RANGERS TO FANS: THIS WILL HURT
Rangers admit to fans roster teardown is on
There is no more ambiguity in the Rangers’ intentions. For the first time in a long time, they are tearing it down.
“Listen, we have not played well for a while,” general manager Jeff Gorton said in a planned press conference alongside team president Glen Sather on Thursday in Westchester, an appearance that went along with a signed letter sent to fans. “It has become increasingly clear as the days go on that we’re in a tough [position] as we go forward towards the playoffs. It’s the reality of having to look forward.
“The decisions we make going forward will be based on long-term and not trying to save this season.”
So now as the Blueshirts enter the final 28 games of the regular season, starting with Friday’s Garden match against the Flames, they are officially rebuilding. They have lost seven of their past eight and are 6-12-2 in their previous 20. Despite still being only three points out of the second wildcard spot going into Thursday’s action, they are not fooling themselves.
They are going to approach the Feb. 26 trade deadline with pending free agents Rick Nash and Michael Grabner ready for the rental market, and right behind them are the likes of Ryan McDonagh and Mats Zuccarello, each with one more year left on his contract.
There is a “For Sale” sign hanging out-front, and the Rangers wanted to let everyone know.
“Let’s face it — we’ve had a pretty good run for a while,” Gorton said of the franchise that has made the playoffs for seven consecutive years and 11 of the past 12, including three trips to the conference final and one to the Stanley Cup final, all without a championship to show for it.
“Many years we’ve had a team that, at this time of year, we’re looking to add players and try to win a Stanley Cup. Right now, as we sit last in our division, it’s becoming increasingly clear that’s not our team right now. That’s not where we want to be. And I think we have to do what we can to get assets in here that will be part of the next Stanley Cup contenders.”
If it’s still going to be coach Alain Vigneault in charge when those assets arrive was not a question Gorton was willing to answer. Vigneault himself said his team lacked “resiliency,” especially during the 6-1 drubbing at the hands of the Bruins at the Garden on Wednesday night. But Gorton did not want to make the leap that the effort was a reflection of the work of their coach.
“To put who’s responsible, I don’t know. AV is a good coach, he’s been a good coach in the league, he’s been a good coach for the Rangers,” Gorton said. “I think we’re all responsible in some way here for what we’re seeing. To sit here and say it’s the coach is not the way I want to go. As a manager, as a management staff, as a scouting staff, as a coaching staff, as players, we’re all not good enough right now, and it’s showing on the ice. That’s where it’s at.”
Asked directly if Vigneault, with two more years left on his contract, would be back next season, Gorton said, “I wouldn’t want to answer that today. I don’t want the speculation out there. We have 25, almost 30 games to go. AV is our coach. We have a lot of faith in AV and what he’s done here. We’ll leave it at that.”
This organization has not been one to throw in the towel, and losing those postseason gates is going to hurt the wallet of owner James Dolan. But when asked if he had to clear this with Dolan, Sather made it evident this was a group decision with agreement from the top down.
“We’re all tuned into the same show here,” Sather said. “We all know what’s going on. We all know what we have to do and we have to try to do the right thing.”
The process started with the offseason trade of Derek Stepan to the Coyotes, as well as the buyout of Dan Girardi’s contract. Even then, Gorton and his staff didn’t expect this season to quite be this bad.
But it has made their decision to sell a little bit easier, and now the next few weeks are focused on preparing for the next few years.
“As the season has developed, it hasn’t gone t he way we wanted it to go,” Gorton said. “It’s going to force us into some decisions now to think long-term and start to try to rebuild and build a Stanley Cup contender.”