New York Rangers looking at breaking everything down

GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 06: Rick Nash (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 06: Rick Nash (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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Reports are indicating that the New York Rangers are going to be sellers at the deadline, no matter what. Is that the right move?

The New York Rangers will be coming out of the All-Star break on the fringe of the playoff race. As of now, the Rangers sit one point behind the Philadelphia Flyers for the final Wild Card spot in the East. The Blue Shirts have been a tough team to handicap in 2017-2018. When they are on, they can play with anyone. When they aren’t they look bad.

The trade deadline is approaching. What are the Rangers to do? We have talked about the team having a pivotal stretch of games coming up. It could determine how they handle the deadline. But what if the Rangers have already made their decision to be sellers?

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According to Larry Brooks of the NY Post, that is the decision that has been made. According to Brooks, the idea is to “…build a Stanley Cup winner rather than to simply extend a seven-year playoff streak that is in jeopardy.” The belief is that the core of this team had their chance, and simply wasn’t good enough to get over the hump. So, break it down to build it back up again.

There have been rumors about Rick Nash being on the block. If they are going to do this, general manager Jeff Gorton might want to think about it soon as Nash is playing well of late. He could put a contending team over the top, as could a scorer like Michael Grabner.

One player that isn’t mentioned in the article by Brooks is Henrik Lundqvist. What happens with him in the fire sale? Does he go? He certainly has something left in the tank. If he doesn’t go initially, does he ask to go play for a winner?

Who goes? For how much? If this is the plan there are a lot of unanswered questions.

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Now, wait. What if they go on a run coming out of the break? Can’t they take one more shot? Why not? Give the fans one more try at winning it all, and THEN break it up.

There are more questions that need to be answered on this.