Rangers Analysis: Getting the Rangers On Track In 10 Not-So-Easy Steps
The list of the things that need to be fixed with the Rangers would give Santa's a run for his money. Except for starting goalkeeping, every aspect of their game needs significant work, and we all have opinions on how to fix them. So without further adieu, let's officially kick off the Blueshirt Banter Rangers off-season coverage with our keys for fixing for the Blueshirts:
1. Send Wade Redden to Hartford. Forever. Going to start with the obvious here, Wade Redden simply cannot ever take the ice as a member of the New York Rangers again. He is the biggest disaster in this franchise's history, and he is only going to get worse. This franchise cannot and will not progress with a $6.5M albatross taking up a roster spot in NY every night. Sorry Hartford, we'll have to owe you one.
2. If you can't trade him, buyout Michal Rozsival. Another ridiculous contract, but somewhat more manageable because the Rangers may actually be able to find a trade partner for Rozy, and because Rozy's contract is shorter and for less money than Redden's. I know many people don't like the idea of paying Rozsival for four seasons and getting nothing in return, but according to nhlcapgeek, if the Rangers bought out Rozsival, the numbers would look like this:
SEASON | ACTUAL SALARY | CAP HIT | BUYOUT | SAVINGS | BUYOUT CAP HIT |
2010-2011 | $4,000,000 | $5,000,000 | $1,166,667 | $2,833,333 | $2,166,667 |
2011-2012 | $3,000,000 | $5,000,000 | $1,166,667 | $1,833,333 | $3,166,667 |
2012-2013 | $0 | $0 | $1,166,667 | $-1,166,667 | $1,166,667 |
2013-2014 | $0 | $0 | $1,166,667 | $-1,166,667 | $1,166,667 |
The Rangers could survive with those figures. One year of a bad cap hit won't kill them.
3. Crap or get off the Sanguinetti pot: Bobby Sanguinetti seemed to fall out of favor with the coaching staff early in the season, and never recovered. It's time to either give him a legitimate chance at being on the roster, or use him as a trade chip while he still has value.
4. Resign Erik Christensen, Brandon Prust, Jody Shelley, Marc Staal and Dan Girardi. The three forwards listed showed enough to warrant being brought back, Staal is among the top defenseman in the league, and since my plan has the disposal of the two albatross defensemen on the payroll, Girardi should be kept as well.
5. Olli Jokinen was brought here for two reasons: to get Higgins and Kotalik's salary off the books, and provide some scoring. One out of two ain't bad in this case, bye-bye Olli.
6. Learn from "The Del Zotto Principle": While we as fans were excited to see youth finally served on Broadway, truth be told, Zots probably would have been best served with another year in the OHL. This is complete hindsight, which of course is always 20/20. The Rangers need to remain level-headed and not buy their own hype. We believe there are many strong young players in the pipeline, but if it takes another year of development for them to be ready for Broadway, so be it.
7. Find a capable backup for Henrik Lundqvist from Day One. The way the backup goaltending situation was handled this year was inexcusable. If the Rangers were dissatisfied enough with Stephen Valiquette to banish him to Hartford after five starts, why was their no backup plan for a backup? The answer was to ride their thoroughbred until he collapsed, and juggle untested rookies back and forth from Hartford? Finally near the end of the season, Alex Auld was signed. He's a capable backup, and should probably be brought back if the price is right.
8. Bring back Vinny "Bronze God" Prospal, but only if the price is right. John Tortorella has been preaching about getting younger, and the Rangers can probably find someone to give them similar production who is ten years younger.
9. Find a defensemen that can lower the boom in their own zone. The Rangers haven't had one since Ulf Samuelsson, it might be time to replace him. A bone-crunching defenseman forces other teams to think twice about getting too close to the Rangers net. Right now, no one is afraid of the Rangers defense.
10. Use the money this plan frees up wisely. Avoid the Ales Kotalik's of the market, and for the love of Francis, go easy on the No Movement Clauses. If you can get a couple of second-tier type free agents at a good price, go for it.
