks made the playoffs only once from 1997 to 2008.

Their rebuild began after the trades of fan favorites Jeremy Roenick, Ed Belfour, Chris Chelios and the free agent departure of top scoring winger Tony Amonte.  As the NHL resumed play following the 2004 Lockout, Dale Tallon was hired as the team’s General Manager.  While most will point to the lottery pick pair of sensations Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, they found several gems in the later rounds of drafts which is a tribute to their scouting staff but also points to the realization that all picks matter.

Home/Analysis