The New York Rangers have never been reluctant to spend big money on free agents. But being willing to open your wallet is one thing; opening it for the right player at the right time is a whole different issue. While they’ve had some big hits over the years, the Rangers have also inked a sprinkling of albatross contracts that have set the organization back — sometimes immensely, especially in the salary cap era. Here’s a look at the 10 worst free-agent signings in Rangers history:

Related: New York Rangers worst trades in past 50 years, including Luc Robitaille twice

10. Richards Got Rich

The Signing: Rangers signed center Brad Richards to a nine-year contract
Date: July 1, 2011

Why it mattered: The Rangers have never been reluctant to open their wallet for free agents. Richards, the biggest fish in the 2011 free agent pool, had won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2004, when John Tortorella led the Tampa Bay Lightning to the Stanley Cup. With Tortorella now in charge of the Rangers, it was no surprise that the 31-year-old center wound up signing a front-loaded mega-deal that brought him to New York.

Richards was one of the NHL’s top playmakers and was coming off seasons of 91 and 77 points with the Dallas Stars. He had lost a step and didn’t come close to those numbers in New York, but his 66 points in 2011-12 helped the Rangers finish first in the Eastern Conference, and he was a 20-goal scorer two years later when the Rangers got to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since winning it in 1994. 

However, the collective bargaining agreement that ended the 2012 lockout turned Richards’ contract into a liability. The deal had been structured so that he wouldn’t play the last three seasons (but would earn $1 million per season). However, such contracts were considered cap circumvention under the new CBA, meaning that if he retired early, the Rangers would be on the hook for more than $5 million for each of those three seasons — for a player no longer on the roster. They wound up buying out the final six seasons of the contract, meaning that Richards ended up getting paid about $53 million for his three seasons in New York. 

He signed with the Chicago Blackhawks and almost wound up facing his old team in the 2015 Final, but the Tampa Bay Lightning knocked off the Rangers in Game 7 to win the Eastern Conference Final before losing to the Hawks in six games. 

Related: New York Rangers best trades in past 50 years, including Mark Messier

9. Cracked Glass

The Signing: Rangers sign forward Tanner Glass to a three-year contract
Date: July 1, 2014

Why it mattered: Every new coach wants to put his own stamp on his new team. Alain Vigneault was no exception.

Vigneault liked Glass, a forward who contributed grit but little else, from his days coaching the Vancouver Canucks. He reportedly pushed to sign Glass after being named coach of the Rangers in April 2014, and GM Glen Sather inked him to a three-year contract on the first day of free agency.

Glass would stand up for his teammates and was among the most popular players in the locker room. But he contributed almost nothing offensively, was a black hole when it came to puck possession and never came close to being worth the average of $1.45 million the Rangers were paying him. 

He contributed one goal, six points and 98 penalty minutes in 66 regular-season games in 2014-15, and one assist while playing all 19 games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs — including the Game 7 loss to the Lightning that prevented them from returning to the Final.

But as the game became faster, Glass was increasingly a player out of his era. He was waived early in 2015-16 and spent most of the final two seasons of his contract in the NHL.

Glass gave it all he had on every shift. But with the NHL in a state of flux, that wasn’t enough.

Related: Where do New York Rangers rank regarding team statistics in salary cap era?

8. Not Keen on Keane

The Signing: Rangers sign forward Mike Keane to a four-year contract
Date: July 7, 1997

Why it mattered: The Rangers spent much of the late 1990s chasing another Stanley Cup to go along with the one they won in 1994. They got to the conference finals in 1996-97 before being eliminated by the Philadelphia Flyers, and management was confident there was still a championship nucleus on hand.

GM Neil Smith wanted some additional veteran presence as an insurance policy against the potential loss of captain Mark Messier (who ultimately left for the Vancouver Canucks as a free agent), so he brought in Keane, a free agent who had won championships with the Montreal Canadiens (where he’d been captain) and Colorado Avalanche. The 30-year-old didn’t come cheaply — the four-year contract carried an average annual value of $2 million, a huge outlay for someone who didn’t play top-six minutes and had never scored more than 16 goals in a season. 

But as was often the case in the 1990s and 2000s, the signing turned into a disaster. Keane and another veteran forward, Brian Skrudland (who signed the same day), formed two-thirds of an incredibly expensive third line that contributed little, offensively or defensively. For many Rangers fans, the most memorable happening involving Keane came when he inadvertently crashed into linemate Pat LaFontaine during a late-season game; the resulting concussion ended LaFontaine’s career.

With his team’s playoff hopes dimming as the trade deadline neared, Smith sent both players to the Dallas Stars as part of a late March housecleaning that brought in veteran forward Bob Errey and youngster Todd Harvey. Keane became a three-time champion with the Stars in 1999, played in the NHL until 2003-04 and spent five more seasons in the AHL. His time with the Rangers turned out to be a blip in one of hockey’s longest careers.

Related: 10 most underrated New York Rangers since 2000

7. Local Boy Doesn’t Make Good

The Signing: Rangers signed defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk to a four-year contract
Date: July 1, 2017

Why it mattered: The Rangers didn’t have to look far when seeking an offensive defenseman in the summer of 2017. Shattenkirk was a Rangers fan who grew up in New Rochelle, New York, about a half-hour from Madison Square Garden, and reportedly passed up bigger offers to sign a four-year deal worth an average of $6.65 million.

The contract didn’t seem to be out of line — in fact, he said he might have left money on the table but that this was his chance “to fulfill a lifetime dream.” Shattenkirk was the highest scorer of any free agent available in 2017 (56 points, a career-high) and had finished with at least 42 points in each of the five previous non-lockout seasons. 

