New York Rangers: On the doorstep to the playoffs

Tonight could be a very big night for New York Rangers fans.  After two years of having nothing to play for after trade deadline purges, the team sits on the brink of a playoff spot and can get a foot in the door if things fall the right way.

A Rangers win combined with a loss by both the Carolina Hurricanes and the Columbus Blue Jackets will put the New York Rangers…..yes….these New York Rangers into a playoff position this late in the season for the first time in two years.

While a two-year playoff drought is not really that big of a deal for an NHL team, what is a big deal is that this team was not expected to make it back to the playoffs in such a short period of time. Let’s take a look at how this amazing turn around happened so quick.

Mika Zibanejad

While “The Letter” was sent to fans in February of 2018, the Rangers rebuild really began in July of 2016.  That is when the team sent Derick Brassard to the Ottawa Senators for Mike Zibanejad.  It was a fleecing by Jeff Gorton that will go down in history as one of the greatest trades the team has ever made.

Even though Big Game Brass was a beloved fan favorite, Gorton saw the opportunity to do something special by trading a guy in his prime for the promise of a 23-year-old.  That promise has blossomed into one of the finest two-way centers in the NHL.

Can you imagine where this team would be without ZBJ?

Artemi Panarin

Speaking of hard to imagine scenarios, is there any doubt that this is the guy that has accelerated the rebuild to the point where we are actually giddy with anticipation for tonight’s game?

There is nothing left to be said about this Russian superstar who has taken Broadway by storm and restored respectability to the Rangers organization with the stroke of a pen across the dotted line.

Once again Jeff Gorton gets the nod here, with a big assist from John Davidson who obviously made it very clear to Gorton that Panarin was a must have.

Why Panarin is not popping up in conversations for MVP and other end of season accolades is just mind-boggling.

The kids are alright

Let’s not spend too much time talking about the offensive side of the ice here.  Yes, Filip Chytil has developed and there is nothing but upside for Kappo Kakko, but the real story about the Rangers youth surrounds the play on the defensive side.

Ryan Lindgren has been a revelation. His tough as nails style of play is what this team sorely lacked going back into the Alain Vigneault era. He’s not a thug, not an enforcer, just a stand-up guy who leaves it all out on the ice and backs up his teammates night after night.

Anthony DeAngelo is another Gorton gotten trade piece that will be parlayed into a long-term defensive solution.  It’s just going to take a little bit more money over this summer than last summer to keep him as part of this baby blue line.  Where Lindgren is the grit, DeAngelo is the glamour.  He loves the spotlight and putting the puck in the net.  His swagger and constant state of chirp is something the Rangers have lacked for many years.

Adam Fox has been nothing short of spectacular.  A revelation who has single-handedly accelerated the rebuild in many different ways.  His presence on this team has opened all sorts of doors for the Rangers both on and off the ice.

On the ice he is a playmaker on par with Brian Leetch…sorry, The Legendary  Brian Leetch.  He is also solid defensively, often making quick and decisive moves with the puck that lead to successful clears and offensive rushes the other way.

But perhaps his biggest value to the team is how he was able to free Jeff Gorton to be type of GM this team rebuild really required.

Jeff Gorton

Those who criticize Gorton lack insight and awareness of today’s NHL under the restraints of the salary cap.  What Gorton has done to turn this team around at break neck speed is nothing short of amazing.

It started with Zibanejad, and reached peak brilliance this week on Monday afternoon.

ZBJ, DeAngelo, Panarin, Fox, and Trouba.  Precious stones mined from clever trades and free agent signings.  Gone are Ryan McDonagh, J.T. Miller, Kevin Hayes, and Derek Stepan. Anybody looking to trade one of the new guys straight up for one of the old guys?  Didn’t think so.

And then there is Chris Kreider and the Brady Skjei deal.  Realistically, one does not happen without the other.  A certain BLS writer brought this to your attention a back in December.

Kreider needed to be re-signed.  He is the heart and soul of this team. The thought that the Rangers should have traded him for more future assets is just plain ridiculous.  The Rangers currently have one of the top ranked prospect pools in the league, they also have 19 draft picks over the next two years, including three first round picks.  It’s an embarrassment of riches, and there is nothing to guarantee that any one of the current prospects or one of those first round picks will turn into a Chris Kreider. Plus trading Kreider would clearly perpetuate the rebuild as the team hoped and waited for a prospect to develop.

Why in the world would you roll the dice on a prospect (Lias Andersson) when you have the sure thing in your hands.  It would be like throwing away three jacks because you think you have a chance at three aces.  It’s not hard.  What was hard was finding a way to keep Kreider, and that is where Adam Fox circles back into the conversation because he REALLY made Brady Skjei expendable.

Credit Gorton for bringing Fox on board by sacrificing  two second rounders to Carolina. Credit Gorton for knowing that keeping Kreider is a necessity, and credit Gorton for clearing the cap space by sending Skjei to Carolina for one of those first round draft picks previously mentioned.

These moves are what make tonight the night we have all been waiting for but never expected so soon.  Gorton deserves much of the credit.  So pop a beer tonight and toast the Rangers GM.  You are enjoying tonight’s game because of him.

David Quinn

Last but not least is Coach Quinn.  Do we all realize that this is only his second season behind the bench? His no B.S. approach to every aspect of the game of hockey has been a key ingredient to this rebuild.  Those Rangers “fans” who were calling for his dismissal early on this season are a complete joke.  Go become Mets fans.

Quinn has proven he belongs in more ways than we need to list on these pages. He is THE coach for this team, and as Joe Micheletti said more than once last night, if this team makes the playoffs, he should be the NHL Coach of the Year.