Jeff Gorton does nothing at the DUDline
Gorton (Getty)
Jeff Gorton gets a BIG FAT F today as the Rangers GM. After being exposed again as an overall soft team last night, Gorton was unable to make a deal of any kind to address it. Players like Brian Boyle, Steve Ott, and Dwight King were traded away for nothing.
Anyone of those three players would’ve given the Rangers some much needed size and sandpaper on their 4th line. It would have broken up the monotony of rolling 4 similar lines that play the same way, with the only variant being how skilled each line is from most to least.
The Rangers can be way to easy to play against and Gorton DID NOTHING to address it.
I mean, I didn’t really want Ott but Brian Boyle would’ve been a big addition to this team for the playoffs. You mean to tell me Gorton couldn’t spare the equivalent of Bryon Froese and a second round pick? Or a 4th rounder for Dwight King?
Instead Montreal added Ott and King to ensure they would be much harder to play against when the playoffs start. Toronto added leadership and size to a team that has loads of skill with Boyle. They both became harder to play against now.
Thomas Vanek who is a PP specialist was acquired by Florida for a 3rd rounder and Dylan McIlrath! You mean to tell me that Gorton couldn’t take a flyer on Vanek for the post season? It wasn’t that steep a price.
These misses are all compounded now that we’ve learned Jesper Fast will miss time with a separated shoulder and Michael Grabner was hurt at practice. The extent of Grabner’s hip injury isn’t fully known yet and he may miss tomorrow’s game against Boston. Should he miss more….oh boy!
Did Jeff Gorton do anything to improve the Rangers chances this season?
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Listen, I like the addition of Brendan Smith. I think he’s an upgrade to our current top 4 on defense, but he isn’t going to help the PP. Matter of fact, his acquisition will certainly mean the end of Adam Clendening in the lineup once Dan Girardi returns in 2 weeks. Heck, if Klein is ready to play it could force Clendening out sooner.
The Rangers had the big fish on the hook and they didn’t reel him in. Instead, Kevin Shattenkirk was dealt to the Washington Capitals for 2 prospects and picks, including their 2017 1st rounder.
Now, I’m happy the Rangers opted to keep their pick but if that was the reason why this deal didn’t happen then BIG MISTAKE. This upcoming draft isn’t anything fawn over. The rumor, and I stress rumor is that St. Louis wanted Pavel Buchnevich. If that’s true, then great…way to go Gorton. However, if the issue was not parting with a first round pick, and a player like Robin Kovacs or Sean Day…then Gorton blew it!
Everyone keeps yapping how Henrik Lundqvist‘s window to win is closing and you let the Capitals land Shattenkirk? I’m having a real hard time swallowing this one, especially with how abysmal the Rangers PP is. The Caps were going to be tough before and now it appears near impossible.
The bottom line is this…if you are looking at this deadline as a let’s wait until next year, then you could give Gorton a B. If you believe that this Rangers team was missing a player like Shattenkirk and some size/grit on the 4th line to be a real contender this post season…well there’s no way around it…Jeff Gorton FAILED.
P.S. I want to be wrong.
Bad Report Card (Pinterest)