But things quickly went south. Shattenkirk’s offensive numbers tanked during an injury-filled first season, and the Rangers’ objectives changed as they fell out of the playoff race; they dealt away veterans like Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller while opting to rebuild. Management decided in the summer of 2019 that Shattenkirk didn’t fit into their future plans and opted to buy out the final two seasons.

The Tampa Bay Lightning quickly snapped up Shattenkirk, who helped them win the Stanley Cup in 2020. He then played three seasons with the Anaheim Ducks before joining the Boston Bruins in 2023-24.

Shattenkirk’s time with his hometown team can be filed under the heading of “be careful what you ask for.” In this case, neither side got what it was hoping for. 

Related: Top 10 all-time best United States-born players in New York Rangers history

6. Kaspar the Unfriendly Ghost

The Signing: Rangers sign defenseman Darius Kasparaitis to a six-year contract
Date: July 2, 2002

Why it mattered: The Rangers, who had missed the playoffs for five consecutive seasons, wanted a more physical presence on the blue line and outbid the Toronto Maple Leafs for Kasparaitis, who got a six-year deal worth an average of $4.25 million despite having never scoring more than four goals or 21 points in a season and having been hampered by a couple of major injuries.

Ironically, one of the callers in the recruiting drive for “Kaspar” was Rangers center Eric Lindros, who had missed a month after being knocked unconscious by a Kasparaitis check four years earlier while playing for the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Rangers paid Kasparaitis to be what he was at his best — a human wrecking ball who had no compunctions about leveling the NHL’s top players (he was famous for flattening both Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux) with the kind of hip check that was rarely seen anymore. And he did just that in his first season with a rebuilding team, banging bodies and forcing opponents to keep an eye out for them.

But his hitting ability was often negated by his lack of speed and offensive skills. His playing style also led to more injuries, which slowed him even more. The Rangers waived Kasparaitis prior to 2006-07, making him a very expensive AHL defenseman for the final two seasons of his contract after he went unclaimed. 

Related: 5 alternate jerseys the New York Rangers should bring back

5. Drury Disappoints

The Signing: Rangers signed center Chris Drury to a five-year contract
Date: July 1, 2007

Why it mattered: Drury won the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie in 1998-99, helped the Colorado Avalanche win the Stanley Cup two years later and was coming off back-to-back 30-goal seasons with the Buffalo Sabres in the summer of 2007 when Sather lured the 31-year-old center to the team he grew up watching as a boy in Connecticut with a five-year contract worth more than $7 million a year.

No. 1 center Michael Nylander had left for Washington, so coach Tom Renney installed Drury on the first line with Jaromir Jagr and Martin Straka on his wings. But while Drury was getting paid top-line money, he’d never been a first-line talent. That didn’t change with his new team: Drury’s offensive totals dropped off — and so did Jagr’s, who had put up 123 and 96 points in the previous two seasons but managed just 71 while largely playing with Drury and left for the KHL the following season.

Drury’s offensive numbers continued to drop. By 2010-11, injuries limited him to 24 games and one goal; the Rangers bought out the remaining year of his contract in July  2011. He was among the host of free-agent disappointments that riddled the Rangers in the first few years after the lockout that wiped out the 2004-05 season.

But unlike the others on this list, Drury’s time with the Rangers had a second act. He rejoined the team as director of player development in 2015 and was named president and general manager in 2021. He’s now trying to do as an executive what he couldn’t as a player — lead the Rangers to a championship.

Related: 6 Unanswered Rangers questions before 2024-25 season, including Matt Rempe’s long-term role

4. One Devil Disaster

The Signing: Rangers signed center Scott Gomez to a seven-year contract
Date: July 1, 2007

Why it mattered: The Rangers thought they had accomplished two things when they landed Gomez, a 28-year-old two-time Stanley Cup winner with the New Jersey Devils, center in the summer of 2007. Not only did they feel they were getting one of the NHL’s best centers, but they were weakening a division rival at the same time.

That was the theory. The reality was a lot different.

Part of the problem was the expectations that went along with a contract worth $7.5 million per season — one that was signed the same day they inked Drury. Gomez had broken the 20-goal mark just once in eight seasons with the Devils, but he was expected to put the puck in the net more in his new home. But it didn’t happen. He matched his career high with 70 points in his first season at the Garden but scored just 16 goals. He equaled that goal total in 2008-09 but saw his assists (42) and points (58) fall off despite seeing his ice time bumped up to more than 21 minutes a game.

By now, Garden fans were bemoaning spending top dollar on a playmaking center who was over 30 and likely entering the back nine of his career — with a commitment of $35 million still on the books.

The only thing that saved Sather was that he was able to foist Gomez off on another team. The Canadiens needed a middle-six center and took Gomez off his hands in what looked like a salary dump. But part of the return was a college defenseman named Ryan McDonagh – who turned into a stud.

Related: Rarest Rangers sweaters in franchise history, including Wayne Gretzky

3. Another Devil Disaster

The Signing: Rangers signed center Bobby Holik to a five-year contract
Date: July 1, 2002

Why it mattered: The center on the “Crash Line” that helped the Devils win the Stanley Cup in 1995 and 2000 crashed and burned when he took his game across the Hudson River.

Holik was a big, physical center who put up very good offensive numbers for someone who spent most of his time on a checking line. He had averaged 23 goals and 57 points from 1996-97 through 2001-02 and was a plus player in all six of those seasons. With the Rangers’ non-playoff streak at five seasons and counting, Sather threw money at Holik, signing him to a five-year deal worth $45 million. That’s $9 million per season for a 31-year-old who wasn’t a first-line player.

