Ranger Marginalia
The Rangers have very good scouts, and they have drafted and acquired the young core of this team - Stepan, McDonagh, Kreider, Miller, Hayes, Fast, etc. But on the first day of every free agent period lately, those scouts get repudiated. And that's a shame because they have never gotten anything but a piece that had to be replaced among those low end (except for Fricking Glass) signings they reflexively make.
This tendancy seems to have bitten them in the ass this summer when Buchenevich commited to one more year in Russia because he didn't think he'd make the team - and the Rangers could really use him as he is one of if not their best top 6 prospects.
Hopefully, the Rangers have taken a long look at their marginal roster filling moves -- particurlarly in light of their current Coach's big flaw -- and will look for answers from the system through the prospect camp, Travis City, and regular camp, and get a handle on the prospects' ability to help now and likely timetables, and then make moves for the veteran marginalia only if they can't find answers among the cheap kids their very good scouts have assembled.
Kids get better, marginal veterans do not.
posted by Kalel9 @ 2:14 PM
7 Comments:
It is very Cashmanesque but he does because of serial developmental failure, and that is a true Ranger strength.
Yeah, but it's screwed up the Ranger cap, and blocked more good players from coming up/getting a chance/determining core.
Plus the developing kids are more valuable chips than the fringy vets.
Indeed, you decide who's core and who's not, and sell the rest for more picks or undervalued assets you think you can maximize.
I have less concern with the idea of going for it all now or next year than I do with the thought that somehow they messed up the process. Their reality is that Lundqvist's peak ability is probably in the rear view mirror. They probably have a few more seasons where he's still good enough to take them to the Cup, as he almost did in '14, but in three or four years he won't be. You usually don't win the Cup without a goalie who can dominate for a two-month stretch and there aren't many goalies who can do that. Thus it makes sense to build a roster that can contend for the Cup in '16 and '17 and start amassing chips to contend in '20. I'd prefer a Cup and then a few dry seasons over getting close-sh every year.
I think Sather has made a lot of stupid short-sighted moves in his desperate attempt to win a Cup before he retires and skates off in into the Canadian sunset to spend the sick money Dolan gave him.
It's a shame because they have been so good at drafting and development.
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