Question #164: Should the Rangers buy or sell?
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- March
- 3
With the NHL trading deadline a day away, the Rangers are faced with a decision that most teams would prefer to avoid: Buy or sell?
Obviously the ideal situation would be to be in such great shape that buying (or, even better, just standing pat) is clearly the right choice. Unfortunately, the Rangers are on the proverbial fence. They could go either way and legitimately make a case that it’s the best decision for them.
In my mind, though, selling is a mistake. While it’s tough to outright expect Glen Sather to deliver any kind of big upgrade at the deadline (since he hasn’t exactly done very well then in past years), the notion of giving up on this season doesn’t fly with me. I think any time you have as good a goalie as King Henrik, that’s the kind of foundation that puts you in position to succeed if you can pull of the right kind of move.
Should the Rangers give up early draft picks? I’d rather they didn’t. But this isn’t the NFL. The Rangers have decent enough pieces, starting with Lundqvist, that pulling out is a cop-out. Selling isn’t always the worst strategy. It just isn’t the right one for this team.
CARP SAYS:If you’ve brought in a new coach and you’re going to bring in Sean Avery, then that says to me that Sather is buying. I think that’s the absolute wrong move at this point—giving up prospects, young players or draft picks for a Keith Tkachuk or a Bill Guerin type. That will come back to haunt in the long run.
Unless you believe this team, as currently constituted, can actually challenge—can actually make a run toward the finals—then that’s just crazy and short-sighted. But I do think, with the coaching change, the Avery claim, and with Dolan’s and Sather’s track records, that they will go for it this year. I wonder if they actually believe the Rangers are one or two players away (They are: if one is named Gretzky or Lemieux, the other Leetch).
I’m on record: Bad move. Sell.
Buyers.
There’s always a 1st round upset.
I’d also be hard pressed to believe this team will be on a worse trek in the next 20 games as opposed to the last 20 they’ve played. Going into the playoffs hot is key for any team.
5-8 in the East is weak. They’ll make the dance. Just depends on the partner they get paired up with.
I always say this and it bears repeating: “You can’t have a full blown rebuilding with a major New York team.”
The Isles can do it, the Devils can do it, the Nets can do it.
The Rangers, Knicks, Mets and Yanks just can’t. The fans are too impatient here and the corporate ticket holders won’t like it. The fans here want to see stars. They are NOT willing to sit through 4 years of nobodies, while the team gets number 1 draft picks. It’s really that simple.
No team in the playoff picture should sell, because even though a lot of people don’t want to hear it, ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN once you make it to the dance. And when you have a goaltender like Lundqvist, as Sam has alluded to, the chances of a run are increased.
However, the Rangers don’t have much, or any, cap room to buy. So really, I think other than hiring Tortorella and adding Sean Avery today, the big moves are done. Unless they can swing something for a guy like Bouwmeester or Frolov (not likely), they should just go with what they have, work their tails off every night, and see what happens from there. Even though it was against a poor opponent, what they did against the Avalanche on Saturday night was very encouraging.
I think there is a possibility for a decent deal. I just don’t think Slats can get it done.
Ponikarovsky or Cole wouldn’t be bad moves. Not sure what the going rate is on those guys. Though knowing Burke, it’s unreasonable for the former. Cole…well that’s Slats’ good buddies up in EDM’s call.
Rob C
The game vs the Avalanche WAS encouraging, especially when you think how we’ve been manhandled by teams even worse than them pre-Torts.
I think we should be buyers, too. If we can get a sniper, great, but I wouldn’t dump too much. When these guys play to their potential and have a coach that believes in the attack game, I think it gives this team as it is a chance to show what they have. I think they are a good team if they play their game and they seem to be enjoying it so far. That’s also a big key.
I wouldn’t mind them to be sellers, but I am a huge fan of bringing in the younger generation. With the game not getting anymore IS faster paced you need the younger talented players. And it would be nice to get rid of someone to open some cap space.
But I am sure this will not happen, we do have a chance and that is really all you need. Just as long as you make it to the palyoffs. And not in the 8th slot so you have to compete with the top team at the get go. Hope fully the make and they also compete respectively. They got to go 110% on all phases.
Well, I suppose if you could get rid of Dru and Redden, then you SELL SELL SELL. But I don’t see that happening, and standing pat shouldn’t be an option. So you must buy.
I think the Rangers should be buyers, only if the right deal comes along. Although if the chance to dump Drury or Redden came along you have to jump on that in a heart beat.
Sell.
One thing I forgot to mention, I would not take the Av’s game with anything more than a grain of salt. Yes it was nice to see them win a good game, but the Av’s D was terrible. We need to see continued success.
I would have to go with a mild-buyers attitude.
I don’t think Sather should be giving off high picks or any young talent unless it is a young talent for young talent type of trade(see zherdev for tyutin). In my opinion this team isnt a true contender for the cup this season and I would rather they hold onto that 1st and grab a very talented player in this draft.
Does Jessiman have a little brother in the draft? Montoya? Brendel?
Deal the picks. They’re worth more in a trade then they are selecting a player.
To us.
They SHOULD be sellers, but they’ll end up as buyers and get dropped in the 1st round as usual and end up with players that’ll either be a drag next season or gone right after the end of the season.