But with a big contract came big expectations — ones that Holik couldn’t meet. His offensive numbers dropped off sharply in 2002-03; though they rebounded in his second season, 25 goals and 56 points weren’t nearly enough to prevent the Rangers from missing the playoffs for a seventh straight season.

When play resumed after the lockout that wiped out 2004-05, the Rangers wasted little time buying out the final two seasons of his contract. Holik spent the next three seasons with the Atlanta Thrashers before a final season with New Jersey. He finished his career with 326 goals and 747 points in 1,314 games as well as two Stanley Cup rings — and a ton of money from a contract that still generates grumbles from Rangers fans of that era.

Related: Rangers’ Artemi Panarin named one of best wings in hockey by NHL Network analyst

2. Fleury Flames Out

The Signing: Rangers signed forward Theo Fleury to a three-year contract (plus team option for a fourth season)
Date: July 8, 1999

Why it mattered: Fleury and the Rangers were a match made in hockey hell.

With the Rangers having missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time in two decades, ownership gave Smith access to the checkbook and told him to go shopping. 

Fleury, all 5-foot-6 of him, had helped the Calgary Flames win the Stanley Cup as a rookie in 1989, then spent the next 10 seasons piling up goals and points. He was coming off his fourth 40-goal season in the summer of 1999; the last 10 tallies came with the Avalanche after a late-season trade. That was more than enough for Smith and Garden president Dave Checketts to pursue Fleury and get his signature on the dotted line of a contract worth $7 million annually.

But the personal issues that Fleury, who described himself as “a prairie kid from a town of 1,500,” had handled successfully in Calgary weren’t as easily dealt with under the bright lights of the Big Apple. He struggled on the ice in his first season but found his game in year two and was among the league leaders in goals and points until his season ended when he checked into a substance abuse program.

His third season saw him produce 24 goals and 63 points but pile up 216 penalty minutes amid incidents that included a fight with the San Jose Sharks mascot and leaving the arena instead of going to the penalty box. The Rangers didn’t exercise their option and gave him away that summer to San Jose; he wound up signing with the Chicago Blackhawks but another substance abuse suspension ended his NHL career.

Fleury’s autobiography, released in 2009, explained a lot. He recounted how he grew up poor in Manitoba, was sexually abused by junior hockey coach Graham James, drank and gambled excessively, and used cocaine during his career, including his time with the Rangers (he got sober in 2005). 

Related: Sam Rosen dishes on Rangers broadcast partners in reflective Rink Rap podcast interview

1. Creating the AHL’s Richest Player

The Signing: Rangers signed defenseman Wade Redden to a six-year contract
Date: July 1, 2008

Why it mattered: Sather wasted no time signing Redden, a solid top-four defenseman with the Ottawa Senators for more than a decade, when he became a free agent in the summer of 2008. The No. 2 pick in the 1995 NHL Draft had never been spectacular, but he’d reached double figures in goals five times and was a plus player in each of his last seven seasons with the Sens, who had opted to keep him instead of Zdeno Chara in 2006. 

Many thought the six years and $6.5 million average annual were a bit on the high side, though not necessarily outrageous, for a 31-year-old. Given the way things turned out, “outrageous” would have been a major improvement.

Redden had a poor season in 2008-09 and was even worse the following season, managing just two goals and 14 points in 75 games. The skills that had attracted the Rangers were nowhere to be found; instead, he looked washed up.

With cap space tight and Redden not producing, the decision was made to bite the bullet and demote Redden and his huge contract to the AHL. For the next two seasons, he was (by far) the AHL’s highest-paid player. He might have stayed there for the remainder of his contract, but the collective bargaining agreement that ended the 2012-13 lockout eliminated most of the benefits of burying a contract in the minors. Instead, the Rangers bought out the final two seasons of his deal.

The St. Louis Blues quickly signed Redden, though they ended up flipping him to the Bruins at the trade deadline. He retired after playing five games during Boston’s run to the 2013 Stanley Cup Final.

Redden’s signing might not be the worst deal in NHL history, but it’s right up there. 

Related: 5 iconic Rangers play-by-play calls by legendary Sam Rosen

Unfortunately, Richards would be bought out just three seasons later. Everyone saw it coming, and the New York Rangers made the business decision before Alec Martinez ended their season in the 2014 Final. Still, it was a gut wrenching call that needed to be made. Especially, after the high hopes just 10 years ago today.

Brad Richards brief Rangers career

Richards came here to reunite with John Tortorella. “He’s the type of guy that says ‘If you want to come play for me that’s good, if you don’t, don’t bother talking to me,”’ Richards remarked after signing his deal. “We have a good enough relationship that I know what he’s doing there, I know what he expects.”

The two routinely bumped heads, but when Torts was fired after the 2012-13 season it was a bit unexpected. Maybe Richards low point production was a big reason why. The Rangers brought him in for offense that they never really got.

However, he was a leader on the team. When the Rangers traded Ryan Callahan in 2013-14, it was Brad Richards who assumed the mantle as “unofficial captain” all the way to the Stanley Cup Final. Still, there was no denying his declining performance since the day he signed. Three straight seasons in which his points per game average dropped.

