New York Rangers: Top 3 keys to the 2020 offseason
Armed with cap space, the New York Rangers should be active this offseason.
The New York Rangers made the postseason for the first time since the 2016-17 season in 2020. Unfortunately, they got swept by the Carolina Hurricanes. But considering the Rangers were the youngest team in the NHL, it’s hard not to call the 2019-20 season a success for them.
Though the Rangers needed a little bit of luck, the tough part of their rebuild they started in 2018 is over. They’ve got a plethora of young players ready to make an impact. Also, their prospect pool is quite impressive and it’s about to get better because the Rangers won the 2020 draft lottery. They’ll be adding Alexis Lafreniere, who projects to be an excellent scoring wing, to their pool of under-20 players.
The next step for the Rangers is to become Stanley Cup contenders. They already have several necessary pieces in place. Artemi Panarin is an elite forward who should have won the Hart Trophy. Between Igor Shesterkin and whoever they keep between Henrik Lundqvist and Alexandar Georgiev, the Rangers have two very good goalies.
That said, the Rangers need to be active this offseason. They didn’t give up a second-round pick to part with Marc Staal just because they felt like it. The Rangers did it because they know they have to improve. Let’s take a look at the top three keys to their offseason.
1. Find Jacob Trouba’s Defensive Partner
The Rangers traded a first-round pick (ironically the same one they got from the Winnipeg Jets a few months earlier) to the Winnipeg Jets for defenseman Jacob Trouba last offseason. They proceeded to sign him to a seven-year extension worth $8 million annually.
With the Jets, Trouba formed a very strong defensive pair with Josh Morrissey. Both were worse off without the other during the 2019-20 season. Just goes to show you how critical chemistry is for defensemen.
Before the trade deadline, Trouba almost exclusively played with Brady Skjei at 5v5. They were among the worst pairings in the league. The Rangers traded Skjei to the Carolina Hurricanes for a first-round pick. After the trade deadline, Trouba played primarily with Brendan Smith at 5v5. His numbers with him weren’t much better.
Trouba had a very rough first season in The Big Apple, but to be fair to him, the Rangers didn’t set him up for success. To help him be the defenseman they traded for a year ago, the Rangers have to find someone to flank him on the left side.
Internally, maybe the answer is Tony DeAngelo. Yes, he’s right-handed, but the Rangers have a bit of a logjam on the right side even before you factor in top prospect Nils Lundkvist. While Ryan Lindgren played well with Trouba, Lindgren and Adam Fox were very good together. Why break up your most efficient pairing?
Externally, the Rangers could look at free agent defensemen like Brenden Dillon and Torey Krug. Erik Gustafsson could make sense as well. And who knows who will be available on the trade market?
The Rangers certainly have options here. But they absolutely must give Trouba some help. Otherwise, they’re not helping a guy they gave a first-round pick for be the guy they hoped he would be when they traded for him.
2. Add A Second Line Center
Looking at the New York Rangers forwards, they’ve got a surprisingly solid group of players. But one notable hole is the second line center. Ryan Strome did fine there last season, but his numbers away from Panarin weren’t too good. Filip Chytil is likely their best internal option other than Strome (who’s an RFA), but the Rangers need results now. They can’t afford to hand Chytil the second-line center job.
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Unfortunately, the free agent market likely isn’t an option for them. Tyler Ennis is intriguing as a middle-six forward, but there aren’t any second-line centers available.
They could offer sheet an RFA, but they’d be very limited since they don’t have their own second-round pick in 2021. Though I’d pay good money to see the Rangers sign Mathew Barzal to an offer sheet with over $10,907,736 annually.
Anthony Cirelli of the Tampa Bay Lightning would be a great target. He’s capable of playing top-six minutes, he is phenomenal defensively, and he can carry his own line. Cirelli is an RFA, so the Rangers should at least try to get him to sign an offer sheet.
They could sign him to a deal between $4,363,096 and $6,544,640 annually (likely towards the latter). I’d happily give up a 2021 first rounder for Cirelli. You’re probably not drafting anyone better than him anyway.
I imagine the Rangers were turn to the trade market. Teams are going to be looking to create cap space and the Rangers have plenty of it.
3. What About The Goalies?
They say you can never have too many good goalies. That’s partially true, but the New York Rangers are proof you can have too many good goalies. They have three NHL-caliber goaltenders between Lundqvist, Shesterkin, and Georgiev. With all their cap space, keeping all three is plausible. But in terms of asset management, it’s not a viable option.
The most likely option is the Rangers will buyout Lundqvist. Expect a press conference and lots of tears. He’s given his heart and soul to the Rangers and it sure as heck isn’t his fault the Rangers haven’t won a Stanley Cup with him.
However, it probably won’t happen soon. The Rangers will likely take their time and see if anyone is seriously interested in trading for Georgiev. They’d likely lose him to the Seattle Kraken anyway, so why not see if a team is willing to help them recoup some of the assets they’ve recently lost?
dark. Next. 2020 NHL Mock Draft
Expect a fairly swift decision. It could come as soon as Monday. Or it could take some time. Georgiev is younger than just about every other goalie on the trade market and free agent market. Maybe teams will value that. One thing’s for certain, though – either Lundqvist or Georgiev have played their last game in a Rangers sweater.