N.Y. Rangers: Everything Is Deteriorating According To Plan

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

TEX's RANGERS: UNDER RENOVATION

New York Rangers: Jeff Gorton Trades Rick Nash; Extracts Two More Draft Picks From Boston Bruins.

MONDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE:

Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller Traded to Tampa Bay Lightning

Three cheers for another loss ... this time against the Detroit Red Wings.  That makes seven in a row, and gives the Rangers a sorry-ass 2-10-1 record for February.

Hey!  Hey!  Hey!

It's just a shame it had to happen on the same night Jean Ratelle's sweater was hoisted to the rafters at Madison Square Garden.

They'll nevertheless finish out the month with one last game against the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday.  After which, less than twenty games will remain in the regular season.

As of close of business Sunday, the Rangers 60-points are seventh worst in the league.  Eleven points separate them from the 30th ranked Buffalo Sabres, while fourteen points separate them from the 31st ranked Phoenix Coyotes.

And, yet, there's still hope this can get worse.  Jeff Gorton, fans like myself, and the future of the next Cup contenders are counting on these guys to really suck down the stretch.  So, just keep them losses coming, fellas, and let's hope a little draft lottery luck comes our way.

In the meantime, Jeff Gorton's deconstruction seems to have gained momentum.  Hopefully there are a few more transactions coming before Monday's trade deadline.  And the more draft picks Gorton acquires, the better.

So far, he's reeled in a nice catch.

• February 20: Nick Holden remarkably traded to Boston in exchange for defender Rob O'Gara and Boston's third round pick of the 2018 draft.  I wouldn't have given the NYR three pucks and a roll of tape.  But that's just me ...

• February 23: Michael Grabner traded across the Hudson River to rival New Jersey Devils in exchange for defender Yegor Rykov and Newark's second round pick of the 2018 draft.

• February 25: Rich Nash traded to Boston in exchange for three players (Ryan Spooner, Matt Belesky, and prospect defender Ryan Lindgren), plus the Bruins first round pick of the 2018 draft, and their seventh round pick of the 2019 draft.

But Gorton also did a good job acquiring three young defensemen.

• D - Rob O'Gara is 24-years old, 6'4" 215 lbs.
• D - Yegor Rykov is 20-years old, 6'1" 205 lbs.
• D - Ryan Lindgren is 20-years old, a stocky 5'11" 203 lbs.

The Captain, Ryan McDonagh, continues missing games (as a precautionary measure in the event of another deadline trade).  Like I've said, I'm not buying into his upper-body injury jive.

I'd like to think Mats Zuccarello, J.T. Miller, Kevin Shattenkirk, and perhaps a few other Rangers could and will garner some interest.   But it's very unlikely Henrik Lundqvist goes anywhere, that is unless a team is willing to take on the full brunt of his contract.

Let's put it this way ... the only players I want the Rangers retaining are Pavel Buchnevich, Mika Zibanejad, and Brady Skjei.


UPDATE:

• February 26: Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller traded to Tampa Bay Lighting in exchange for forward Vladislav Namestnikov, prospects Libor Hajek and Brett Howden, the Bolts first round pick of the 2018 draft, and a conditional second round pick in the 2019 draft.

Vladislav Namestnikov was selected by Tampa in the first round (27th) of the 2011 draft.  A natural center, the 25-year old is listed at 5'11" 180 lbs.  He is in the midst of his best season with 20 goals and 24 assists through 62 games.

• D - Libor Hajek is 20-years old, 6'2" 196 lbs.
• C - Brett Howden is 19-years old, 6'2" 193 lbs. 

The Rangers now own three number one picks; a pair of number two picks, and two number three picks for the upcoming 2018 June entry draft.