Here Endeth an Era

Hank's intransigents aside, the trades of the last few days ended an era that began with Renney and the emergence of Hank, Girardi, Callahan, Anisimov and others, through the years of Tortorella, who'd been the safe is death cup wining coach of Tampa, to the don't let Hank face any shots coach ot the Rangers, and the Gaborik days, then we entered the recent years of cup contention and pick forfeiture.  It's been a long, exciting and ultimately fruitless time.  Could have really used a cup in that period, because with the current re-set they are starting all over again.

They currently have 10 picks including 3 firsts, 2 seconds, and 2 thirds going into the 2018 draft where they can trade for even more, combine picks to take a run at #1, or do a little of both. Plus, they will have cap room, this year and next as long as they don't try to jump start things with another Jagr type move for an older Superstar and friends. That bought some time, but I think it would be better to keep in young, and avoid trading futures or currents which shortened the window that just closed.

So they need a great draft, which their scouts can deliver. And they'll need to stay a destination for College FA's who were either late bloomers like Pionk or who didn't want to play for the team that drafted them like Kevin Hayes and Jimmy Vesey.  They'll also need a new coach.

Now as bleek and needy as the situation now looks, they do have Shestyorkin playing over in Russia, and Lias Andersson and Filip Chytil playing down in the AHL for a few more weeks until they can come up without burning up a year of their ELC's.  They also have some solid recent picks in guys like Ryan Gropp, Adam Tambelini, Boo Nieves and some others, so it's not the worst.

People have decried this era for a lack of "elite" talent or talent that played at an elite level very long, which I'd argue McDonagh did before a rapid decline.  But that mght be gained come June, or guys like Filip and Igor could turn out to be that.  What's more, who knows what young guys like Buch and Skjei will look like under a better coach - one that knows how to bring the best out in youth.

So let's not get to down, and enjoy "the process."