The New York Rangers addressed their fans back in January that they were entering a retoool. At the trade deadline, they got off to a bit of a start, trading away the likes of Artemi Panarin, Carson Soucy, and Sam Carrick. But they are far from done, as the they still have players they could float in trades again like Vincent Trocheck and Braden Schneider.
That all falls on general manager Chris Drury, who doesn't exactly have the full support of the fanbase. The team has played better of late, with younger players shining. Would he continue to move forward with the youth movement and build through the draft?
According to Vince Mercogliano of The Athletic, he thinks Drury will be leaning towards a more "aggressive direction" in the offseason, due in part to him feeling the pressure for the team's downwards trajectory and that veteran players on the team don't want to have another wasted year.
Chris Drury leaning to 'aggressive' approach for offseason
"Even if New York doesn’t land a big fish, my early expectation is that Drury will lean more in the aggressive direction," writes Mercogliano. "There are a few reasons for that, starting with his position. He’s approaching the five-year anniversary in the big chair and coming off back-to-back seasons with no playoffs — and while owner James Dolan has publicly (and privately) backed his handpicked GM, Drury must be feeling pressure to clean up the mess he’s presided over.
"There’s also pressure from the veteran core — nearly all of whom hold full no-movement clauses — to not let this downturn linger and waste their remaining prime years."
So what would an "aggressive" approach mean? There are no superstars available in free agency, as the likes of Jack Eichel, Connor McDavid, and Kirill Kaprizov all re-upped on new contract extensions before the start of this season. So there is no legitimate game-changer available for grabs.
Mercogliano says that one of the more aggressive approaches they could take is to trade for "young, NHL-ready players." Specifically, that was what Drury was seeking in a trade involving Vincent Trocheck and others.
"According to two league sources, Drury has established a preference to acquire young, NHL-ready players as the centerpiece in any trade that sends Vincent Trocheck, Braden Schneider or others out of New York. That’s why the Rangers balked at trading those players before last month’s deadline, when no one met Drury’s asking prices, but he may look to take it a step further this summer," writes Mercogliano.
It became well known at the trade deadline that Drury had high asking prices for his players, especially for Trocheck. The second-line center was linked heavily to the Minnesota Wild, but no deal transpired due in part to not meeting what Drury was looking for.
Mercogliano also hinted that the Rangers could pivot to some of the best free agents available, including Buffalo Sabres winger Alex Tuch, or "try to pluck a few from a tier below him."
There is also the slim chance they try to land a superstar, such as a Brady Tkachuk of the Ottawa Senators and Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Mercogliano had low odds for the Rangers, as he didn't feel they had what it takes to pull off a trade. But that could change if either star were to demand a trade to the Rangers.
It will be an interesting offseason for the Rangers, as they try to navigate their retool. It's anyone's guess what other teams will do around the league. That could very well open the door for the Rangers to swoop in. When it comes to what Drury will do in the offseason, it sounds like he is going for the aggressive approach. That could either calm Rangers fans, or make them incredibly nervous.