1 Step Back To Take Several Forward?

Hi all! Just like to say im thrilled to be able to post here on Blueseatblogs, my favourite Rangers blog. I love the honesty and intelligence of the blog and it makes me keep coming back. I write for nasports.co.uk  which is a website aimed at North American sports for, in the first instance UK fans, but also anyone who enjoys the sports we cover. Anyway…..

In recent weeks rumblings are abound from Ranges fans that the Rangers should be sellers at the deadline or whenever the trade party gets into full swing. Hell, even the NY media are demanding the same thing. Are you, as a fan, willing to accept a losing season because we’ve blown up and started again? Personally I am. So long as it’s for the right reasons…

Its one thing to start, and then emphasise, a rebuild it’s quite another to be horrible for half a decade (take a bow Pittsburgh, Washington). I won’t accept being that bad and just taking it on the chin and I don’t see it as necessary. The Pens were very lucky that when they did suck there were generational talents available in the draft however if I was a Pens fan I would be saying to myself ‘you know what? We’re only good because we were that bad!’

Personally I don’t see why the Detroit (and more recently the Sharks) model cant be followed. A core roster, solid drafting, timely additions and good personnel – as a fan I’d take much more satisfaction out of that. This is why I don’t think long term pain is necessary for the Rangers as I see some very important parts already in place. The Rangers have a good young core (think Henrik, Gaborik, Staal, Del Zotto, Callahan and Dubinsky) and in the past 3-4 years they’ve made good draft picks including; Stepan, Bourque, Grachev, Anisimov etc. It’s the (free agent) additions that Sather gets wrong. Do we have a good staff? Well their track record says so. Are they right for NY? I say give them time. Bear in mind this team or the core of it is very young - patience is required - but we all appreciate patience is at a premium in NY and with Sather is around.

Back to my point. To what depths will you watch your team go to and at what cost?

Remember the move New Jersey made when they shipped ex Ranger Malakhov’s deal to the Sharks for a 1^st rounder?  It cost them a very good pick but they rid themselves of a major headache. So would you be willing to accept, for example, Sheldon Souray for Wade Redden Michael Roszival AND a 1^st round pick plus perhaps a 2^nd? It’s a lot to give up (and that kind of deal may cost more) but the team rid themselves of a lot of cap and get a 1 year deal coming back. Its only theory but I use it as an example.  Do you have any ideas?

I want this team to take a clear direction. Lose and don’t stack up (a la Antropov last year) and instead sell. Win and stay pat; back the team already on the ice. Don’t move picks or prospects for a quick fix. Take what comes.

If we don’t make the playoffs this year I wont be (too) disappointed so long as I see the youth on the team develop. A good boxer can take a hit and comeback. One bad season wouldn’t destroy us. I really want a high pick this year. I want the team to move more players, get more picks. I want what’s best for the New York Rangers.

Quick heads up; i’ll be posting my thoughts on the Olympics here at BSB so hope you’ll stop by read and contribute!