2011/12: 82 GAMES, 66 POINTS, .80 PTS PER GAME AVG

2013/14: 82 GAMES, 51 POINTS, .62 PTS PER GAME AVG

2012/13: 46 GAMES, 34 POINTS, .74 PTS PER GAME AVG

What was said on Buyout Day

Here is Glen Sather’s statement:

“We would like to thank Brad for everything he has done for our team on and off the ice during his time here. This was an extremely difficult decision to make because of how much respect I have for him. Brad’s leadership and guidance for our young players was invaluable to the organization. We are grateful to have had the professionalism and experience he brought as an example for our team to follow. Brad has been a very good player for us and an even better person. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”

Brad Richards released his own statement later that day:

“Tough last few days … I loved being a Ranger and living in New York and playing at MSG in front of great fans. I’ve met many new friends, excellent teammates and staff and I have memories that I will cherish for a lifetime. Glen Sather, the management and owner, Mr. Dolan, are all class acts. I want to thank them for letting me be a part of New York life and the Rangers family. With this decision finalized, I can now look forward to starting the next chapter in my career.”

The sincerity in his statement can’t be denied. He was a proud player who loved being a Ranger. As for the buyout, the Blueshirts must still pay him $1,055,556 until the year 2025-26 per CapFriendly. Richards returned to the team as a special advisor in 2017 and continues in that role under Chris Drury.

Why did the Predators trade Arvidsson?

Preds GM David Poile revealed why he traded Viktor Arvidsson to L.A., read it here.

OK, folks, I need your help! I attended my first live NHL hockey game in February of 1990. Since that seminal, frigid evening almost 29 years ago, I have seen hundreds and hundreds of live hockey games in ten different arenas, in two different countries. I’ve watched thousands of more contests on television. I put my hockey wisdom and intelligence up against anyone. No, I never played the game in any sort of an organized fashion. However, it does not take a rocket scientist or a brain surgeon to figure out the nuances and idiosyncrasies of NHL hockey.

One thing I simply cannot answer or figure out, comprehend or decipher is why the power play of our beloved hockey team continues to, year after year, make all Rangers fans cringe and do one, big, collective facepalm. Regardless of the coaching staff. Regardless of the savior du jour brought in by management. Regardless of virtually anything, the Rangers power play remains tantamount to a drunken, discombobulated dance company unable to nail their routine because of their high levels of inebriation.

I was sitting in my perch in section 227 at The Garden last Sunday night watching the numerous and striking differences between the power plays of the Rangers and the Winnipeg Jets. The team from The Great White North entered the offensive zone with ease and moved the puck around with confidence and precision. Then, when a shooting lane opened up, they fired that round piece of vulcanized rubber towards the Rangers goal forcing Henrik Lundqvist to make a myriad of difficult saves before finally breaking through on their fourth opportunity with the man advantage. If not for the aforementioned Ranger goalie, the Jets easily could have scored on each of their four power-play chances.

All I could think to myself during the relentless Winnipeg barrage on Lundqvist was, “Why can’t we do this?” Dating back to Tom Renney, through John Tortorella, to Alain Vigneault and now to David Quinn, each NY Rangers coach, and their various assistants seemed helpless in trying to solve the Rangers power-play puzzle. From Wade Redden to Brad Richards, to Dan Boyle, to Keith Yandle to now, Kevin Shattenkirk, one power play specialist after another was acquired by the Rangers brain trust to be the first true anchor of a power play unit since Jaromir Jagr was re-writing the team’s record books in the 2005-06 season.

Did all of those esteemed coaches forget how to run a power play once they became the Rangers’ bench boss? Did all of those skilled players, who have always had success running other team’s power plays, all of a sudden forget what makes a power play successful once they donned a Ranger sweater? The answer to both of those rhetorical questions is an emphatic, NO! So, why is it that nobody is able to answer that $64 million question? Why is it that with each passing coach and with each passing power play specialist, the Rangers cannot produce power play efficiency with any sort of consistency? As stated earlier, my friends, as strong as my hockey acumen is, the Rangers perpetual ineptitude on the power play is a dilemma that is beyond my comprehension.

No, the Rangers don’t have a Sidney Crosby or an Alex Ovechkin or a Patrick Kane or a Drew Doughty. However, there has been a multitude of NHL teams with successful power plays without having any of the types of talent mentioned in the above sentence. The productivity was the product of that time and tested KISS method and I am not referring to the rock band although I am sure Gene Simmons would take credit for it. KISS is an acronym for “keep it simple and smart,” or “keep it simple, stupid.”

In other words, while on the power play, a team would get to the red line and do the old soft cross-corner dump in. They would outnumber the defenders on the boards and retrieve the puck. They’d quickly get said puck back to the point men who would make a few diagonal passes to open up a shooting line. The forwards would skate right to the goalie’s crease to screen him. Then, as soon as the first shooting lane presented itself, they’d let ‘er rip while the forwards would look for rebounds. Simple, right? Smart, right? The KISS method may not be entertaining, but it most certainly works.

Those types of aesthetic-less goals count just the same as the beautiful passing plays. No “judge” is sitting rink side with the authority to disallow a would-be goal because it was scored with KISS rather than a highlight reel passing play. So, I ask again, why can’t our Rangers do this? Why must they constantly attempt passes through a maze of sticks and skates? Passes that have as little chance of being successful as Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton being spotted together in post-coital bliss.

It’s been 13 going on 14 years since the Rangers had an elite power play. At some point, wouldn’t the law of averages kick in? At some point, wouldn’t a coaching staff figure it out? At some point, wouldn’t a previously successful power play quarterback be able to bring his prowess to Broadway? My friends, hopefully, one of you out there in the blog-o-sphere can enlighten me and help to answer some of the questions and hypotheticals that I have entailed. Enough is enough!

