The New York Rangers are undergoing a major retooling, starting with Artemi Panarin
Who will be the next to go?
Photo courtesy of Editor-in-Chief Brooke Klugewicz
As many hockey fans know, the New York Rangers (NYR) have had an awful season so far, and it has become apparent that major changes need to be made in the offseason. Recently, reports have confirmed that the NYR are looking to trade left wing Artemi Panarin. For many fans, this news comes as a shock; Panarin is a fan favorite and one of the most valuable players on the team. Furthermore, he is a player who consistently aids the team on the ice and draws in a lot of fans.
Amidst the news, it is unclear where Panarin will get traded, but sources report that he has many options. He leads the team in assists and points, as well as recording 120 points just two seasons ago. He is currently getting paid 11.6 million dollars, and he probably will not settle for less than that when traded. CBS Sports reports, “The Rangers probably won't get a king's ransom unless Panarin comes with a contract extension, and finding a team willing to pay a 34-year-old top dollar may be difficult.”
It is expected that many players on the New York Rangers are not safe from being traded, especially with General Manager (GM) Chris Drury declaring the team will be undergoing a retool. For many, there are a select few NYR players who should remain on the team.
Center Vincent Trocheck is one player who should remain untouched; he is a true offensive force on the ice, as well as a good team player. Left winger Will Cuylle has also been a promising player for the team and is constantly giving the team his all. He even seems to be improving season after season—which is exactly what the team needs.
On the defensive end, defenseman Braden Schneider needs to stay. Not only is he solid in breaking up plays and good under offensive pressure, but he is also a young player. On the opposite end, defenseman Adam Fox is no longer beneficial to the team. While he was once considered a top defenseman in the league, it is safe to say that those days are over. He has become increasingly sloppy during game-determining plays, as well as detrimental to team morale.
The Rangers do have a promising goaltending lineup. While goaltender Igor Shesterkin is currently on injured reserve (IR), he is one of the best goaltenders in the National Hockey League (NHL). Despite the team not helping Shesterkin during most offensive plays, he continues to make some phenomenal saves. Furthermore, the NYR backup goaltender, Jonathan Quick, is also a formidable opponent. Although he is older, he continues to successfully defend the goalpost and has proven to be excellent for team morale.
One of the most recent controversial decisions the Rangers have made has been the promotion of forward J.T. Miller to captain. While Miller is a dynamic player on the ice, he is not captain material, which has been proven throughout this season. After a brutal loss to the Seattle Krakens, Miller was quoted as saying, “I don't know [what] to say. We're going to try and go have a good practice tomorrow and get ready for the next game. I don't know. I'm sorry. I don't know." This type of response is not one that a captain should be giving or feel is a sufficient answer. Furthermore, it is the captain's job to build team morale, which evidently, he has not been doing.
For many fans, Drury is the true problem behind the Rangers’ poor performance. In the past, Drury has made some very questionable trades that often led to the team doing worse. Despite this, he remains the GM and continues to lead the NYR in the wrong direction. Fans continue to hope that the correct moves will finally be made and the team will succeed next season.