While a big trade could still happen, it is also very possible that Chris Drury and the Rangers are done for this off-season. If no more moves are to be made except for signing Igor Shesterkin, are the Rangers a better team now than they were last season?
In looking at the lineup, one thing stands out. It really isn’t that different. Only one player you could qualify as key is gone. The other departures involved bottom tier players who were easily replaced. The changes made will allow Gerard Gallant to clearly define the roles for all of his players.
Ranger fans are an odd lot. They tend to see the glass half empty and will question every move made by Chris Drury till the wee hours. Second guessing is easy and he has been slammed for everything from his draft picks to his free agent signings to his trades. It’s important to note that he hasn’t overpaid for Jack Eichel…yet.
The fact remains the Rangers have the reigning Norris Trophy winner who has played only two seasons in the NHL. They have one of the best offensive players in the NHL, a year away from being a finalist for the Hart Trophy. They have a top center in Mika Zibanejad, a two-way player who has put together two of the finest stretches of scoring in the NHL the last two seasons. They have a core of young players recognized by all as graduates of the finest prospect pool in hockey.
While the fandom is bemoaning the fact that Pavel Buchnevich was traded for a bag of hockey pucks (just kidding Sammy), it’s time to take a rational look at the lineup that would take the ice on opening night starting with the forwards.