Many fans blame the New York Rangers struggles on a lack of talent. When a team has pieces worth selling, it’s hard to say they lack talent. However, they are lacking in a key spot, leadership.

Intangibles

In the past three years, the team has lost their captain (Ryan Callahan) and three alternates (Brad Richards, Derek Stepan, and Dan Girardi). In trying to retool and get younger, the team has sacrificed heavy leadership players. If they decide to sell at the deadline, which seems more and more likely, at least one more is likely to go in the person of Rick Nash.

While many desired the buyouts of Richards and Girardi, the effect of their lost leadership is being felt this year. The trade of Stepan paved the way for Mika Zibanejad to be the team’s number one center, yet the void Stepan left as a team leader is apparent.

I get it Henrik Lundqvist, for all intents and purposes, is the leader of the team. Quite honestly he has been for a very long time now. However, at one point, he had a supporting cast that also had this fire. It cannot come down to the goaltender, who was supposed to have the night off, coming into a game and bring passion and fire.

Whole Sale

Selling at the deadline is what every Rangers fan seems to want. Selling makes sense, and depending on how it is done, can actually give Henrik one more chance at a Stanley Cup. Yet, currently, the Rangers don’t have the leadership needed to be a dangerous team. The Blueshirts aren’t suffering from a lack of talent, rather it’s because there is no player, other than Lundqvist, that will come in after a loss and make an impact on the next game.

If, and when, the team begins to sell, youth and talent should be the main focus. Once “rentals” (Nash, Grabner, Holden) are dealt, players like Mats Zuccarello, Ryan McDonagh, and JT Miller will become the focus of trade talks. That is talent, and in the cases of Zuccarello and McDonagh, leaders, gone. The team needs a leader to help mold young talents like Anthony DeAngelo, Vinni Lettieri, Filip Chytil, and Lias Andersson for the future.

Talent vs System

https://twitter.com/4BNYRGameday/status/959225695904952320

Many fans believe that it is the talent level that is a detriment to the team. In reality, it comes down to a team playing as a unit. Look at the Vegas Golden Knights for instance. They were seen as an inferior team coming into this season talent wise. Now they are a top team. Even the worst NHL player has talent. In order for a team to have success, there needs to be a balance of young talent, veteran leadership and a team playing together; following the system put in place by their coach. Either the Rangers are not following their coach’s system or Alain Vigneault’s system is bad. Whichever it is, there is missing leadership via players not making in-game adjustments or coaches not adjusting their game plan.

Lead Us

It is not about talent, the Rangers succeed by having talent throughout multiple lines. What they need is to build around youth with veteran leadership. Look at the Toronto Maple Leafs, a talented team up and down the roster. Yet they have players like Matt Martin, Ron Hainsey, and former Rangers center Dominic Moore. It may be time to tear it down and build it back up. The only way to do this correctly is by making sure there are leaders on the roster. The Rangers don’t lack talent, they lack leadership.

Brad Richards could be seen as one of those free agent signings that didn’t live up to the massive contract he signed or someone that didn’t boast the talent level of a Stamkos or a Tavares. What he did offer was stability, leadership and talent down the middle, in a place where the Rangers needed it the most becoming one of the more impactful players the Rangers have boasted over the last ten years.

Going into the 2011-2012 offseason, the Rangers needed help at Center. The previous season, the team had Derek Stepan, Brandon Dubinsky, an aging Vinny Prospal a soon to be departed and oft injured captain in Chris Drury. Clearly, the Rangers were looking for someone to help anchor the center position.

Brad Richards posing with his Conn Smythe trophy in 2004

In his last season in Dallas, Brad Richards had led the Stars in points by posting up 77 points in 72 games. Richards was an important piece to many of the contending early 2000s Tampa Bay Lighting teams, including the 2003-04 Cup winning team, in which he was awarded the Lady Byng Trophy, along with a stellar regular season with 79 points along with 12 goals and 26 assists during the 03-04 Lightning Cup run which won him the Conn Smythe Trophy (pictured above).

It was known, that Brad Richards was an impact player in the NHL, who just also happened to be an Unrestricted Free Agent during the 2011-2012 offseason.  The “stars” seemed like they were lining up in favor of the Rangers.

Offers from Los Angeles, Toronto, Philadelphia, Calgary (who apparently offered the kitchen sink with 65 million for nine years) and the Rangers were on the table. Ultimately, Richards decided to sign with the Rangers (kitchen sink offered, nine years, 60 million, frontloaded), citing familiarity with then coach John Tortorella, ownership stability and a desire to play for an Original Six team, in front of the faithful Madison Square Garden crowd.

But the Rangers offered quite a few intangibles. In a conference call with reporters, Richards mentioned the Rangers’ position among the league’s Original Six franchises and his comfort level with Tortorella as attractions. He said that he looked forward to going to work at Madison Square Garden and that he relished the opportunity to prove himself in a big market after playing for Tampa Bay and for Dallas.

“I find it easier to go to the rink every night when you know that type of atmosphere and fans are there to support you,” he said.

(Pat) Morris (Richard’s agent) had said “stable ownership” would be a main factor in Richards’s choice, and Richards confirmed that Saturday, using the same words.

Richards chose to leave (Dallas) because he said he saw a Rangers team that was young, hard-working and committed to winning. The Rangers have, at least on paper, lifted themselves from midlevel strugglers to contenders for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. “We needed somebody like this to take us to the next step,” Sather said. Jeff Z. Klein/NY Times

The Rangers, with their top center secured, were ready for war.

