The chatter that surrounds
the New York Rangers and their connection to Bryan McCabe continue to intensify
with each passing day. Today’s talk has
the two teams heavily involved in negotiations for the Panthers captain. Many of us have gone on record predicting
that if the transaction does happen that it will likely cost the Rangers
defenseman Matt Gilroy and a second round pick in the upcoming draft. In a bit of comic relief to the proceedings
for a little while this afternoon Bryan McCabe’e Wikipedia page actually had
him being traded to the Rangers for that afore mentioned package. My question today is not whether the deal
will happen, but what is McCabe worth to the Rangers and is the predicted package
a good value or not?
At this stage in his career
McCabe, 35, is still a solid offensive defenseman with a big shot from the
point and some physical play to his game.
He would bring veteran experience to the defense core, give coach John
Tortorella more faith in a third defense pair and help out the Rangers
struggling power play with a shooter from the point.
There is also no questioning
the toughness of McCabe who broke his jaw during a game in January, went into
the locker room put the cage on and came back out missing only one shift. He would miss less than five weeks with the
broken jaw, and has been back for the Panthers last three games. The warrior aspect of McCabe would certainly
blend right in to the Rangers mentality this season.
Let me be clear that I love
the fit of McCabe for the Rangers and have since I first started thinking about
it back in December. My issue is also
not with dealing away Matt Gilroy who while having improved this year is
unlikely to be qualified at the necessary 1.925 million and for me is eminently
expendable. I am just not sure what
McCabe is worth to the Rangers on the ice. I do not believe he is the difference between
winning and losing a first round playoff series, though he could help ensure
the team makes the playoffs.
My concern is whether McCabe
truly makes enough of a difference in the last 20 games to be worth giving up a
second round pick when we are in a rebuilding mode. The
success the organization has had in the second round also gives me reason for
pause as Dubinsky, Sauer, Anisimov, Stepan were all second round picks and
highly regarded prospects Ethan Werek and Christian Thomas were as well.
In the end I would likely
pull the trigger on the deal even if begrudgingly. The main
reason I would do it, as Dave Shapiro
of Blue Seat Blogs pointed out in our twitter conversation, is the hope
that McCabe can mentor struggling second year defender Michael Del Zotto. If that was the outcome of the trade,
regardless of the difference it makes to the Rangers this season, then a second
round pick would be more than worth it.
