During the 2010-11 season discussion about the New York Rangers
and legitimate expectations was always prefaced with the fact they were going
through a gradual rebuilding process and to look for 2012-13 as their best
chance to turn the corner into contenders.
To some extent the success they had last year, for parts of the season,
and the hope young players brought for the future had the organization shift
the plan gradually and bring in Brad Richards because of the belief they were
close to contention now. The organization
added to that with a commitment to each of the key restricted free agents that
gave the team so much hope last season. If
everything goes perfectly there is a chance they can be a contender this year
because they have the goaltending, multiple elite offensive players and skilled
role players who do whatever it takes to win.
Mike Hume at ESPN
New York goes a step further and says that the team with the moves they
made advanced their window to be championship contenders, but potentially put
an end date on it as well.
The
window to win a Stanley Cup is now open in New York.
The
offseason work of GM Glen Sather and the rest of the front office has brought
the Blueshirts both high-end talent and long-term stability. With the signing
of Brad Richards and the extension of restricted free agents Brian Boyle,
Brandon Dubinsky and Ryan Callahan, the Rangers' core roster will be locked in
place for the next three seasons. The Rangers should be, and likely will be,
considered Stanley Cup contenders this fall. But the clock will now be ticking.
After
these next three seasons, that window could close in a hurry. In the summer of
2014, Callahan, Boyle, Marian Gaborik, Dan Girardi and Henrik Lundqvist will
all hit unrestricted free agency.
Simply
put, New York's time is now.
Hume
is absolutely right that the summer of 2014 will be a critical point for the
Rangers in terms of what is still here after, but there is much more to the
story than just the names that will be due new contracts. This group of players, according to Capgeek, is responsible for $23.675
million of the Rangers cap space for the next three seasons. Throw in Mike Rupp’s $1.5 million and you are
looking at $25.125 million to keep the players on the list who are still
performing and bring in others. The
counter to that side of it though is each of those players are likely going
through their prime years within the next three seasons, but the Rangers have
plenty more on the way that likely will not meet their full impact in the
window Hume has laid out.
Rangers
young players Derek Stepan, Ryan McDonagh, and Artem Anisimov are only going to
grow more as they gain age and experience in the league while refining their
games. Additionally the Rangers have Chris
Kreider, Christian Thomas, Dylan McIlrath amongst other key prospects that have
not even hit the league yet and have the potential to be key pieces for the
future.
The
number of questions for the Rangers heading into this year and the quality of
the rest of the league might make being a contender this year too much to ask,
but next season they should be knocking on the door and the 2013-14 season be
amongst the favorites to win the Stanley Cup.
Where I disagree with Hume is the assertion that the window likely
closes at that point, though there is a lot that can happen between now and
that point. The most fascinating thing
to watch over the next few years with the Rangers organization is how much
getting close to contention will bring back the urge to sell youth and
prospects to win now against the notion of building something that can
replenish itself as contracts expire and certain players move on.
