Monday marked the completion of the next stage of the Rangers' rebuild, continuing what at a minimum began last season and possibly with the Derek Stepan or maybe Derick Brassard trade. New York furthered revamping the roster and bring in assets, dealing Mats Zuccarello, Kevin Hayes and Adam McQuaid in three separate trades, the final two culminating today following Zuccarello yesterday. GM Jeff Gorton and he organization has a plan and what this trade deadline evidenced is that plan is rolling full-steam ahead, no looking back and no veering off course. Changes might occur this offseason, when certain names becomes available, possibly accelerating the rebuild, but the Blueshirts are now in position to capitalize on those draft picks and cap room.
Beginning with the Brassard trade, New York got younger and more talented, importing Mika Zibanejad. I believe he is a upper-level #1 center. For those that don't share that same thought, at worse, he is a middle tier one. His acquisition coupled with the presence of Hayes and the desire to now have several more years at $6,5 million on the books, led to the Stepan deal. Criticism can be rightly be lobbied at Gorton for his inability to close the deal with other teams or panicing into moving Stepan for a less than optimal return. In addition, using the seventh pick on Lias Andersson, rather than Casey Mittlestadt or others. But, Tony DeAngelo, deserving of our dissatisfaction, finally looks to be reigning in and using his talent. his upside might be that of a second-pair blueliner who provides snarl and push back in his own end and solid puck-moving skills as well as spot on the power play.
Last season was the Letter. Gorton kickstarted that rebuild but dealing Rick Nash to Boston for a first rounder in 2019, seventh rounder in 2020, Ryan Lindgren and Ryan Spooner. That first rounder was flipped to move up to acquire K'Andre Miller while Spooner, signed to a two-year deal with a $4 million AAV was fortunately sent to Edmonton for Ryan Strome with New York assuming $900k in salary per season. If there is a criticism of Gorton, it's his re-signing of players, more so on the blue liner, but seen in Spooner. Fortunately, he found a taker in the Oilers, as Strome has been fairly solid, especially since moving back to the middle. He could be part of a good third line with Brett Howden, see below, and maybe Jimmy Vesey. Lindgren had a cup of coffee this season and should be up down the stretch. He projects as a third pairing, stay at home, physical blueliner, who can quickly move the puck out of his zone. Miller, who has offensive instincts as he was a winger before moving a few years ago to defense, is learning how to play in his own end. He should stay another year or two at Wisconsin, where he benefits from playing under coach Tony Granato.
The big trade was Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller to Tampa for their first rounder in 2018, a second round pick in 2019 that could become a first rounder if Tampa wins the Cup, used on Nils Lundkvist, Howden, Libor Hajek and Vladislav Namestnikov. That trade had a ripple effect on the blueline and in the depth of the organization. I preferred several others in the Lightning organization, but Gorton liked Howden while Gord Clark really wanted Hajek. Howden looks to be a third line center, who could score 20-25 goals a season while being solid in his own zone. Nam struggled mightily after arriving on NY and surprisingly was inked to a similar deal as Spooner. He got off to a horrific start, but has rebounded lately. He can move between the first and third lines, more suited to middle six and could be moved over the summer or at the deadline next season. Hajek hasn't had a particularly good season, making next year critical in his development and our evaluation of the deal. Lundkvist has played well this season, evidenced by his overall numbers and performance at the WJC. He is looking like a late-first round steak by Gorton, Clark and the scouts.
In a smaller deal, Michael Grabner went to New Jersey, yes, amazing a deal with the Devils, for a second round pick and Yegor Regov. That second round pick was used to select move up to select Miller with their own second rounder utilized to pick Olaf Lindblom, making all of us scream, boy Clark you better be right due to the myriad of other options available. If Clark is correct, with Igor Shestyorkin, Adam Huska, Alexandar Georgiev and Lindblom, the Rangers are set up nicely for the future between the pipes. That future is a few seasons away, as Henrik Lundqvist is going nowhere until after his contract expires after 2020-21.
New York continued to turn over the organization, letting go Alain Vigneault and hiring David Quinn from Boston University. Quinn, despite the occasional rough patch, remains consistent with his messages. Accountability is the key buzzword. Corners won't be cut. A path forward has been established and regardless of who you are - rookie or veteran - you are held to that same standard. That philosophy will pay dividends in the future due to the foundation laid now.
New York started the sell-off this year by dealing Marek Mazanec, Peter Holland and Cody McLeod for Connor Brickley, skating on the fourth line, defenseman Darren Raddysh, and two 2020 7th rd picks. New York might have hit on one seventh rounder in Riley Hughes last season, by acquiring additional seventh round picks, Gorton can package one or two to move up or swing for the fences. Selecting a Henrik Lundqvist that late is like finding a super nova, but maybe they find another Jesper Fast.
I was critical of the Zuccarello deal. Possibly my heart spoke over my head. Seeing what Gustav Nyqvist went for, similar to Zucc, along with the conditional nature of the two picks - second in 2019, third in 2020 - despite neither condition being likely, I understand why Gorton might have opted for that direction. Especially where the organization clearly prefers to stockpile picks rather than prospects, especially less than elite ones, from other teams.