As a center, Brad Richards brought a lot to the table skill wise. Set up with great hands, a fantastic skater, solid on faceoffs and incredible vision of the ice, Richards added a ton of skill down the middle for the Rangers. Taking the role of the number one center and top Power Play quarterback, Richards elevated the offense to where they became a legitimate threat with him on the ice. The Hockey News describes Brad Richards as an…

Outstanding, savvy and creative scoring forward. Had incredible imagination with the puck and excellent playmaking ability. Had good anticipation and functioned expertly during pressure situations. Liked to shoot the puck often when playing the point on the power play. Was a leader by example. The Hockey News

Richards’ skillset was one that could be noticed many times on the ice for the Rangers. For many games during his tenure with the Rangers, you could always tell when Brad Richards was on the ice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkdNrb_4IXA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZA4RzmoE3c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFzWdZkL5Ng

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jd4YqAWYykQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhoHWwZBdaY

Richards knew what to do with the skill he possessed, as seen above. Being the top tier player he was, he also knew when to come up big. Richards had his hand in a few big moments for the Rangers over the last few years.

He scored the game winning goal in the 2012 Winter Classic

…assisted with a superb pass to Marian Gaborik in a marathon Game 3 versus the Caps in the 2012 East Semis

He scored the game tying goal with 6.6 left in the 3rd period of Game 5 of that same 2012 Semi Final round. Talk about being in the right place at the right time…

He even beat the clock against the Coyotes against the Coyotes earlier that season with a shot that went in with .1 seconds left on the clock.

He was always someone you could notice on the ice and was an integral part down the middle for the Rangers, but another thing that he did well for the Rangers was lead.

Captain Ryan Callahan was dealt to the Tampa Bay Lightning with a few picks for Martin St.Louis back in March of 2014, leaving the “C” spot vacated.

Enter Brad Richards.

During the roller coaster playoff run in 2014, the Rangers fought through some tough battles, whether it’s dealing with the rough Flyers, superstar filled Penguins and a pesky Montreal team. Throw in a persistent LA Kings squad, an emotional moment for Martin St.Louis with the passing of his mother, as well as a satisfying Prince of Wales trophy win as best team in the Eastern Conference, Brad Richards was seen as the one keeping it all together in-house.

After the Callahan trade, Richards essentially took on the role of de facto captain for the Blueshirts. Richards’ previous Cup experiences and leadership resonated through to his teammates. In a piece about Richards in the New York Daily News after his departure, current captain Ryan McDonagh spoke on how Richards impacted him and the team as a whole…

He (McDonagh) recalled Saturday how much Richards enjoyed being at the rink, talking to players not just about hockey, but anything going on in their personal lives.

“He just really tried to show his passion for the game,” McDonagh said of Richards after practice in Greenburgh. “His love and his work ethic is something you definitely can’t teach a player. You either have it or you don’t, and he tried to spread that throughout the room so guys could all buy in and make sure they’re that much more prepared and that much more focused for the game.”

McDonagh said Richards helped him “a lot” in his career. Derek Stepan, 24, and Chris Kreider, 23, both expressed the same sentiment, appreciating Richards’ ability to connect with them in ways that transcended hockey. Justin Tasch/NY Daily News

In connecting with the players, Richards knew what to say to the team at the right moment. In the same Daily News article, McDonagh described what Richards told the team after falling behind three games to one to the Pittsburgh Penguins during the 2014 Eastern Conference Semi-Finals…

But it was Richards’ keen sense for the waves of emotions players experience in the playoffs that helped the Rangers the most, particularly when they found themselves down three games to one against Pittsburgh in the Eastern Conference semifinals last year.

Richards knew exactly what to say after a tough loss, McDonagh remembered delivering his message calmly while maintaining the focus of his peers.

“It only takes one game to get the momentum back on your side,” McDonagh said. Justin Tasch/NY Daily News

The Rangers could have folded and kicked themselves into oblivion that series. The opposite happened as the Rangers stormed back to win the series in seven games, with Richards scoring a goal in that same game seven that clinched the series. The leadership Richards’ brought to the team that stretch was evident on the impact he left on this team. The 2014 Cup run was not one anyone expected. The Rangers that season were seen as a middle of the road team, to be executed at the hands of the Penguins or Canadiens, but that’s not what happened.

Richards’ leadership, on and off the ice,  pieced this squad together and created a run that many Rangers fans will never forget, albeit the result wasn’t what we wanted. The team rallied around Richards and around each other.

Unfortunately, after the Rangers fell at the hands of the Kings in the 2014 Stanley Cup Final, much speculation had been stirred that Richards’ contract was going to be bought out by the Rangers in order to gain cap space. This speculation turned out to be correct, as the Rangers used their second and final compliance buyout on Richards’, deeming him to be a free agent.

“Tough last few days,” Richards said. “I loved being a Ranger and living in New York and playing at MSG in front of great fans. I’ve met many new friends, excellent teammates and staff and I have memories that I will cherish for a lifetime.

“Glen Sather, the management and owner, Mr. Dolan, are all class acts,” Richards continued. “I want to thank them for letting me be a part of New York life and the Rangers family. With this decision finalized, I can now look forward to starting the next chapter in my career.” Pat Leonard/ NY Daily News

Glen Sather said in a statement regarding Richards’ buyout..

“We would like to thank Brad for everything he has done for our team on and off the ice during his time here,” Sather said in a statement. “This was an extremely difficult decision to make because of how much respect I have for him. Brad’s leadership and guidance for our young players was invaluable to the organization.

