Saving the Kids

Rick Nash is not a Ranger right now because the Rangers wouldn't trade Boston College standout Chris Kreider and others for the right to pay Nash 8M per year for the next several years. That was the correct decision, even if Chris Kreider turns out to be a third liner rather than a top 6 beast. Rick Nash is a great player, who may or may not have put the Rangers over the top this year. At the same time, the Rangers seem to be a bit ahead of schedule (we'll know in a few months if they win a playoff series or two), and a team that is committed to building through the draft and smart trades should stay the course when they find themselves ahead of schedule.

As things stand right now, the Rangers have all their organizational assets and will have cap room in June if they think they need more help than their system can provide. If they want to make a trade in June or sign some free agents who make sense they can. Nash may even force a trade to the Rangers by then. Who knows? But we do know the Rangers have kept their first round pick, and with their last four first rounders they've taken Del Zotto, Kreider, McIlrath and JT Miller. In other words - the first rounders have been providing lifeblood for the organization and it would have been costly to throw this year's first in the pile for Nash as it was widely rumored they would do.

And here's the really cool part, Chris Kreider may join the Rangers in time for the playoffs, think about that. How many teams will be adding a 6'3" 225 pound forward with world class speed after the deadline? The Rangers can and might. They can also call up Tim Erixon who could be ready at any time.

And they'll still have picks, all the same trade assets and cap room come June. It's a great situation for the Rangers. Well done, Glen Sather.