Hayes brought back one of the two first rounders. When you look at Mark Stone netted Ottawa, Erik Brannstrom, Oscar Lindberg and a second rounder, it's pretty clear that Brannstrom, the elite return of all the deals made overall, came back because the Senators knew that the Golden Knights would ink stone to that extension. Hayes is unlikely to re-sign in Winnipeg. If he does, then we can criticize Gorton for not getting a kicker or incentive on top of the first rounder and Brendan Lemieux. In Lemieux, the hope is that he becomes something like Tom Wilson-lite. A player whose presence protects the kids - which os why i think he will skate with Chytil and Andersson - and whose offensive talent, shown in the AHL and less so in the NHL, can net 15-18 or so goals per year. I personally preferred lots of others in the Jets system, but think Lemieux will be a fan favorite who could play a key role in the future.
Lastly, Gorton also traded Adam McQuaid to Columbus for a fourth- and a seventh-round pick in 2019, plus minor-league defenseman Julius Bergman. They had acquired McQuaid from Boston in September for a fourth- and seventh-round pick plus defenseman Steven Kampfer, making the deal almost a net wash. The drop off in where the picks occur in the two rounds if offset by the inclusion of Bergman as well as the impact McQuiad had on Skjei. The metrics may not show it, but I think there clearly was an intangible impact on Skjei, whose play clearly has improved after his poor start to the season after a regression campaign last year.
In a pair of small moves Monday, Gorton resigned Boo Nieves and Steven Fogarty, keeping them from Group 6 UFA. Nieves could be the team's fourth line center next season as well. At worse, he has become solid depth. But as Dave Shapiro noted, John Gilmour remains unsigned and will be a UFA at the end of the year
New York now has about $18 million in cap space, which could be approximately $22 million if the cap rises from $79 to $83 million, as expected. As Carp noted, Connor Brickley is the only UFA. Lemieux, Pavel Buchnevich, Freddy Claesson, DeAngelo and Neal Pionk will be restricted free agents, each of whom, save maybe for Buch, shouldn't cost a ton to re-sign, leaving plenty of space. In addition, Gorton could opt to deal one of the aforementioned players, as well as Kevin Shattenkirk, or maybe buy out Brendan Smith or possibly Marc Staal, creating more cap room. (Below is a view of the cap with Kravtsov and Shestyorkin on the active roster. remove those figures and it's around $21 million or so)
With that rise in the cap and acquisition of additional assets, picks and players in place (see all moves below), Gorton can be aggressive in the trade market and free agency. New York goes to this year’s draft in Vancouver with two firsts and three seconds, two of which could conditionally turn into firsts (Tampa and Dallas, see below). New York might opt to acquire an asset by eating salary. Move up in the draft using an extra pick or player to select a more talent option. The other option is that the cap space allows the team to pursue an elite free agent, like Artemi Panarin.
Gorton spoke the possible options today:
“We’ve added a lot of assets and they give us some flexibility, and as we move forward we’ve got some cap flexibility,” Gorton said. “So a lot of opportunity for our team to get better in a relatively quick fashion.
“You go out and make good deals and acquire assets and draft picks and young players. I really think a year later our fans have been unbelievably supportive and I think what we’ve been able to acquire, and turn over our top-10 prospect list in a hurry, to look much better, to keep acquiring assets and draft picks, yeah, I think personally I believe and our group feels we’re doing a real good job of that and we’re ahead of what we thought we could do and hopefully we keep pushing the pace.”
With the organization embracing the rebuild and the fans on board, Gorton could have swung for the fences by dealing Zucc and Hayes last season. Instead. he got hopes up, especially in the case of Hayes, that one or both might remain in the Big Apple long-term. I firmly believe Hayes could have been signed for five years at $6 mil or so per, but Gorton opted against that. Once a one-year deal was inked, we all knew it was only a matter of time before both were dealt, especially since discussions on a possible extension for each began so late.
One big question is, what happens with Chris Kreider. I have said repeatedly, Gorton needs to sign Kreider for 4-5 more years at $6 mil per and slap the C on his chest. He has become a leader on an off the ice. The health scare he had made him realize just how quick it could be all lost and how he wasn't maximizing his talent. Kreider now has become the power forward force we thought he could be. On a line with Zib and maybe someone like Panarin in future, New York would have a truly upper shelf first trio. If Gorton was going to move him, he should have done so now, as he failed to do with Zucc and Hayes, rather than waiting and obtaining an inferior return.
Work still needs to be done and the length of the rebuild is still unknown, but as of now, I give Gorton a B or maybe a B+ on what he has done so far. The organization depth is eons beyond where it was a few seasons ago. Upper level talent may not be bubbling over, but examples of that, from forward to goal are sprinkled throughout. New York, though, may lack that elite scorer, however, the hope is that Kravtsov, taken ninth overall this season, becomes just that player. At center, the depth that existed recently, after a dearth of it down the middle, took a hit with the trade of Hayes. Now, the question is whether Chytil can become that #2 center and/or if he is better suited for wing? Can Andersson or Howden fill that spot or more likely, battle it out to be the third-line pivot? Of course, if New York gets a top-three pick and can add someone like Jack Hughes, Kappo Kakko, Kirby Dach or Dylen Cozens, but especially the top two, then that also accelerates the rebuild.
Overall, Gorton has revamped the organization. Criticism can be leveled for certain decisions and inactivity. This offseason will go a long way to determining just where New York is in the rebuild, with to me, beyond Panarin, who with Stone signed if the elite forward available, the key being upgrading the blueline. If the Rangers are able to do and add a scoring forward, the tide may start to turn as quick as next season. If not, 2019-20 may be another long season on Broadway with additional assets dealt and the heat rising on Gorton.
What's your view?
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