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Does the New York Rangers rebuild stack up in the cap era?

By Jason Katinas

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 30: The New York Rangers celebrate their 6-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes in Game Seven of the Second Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PNC Arena on May 30, 2022 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 30: The New York Rangers celebrate their 6-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes in Game Seven of the Second Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PNC Arena on May 30, 2022 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /
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VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA – JUNE 21: Kaapp Kakko smiles after being selected second overall by the New York Rangers during the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena on June 21, 2019 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

The new kids on the rebuild block

After seeing the 2017-18 season slip away, then General Manager Jeff Gorton, along with then President Glen Sather, announced a rebuild. The team traded away its established players for young talent, prospects and draft picks. The Rangers would miss the playoffs for four straight years, including two pandemic shortened seasons before sprinting back into the playoffs. But how does this Rangers turnaround compare to the other notable rebuilds of the cap era?

In truth, the New York Rangers are newcomers to the rebuild game. No less than eleven teams have rebuilt during the cap era. The Washington Capitals and St. Louis Blues went through rebuilds in the 2000’s but found success many years later, winning the Stanley cup in 2018 and 2019 respectively. Conversely, the Buffalo Sabres are a team in perpetual rebuild. They have missed the playoffs for 11 straight seasons and this season traded Jack Eichel, extending their rebuild even further.

In that same vein, the Edmonton Oilers have been in a continual rebuild mode. Including this season the Oilers had qualified for the playoffs in just three of 16 seasons since their 2006 Stanley Cup Finals appearance. During this time they stockpiled six top four draft picks, including four first overall picks in a seven year span from 2010 to 2016. Though they are having success this season, we will soon know if they can mirror the Capitals and Blues with later years success.

The Colorado Avalanche are team that has had a relatively successful rebuild. The Avalanche missed the playoffs in six of seven years from 2010-11 through 2016-17 but have made the tournament in each of the past five seasons. Having drafted Gabriel Landeskog second overall in 2011 and Nathan MacKinnon first overall in 2013  is finally bearing fruit as they have finished first in their division the last two seasons and are currently experiencing their first deep playoff run.

Currently, the Detroit Red Wings and New Jersey Devils are in the middle of their own rebuilds. After having made the playoffs an astounding 25 straight seasons the Red Wings are now in the middle of a six year playoff drought. And though they have not finished higher than fifth in the division in any of those season, they have only received one top five pick at the draft, selecting Lucas Raymond with the fourth overall pick in 2020. Only time will tell how successful Steve Yzerman’s rebuild will be.

The Devils have missed the playoffs in nine of the last ten seasons since losing in the 2012 Stanley Cup Final. The Devils though have been fortunate in the draft lottery. They have received two first overall picks, selecting Nico Hischier in 2017 and jack Hughes in 2020, and will select second overall in the upcoming 2022 draft. But again, only time will tell how successful they will be. Most notable though, when discussing cap era rebuild success, the discussion revolves around the Pittsburgh Penguins, Los Angeles Kings, Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins.

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