“We are grateful to have had the professionalism and experience he brought as an example for our team to follow,” Sather added. “Brad has been a very good player for us and an even better person. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors.” Pat Leonard/ NY Daily News

The respect was mutual. It seemed that the Rangers did not want to let Richards go, but due to the salary cap restraints , the Rangers’ hand was forced. Now, you may ask yourself..

“Was the Richards contract a waste?”

Absolutely NOT!

In what was one of the better signings the Rangers have had over the last fifteen years, Richards scored 56 goals and 151 points playing in 212 regular season games in three seasons, and he netted 12 goals and 28 points playing in 55 of 57 playoff games. This, along with many of the countless moments and strong leadership he provided for the Rangers, his contract was not a waste by any means whatsoever.

After a stop with Chicago (Stanley Cup Winning Stop) and a final go with the Red Wings, Richards decided to retire from the game in 2016. After his retirement, along with Brian Leetch, Richards was hired by the New York Rangers as Hockey Ops Advisors. Meaning both Leetch and Richards will have a say in hockey decisions on and off the ice as well as assisting in player/prospect development. The Rangers just couldn’t stay away from Richards long as they knew how valuable an asset he could be to an organization.

That just confirms everything about him that was evident when he was on the ice. Richards was an experienced vet when he came to New York and mixed his skill with his strong leadership to help steer the Rangers into some of the more fruitful times this organization has seen in quite some time. He may not have scored 50 goals or put up 150 points in a season, but what he did was provide skill at a position the Rangers needed it, stepped up when the team needed him the most and was a leader when it seemed like the Rangers had none and gave us many memories to look on. That is what Brad Richards meant to the Rangers.

The Rangers have announced this morning that they have assigned Filip Chytil to the Hartford Wolfpack and have released Andrew Desjardins from his professional tryout.

Filip Chytil exceeded all expectations in pre-season has received little ice-time so far this season. Chytil, who has played in two games so far this season has notched zero goals and assists while taking one minor penalty. Chytil through two games is a minus two. He averaged 5 minutes of ice-time in his two games this season.

AP

The Rangers were advised by Brad Richards to sign Andrew Desjardins to a professional tryout. Desjardins, the 31year-old had a sub-par pre-season receiving a two-game suspension for hitting New Jersey forward Miles Wood in the head.

These moves come as no surprise. Coach Alain Vigneault has not favored Filip Chytil when it comes to ice-time and Andrew Desjardins would never have beaten David Desharnais for the fourth-line center responsibilities.

But when it comes to Chytil, there is the added wrinkle of his entry-level contract. The current CBA states, according to CapFriendly, that a player who is 18 or 19 years of age must play in ten NHL games (regular season and playoffs combined) in order to burn the first year of his ELC. Given the way he has been used thus far by AV, sending him somewhere where he can play consistently is very important. Most thought he’d be sent back to the Czech Extraliga, where he has familiarity and is comfortable. But considering that the Rangers wanted Chytil over fellow first-round pick Lias Andersson, keeping him around the organization makes a lot of sense. Chytil’s time in North America isn’t coming to an end just a week into the NHL season, and him being sent to Hartford means the Rangers may bring him back to Broadway soon.

https://twitter.com/stevezipay/status/917772123317440512

This is Part Two of a Five-Part series ranking and evaluating Sather’s greatest (and not-so-greatest) decisions during his tenure as NY Rangers’ General Manager. Sather served as Rangers’ GM for 15 years, being hired on May 29, 2000 and stepping down July 1, 2015.

For Part One (#41 to #50), Click Here

Top 50 Greatest Moves (#31 to #40)

#40 – Signing F Vinny Prospal (August 17, 2009):

In the summer of 2009, the Rangers found themselves looking for offenive addition following the retirement of Markus Naslund, the infamous tradeaway of Scott Gomez, the free agency loss of Nik Antropov and the arbitration-baulk of Nik Zherdev. That same summer Prospal found himself bought out of his contract by the Tampa Bay Lightning. It was a smart move for both parties: Prospal had put up his best career numbers in Tampa under coach John Tortorella (whom he was reunited with), while Sather got Prospal cheaply for 1-year, $1.1 million. Prospal would register 30 goals, 52 assists & 82 points in 109 games as a Ranger between 2009-2011.

#39 – Acquiring F Derick Brassard, D John Moore, F Derek Dorsett & a 6th Round Pick for F Marian Gaborik, D Blake Parlett & D Steven Delisle (April 3, 2013):

While this trade certainly left fans scratching their heads at the time, there’s no denying Brassard has worked out fantastically for Broadway. Centering the 2014 Pouliot/Zuccarello line, and then the 2015 Nash/Zuccarello line, Brassard has proven more than worthy since the acquisition. Brassard’s two full seasons in New York have been his #1 & #2 most goals in a season, #3 & #1 most points in a season, and #2 & #1 highest +/- in a season. Oh, and did I mention he’s put up 40 points in 54 career playoff games, including 3 consecutive postseasons with a game-winning-goal? All when he had zero NHL postseason experience at the time of the trade! And on top of all this, Brassard has provided Rangers fans with the best Rangers .gif in recent memory.

#38 – Acquiring D Karel Rachunek for D Greg DeVries & F Alex Giroux (March 9, 2004):

After signing with in New York during the summer of 2003, there was high hopes for DeVries’ place with the Rangers going forward. Unfortunately, symbolic of the 2003-04 Rangers’ season in general, it was overwhelmingly disappointing. The 31-year-old struggled with his teammates and was ultimately traded less than a year into his contract. Rachunek would notch 34 points in 84 games as a Ranger, which could’ve been more not for the 2004-05 lockout and his 2005-06 decision to remain in the KHL. Still though, Rachunek helped anchor the Rangers’ memorable 2006-07 team. Sadly, Rachunek was on the 2011 plane crash that killed 44 people, including nearly all members of the KHL franchise Lokomotiv Yaroslavl.

