Let’s not kid ourselves, even with some positive signs recently, the New York Rangers have a ways to go in their retool before returning to contender status in the NHL. And this offseason will be a massively important one for the Rangers.
There’s the draft in late June, of course. Right now, the Rangers have 11 picks, including two first-rounders and seven selections in the first three rounds. There’s no better way to restock the barren pipeline than by nailing what’s perceived to be a strong draft class this year.
Then there’s the likely trade of veteran center Vincent Trocheck, where general manager Chris Drury hopes to add young NHL talent to the Rangers core, and show critics he knew what he was doing by not dealing Trocheck ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline.