The Rangers Got Their Shiny Back

When you look at the afairs of the four teams we cover here, it's clear that some have mastered the fun rebuld (the Yanks and Rangers) while others have struggled more (the Giants and ugh Knicks).  After selling off talent at the 2018 and 2019 deadlines for picks, the Rangers startled the fan base by turning two of their plethora of picks into D Adam Fox, the highly skilled and much sought right handed shot from Har vard.  And suddlenly they've got someone to run their PP for a generation.

Earlier this month, they finally got some lottery luck and will be picking second overall in the 2019 draft. Fortunately there are two superstars, Jack Hughes and Kappo Kakko at the top of the draft and they'll get one.  Amazingly, their acquired picks are mostly top loaded (unlike the Giants who recently had 2 4's, 3 5's, 1 6 and 2 7's when their draft began a week ago) so, come draft night the Rangers will easily be able to move up after making their first pick at 2.

First, they have at least one more first round pick, and could still get another depending on the playoffs. Then, even with the Fox trade, they'll have at least one more two or maybe two.  Plus they have the expoding Georgiev (who, in a no movement clauseless universe would be kept) but could be dangled to get back into the top 5 or 10,  where if they take Kappo they  might want to get the best C still available and if they take Hughes they might want to get the best winger still available.  And they could also trade Kreider, or keep him and let him lead.

Anyway, like the Yankees did with their 2016 sell off, the Rangers have used their double sell off (which because you can trade any pick in the NHL, unlike MLB) to creat an avalanche of options which they started cashing in on Monday.  Not bad.  Not bad at all.

UPDATE: And it's official, Adam Fox is signing his ELC with the Rangers.