The Rangers Should Retool at the Deadline

March 7th is only 6 days away and the Rangers have plenty of decisions to make at the deadline. If you asked yourself at the beginning of the season what the Rangers should be doing I can guarantee you that you had a different answer, and why wouldn’t you? It wasn’t that long ago when the Rangers won the Presidents trophy, swept the Capitals, beat the Hurricanes and if a couple bounces went the other way would’ve wound up in the Stanley Cup final. Sure, there were moves to be made but I think us Rangers fans had the boys in blue penciled in to another playoff birth. Welp, it’s not looking good.

Do me a favor – find a mirror and ask yourself, “Can this team go 17-6 and make the playoffs?”

I just don’t see it. Adam Fox is on the IR. Ryan Lindgren forgot how to play hockey. Chris Kreiders only purpose is to stand in front of the net. Alexis Lafreniere cashed a ticket and forgot what he had to do afterwards. Vinny Trocheck spends most of the game with his hands up, yelling at the referees. Artemi Panarin has had a decent year but we’ve been over this with him – when the games really matter and the ice is a little smaller, what type of player are you really getting? In a big game against the Maple Leafs, the Rangers gave up a grade A chance to Auston Matthews and took a penalty less than a minute into the game – HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN? With expectations so large, the Rangers absolutely shit the bed this year. With all the cards on the table, the Rangers need to fold.

Change the Core

Any moves the Rangers make need to address what this lineup is going to look like in the future – not just now. Drury did a tremendous job bringing in a dog like JT Miller but you need more in the pound. You need to go out and get guys who are going to do whatever it takes to play a 200 foot game and get the job done. Any draft picks you receive need to be used on Western Canadian kids who get pucks deep, punch others in the mouth, and most importantly – can skate. The culture around the Rangers needs to change. 50/50 pucks should go to the team in blue. We want honey badgers, we want pit bulls, we want players who are impossible to play against. This type of player is the exact opposite from a Mika Zibanejad or a Chris Kreider. We want some guys with some jam and some cockiness to their game. Now, do we have any of that now? These players are guys you can win with.

FORWARDS: JT Miller, Vincent Trocheck, Alexis Lafreniere – his performance in the playoffs last year is the only reason he’s on this list, Will Cuylle, Matt Rempe, Brett Berard, Brendan Othmann, Adam Edstrom.

In my opinion, every one else should be on the block and yes that means Panarin too. The Breadman has been a great Ranger, honestly one of the best signings in recent memory – but can you imagine the haul you would get on Artemi Panarin who will become a UFA in 2026 at age 35. Do you know who else will be a UFA in 2025-26? You might have heard of these two players – Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel. Could be pretty cool.

Mika Zibanejad has been on a heater since JT Miller has come to town.

Sell high, baby.

You can not and will not win a Stanley Cup with Mika Zibanejad as your number one center – it just won’t happen, he is too soft.

As I’m writing this – the Rangers have made a deal.

Anyways, any forward not named on the list above should be sold for picks or younger talent with some edge.

On the backend the Rangers need to get some guys in there who can defend. K’Andre Miller ain’t it. Lindgren ain’t it – although he just got traded (I will miss 55 the guy was a warrior). It’d be nice to acquire some better skating, meaner defenseman but unfortunately, they don’t exactly grow on trees. And do you know what else? A vet. Not just a 6 or 7 – but a vet who can actually play and can help lead that core because it doesn’t look like Fox has that in his DNA which is fine – but if he can’t someone has to. I want motherfuckers who go full throttle into the corner and come out with the puck, don’t you?

Don’t buy. Please, please don’t buy. Offload some money, offload some contracts, figure out how to draft and thank yourself every day that you’re an original six franchise that players would love to play for.

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Author: Ked

1st line thoughts with a 4th line heart. Hope you guys enjoy the site and let us know what we can do to make it better. ALWAYS remember-- When in doubt, glass and out.

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