By Matthew Blittner
Special Contributor to MSGNetworks.com
The Rangers most trying season this decade has come to an end.
In the Rangers 5-0 loss to the Flyers Saturday afternoon at Wells Fargo Center, the Blueshirts looked out of sorts from opening faceoff to the final horn.
And now, with their season finale in the books, let’s take a look at the most pressing questions surrounding the team as it prepares for the offseason:
1) COACHES
Any time a team underperforms, the coaching staff is usually the first to be changed. And the Rangers are no different. After failing to qualify for the postseason for the first time since the 2009-10 season, the Blueshirts wasted no time in moving on from now ex-head coach Alain Vigneault. Not even six hours after the team lost it’s season finale to the Flyers, management decided it was time to end a year of speculation and relieved Vigneault of his coaching duties.
Now the questions become: Who of the remaining coaches stays? Who leaves? Who comes in to replace AV & Co.?
No doubt Vigneault himself didn’t see this coming. After his team’s loss to the Flyers, he said, “I expect to be back. I think my staff is the right staff for this job. As a coach, you have to coach the team that’s in front of you. We’ve been able to do it with young players and older guys. Every year we try to put a system in place that maximizes our potential and masks our weaknesses.”
Now that AV officially won’t be back, the attention turns to the remaining coaches.
2) DRAFT
On Feb. 8, 2018, it became clear the Blueshirts were headed for a rebuild. Over the course of six days (Feb. 21-26), management traded away Nick Holden, Michael Grabner, Rick Nash, Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller.
In doing so, the Rangers stockpiled draft picks. Armed with seven picks in the first three rounds — three firsts, two seconds, two thirds — GM Jeff Gorton & Co. are in prime position to make a splash at the Draft.
With a litany of possibilities at the team’s disposal, it would be wise for fans to have their smartphones, laptops and televisions at the ready. Because, from midnight on June 22 to 11:59 p.m. on June 23, the Blueshirts will undoubtedly make a wave of headlines.
“We were right there in the mix during the season’s first-half,” said Mika Zibanejad. “We lost some key guys and at the end of the day we couldn’t catch up.”
2) FREE AGENCY
This is the most difficult question to gauge. And the reason is quite simple. The Rangers are rebuilding, that’s an indisputable fact, but they certainly don’t want to end up like Buffalo or Arizona, teams who are in a state of perpetually rebuilding.
Therefore, do they use most of their cap space to sign some big-name free agents — John Tavares anyone? Or do they sign role players to short-term contracts as they attempt to integrate their prospects at the NHL-level?
3) TRADES
Do the Rangers package multiple picks/players/prospects to move up in the Draft? Do they sit pat and use all of their picks?
And, after management began the teardown of the team’s core last offseason, the question becomes: Who’s next?
There are still several veteran players on the roster that could bring back decent return packages. Therefore, the Blueshirts’ high-command is likely to make at least one big move; probably on Draft Day.
“You never know what’s going to happen in the summer,” said Mats Zuccarello. “My mindset, and our mindset as a team, is to come here and win.”
FINAL THOUGHTS
“Next year, the goal is to win,” said Henrik Lundqvist. “We have to set that goal early.”
It’s going to be a wild, crazy offseason. So buckle up and get ready for the roller coaster ride to begin.
See you next season.