New York Rangers: Players have done their part, now over to the front office

We are standing on the precipice of Judgement Day and the New York Rangers now face a bevy of tough decisions.

We have known that this day has been coming for a while now, but what the New York Rangers have done over the last few weeks has potentially changed the landscape of the Trade Deadline.

For much of this year it has seemed almost certain that the Blueshirts would be sellers for the third straight year.

With a plethora of pending free agents, including the prized asset that is Chris Kreider, potentially on the trade block, it appeared that the front office would stock up on more high-end prospects and picks.

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However, we have seen this team undergo a radical transformation over the last few weeks and they have played themselves firmly in postseason contention.

They have found a way to win and have won nine of their last 12 outings to set up a thrilling finish to the regular season.

Even if the Blueshirts fall short this year, this group has proven that they have what it takes to be competitive in the National Hockey League and they are showing clear signs of progress with each passing game.

The players have stepped up to the plate, they have bought into what Head Coach David Quinn has been selling and they look ready to take that next step.

Enter the front office.

Make no mistake about it, today is going to be a defining moment in the history of the New York Rangers.

It could either signal the start of what is hopefully a sustained transformation into a powerhouse in the NHL, or it could be the latest step in a carefully constructed rebuild.

General Manager Jeff Gorton and President John Davidson, who will be addressing the media this morning, have a clear choice.

They can either put their faith in this group by re-signing Chris Kreider to keep this core in-tact, while trying to persuade Henrik Lundqvist to waive his no-trade clause in order to create the cap space to thrash out new deals with the likes of Tony DeAngelo and Ryan Strome.

Or, Gorton and Davidson could decide to pull the trigger on one last fire sale in order to flood the pipeline with another boatload of high-end prospects and picks.

After all, this is very much a sellers market and Kreider alone will no doubt bring back a very attractive package.

You couldn’t blame the front office if they do decide to sell off assets at a quick-fire rate today, but there is also a case to be made for keeping this team together.

They have finally discovered how to gut out a game and that winning mentality looks to have fully manifested itself in the room.

Kreider has really stepped up to the plate both on and off the ice, and he has teased over the course of the last month or so what he’s fully capable of when he brings it every single night.

David Quinn has this team playing an exciting brand of winning hockey and they have the opportunity to build around the likes of Kreider, Mika Zibanejad, Artemi Panarin, Jacob Trouba and now Igor Shesterkin.

This group has certainly shown enough when it comes to why they should be allowed to continue to grow together.

Just think, if the Rangers could shift Lundqvist’s $8,500,000 cap hit off the books then that could give the front office some flexibility in the summer when it comes to improving this team and adding some pieces in and around the current core.

However, the front office will ultimately already have a plan in place and we will find out in due course exactly what that is.

As much as we are all invested in this current group, Gorton and Davidson have to do what’s best for the long-term health and success of this storied franchise, even if that means delivering some short-term pain.

Whatever happens today, for better or for worse, these are still our New York Rangers and we will at least have a better idea as to what the short-term future will look like come 3:00 p.m. ET.