#37 – Drafting D Fedor Tyutin (June 23, 2001):

When New York won its first playoff series against the Atlanta Thrashers in 2007, guess who was the only Rangers-drafted defenseman on the roster? You guessed it: Fedor “Toots” Tyutin. In fact, of all the players drafted in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, Tyutin remains as the sole Russian still remaining in the league (bon voyage, Ilya Kovalchuk!). If Marek Zidlicky cannot find work next year, he will be the lone Ranger draft pick from 2001 still playing in the NHL. Tyutin played 274 NHL games as a New York Ranger, notching 66 points, before being traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2008.

#36 – Acquiring F Nik Antropov for a 2nd Round Draft Pick (March 4, 2009):

As far as trade-deadline rentals go for the New York Rangers, Antropov was as successful as they got under Sather’s tenure. Antropov score 9 goals, 7 assists & 16 points in his 25 games as a Ranger, which included the heartbreaking 7-game series defeat to the Washington Capitals in the 1st round of the playoffs. He could play either wing or center, and helped galvanize the offensively-struggling 2008-09 Broadway Blueshirts. Unfortunately, salary cap ramifications prevented Sather from extending a competitive offer to Antropov over the summer, where he would go on to sign with the Atlanta Thrashers.

#35 – Drafting F Dominic Moore (June 25, 2000) and signing him in 2003, 2014 & 2015:

There isn’t a particularly rich history of NCAA hockey players going from the ivy-leagued Harvard University to the NHL. However, with the 95th pick of the 2003 Entry Draft, Sather chose Moore, whom was 2nd on the team in points in his freshman year. It turned out to be a wise choice, as Moore has gone on to play nearly 800 NHL games since, even if most were not with Broadway.

Moore scored 3 assists in his NHL debut, becoming the first New York Ranger to notch 3 points in his debut in 65 years (since George Allen). He would be traded to the Nashville Predators in the summer of 2006, and go on to play for 8 different NHL teams over the following 6 years. Eventually Moore would sign a 1-year, $1 million deal with the Rangers after taking a subatical following the tragic passing of his wife, Katie.

In his return to the NHL, Moore would anchor the Rangers’ 4th line to their first Stanley Cup Final appearance in 20 years. In fact Moore would score the lone, game-winning goal to clinch the Eastern Conference Finals in Game 6 against the Montreal Canadiens. Moore would re-sign in summer 2014, and once again contribute as 4th line center in the Rangers deep 2015 playoff run.

#34 – Hiring John Tortorella as Head Coach (February 23, 2009):

Tom Renney, Tortorella’s predecessor as head coach, had a more laid-back and personable style of management. He was the bench boss where the 2005-2008 Rangers thrived. He coached veterans like Jaromir Jagr, Brendan Shanahan, Martin Straka, Michael Nylander, Steve Rucchin, Martin Rucinsky and Petr Sykora. However, once the year 2009 came around, the roster had been transformed from finesse veterans to blue-collar youngsters. This, coupled with the team’s plateaued place in the NHL standings, led Sather to fire Renney and hire Tortorella mid-season.

Tortorella would embody the change of culture following the post-Jagr era of Broadway hockey. The Rangers would make the playoffs four of Tortorella’s five seasons as coach, and we saw the development of players like Ryan Callahan, Brandon Dubinsky, Dan Girardi, Ryan McDonagh & Marc Staal.

In 2012, Tortorella would lead the Rangers to their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 15 years. For what he lacked in public-relations smoothness, he more than made up for in overall results, as well as some wonderful post-game sound bytes. Next question.

#33 – Drafting F Carl Hagelin (June 23, 2007):

With the relative success we’ve seen the New York Rangers deliver over the past five years, one cannot deny that the team’s wonderful attribute of speed and quickness has been a contributing factor. Enter Hagelin, who was drafted with the 168th overall pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

He would play in the NCAA (University of Michigan) until 2011 before making the jump to pro in the AHL. Hagelin would then break through to the NHL, alongside minor-league linemate John Mitchell, to join the 2011-12 Rangers as a 3rd line rookie winger. He would stay in the NHL from there onward.

Before being traded last June for salary cap reasons, Hagelin played 339 games with the Rangers, tallying 70 goals, 86 assists & 156 points. He scored the game-winnig overtime goal in Game 5 against the Pittsburgh Penguins to clinch the series of last spring’s first round of playoffs. Of all 30 players players drafted in the 6th round of the 2007 draft, Hagelin leads all in games, goals, assists and points. Farewell, Haggy.

#32 – Signing F Brad Richards (July 2, 2011):

When Sather inked the 31-year old veteran center to a 9-year, $60 million contract in the opening days of the 2011 off-season, it was a clear message:

The Rangers were in it to win it, and were willing to get a reasonable rate on Richards’ early 30’s in exchange for a likely-terrible one for his late 30’s. Well, fast forward to the summer of 2014, and the Rangers were able to use an amnesty buyout on Richards after the first three years of his deal. In other words, Sather reaped the fruits of paying Richards decently for the first part of his deal, and was able to escape all salary cap ramification for the less-fruitful end of said contract.

Sather effectively paying Richards 3-years, $6.67 million/year from 2011 to 2014 was a solid venture. Even with his 2013 struggles factored in.

Richards was reunited with Tortorella, whom had won a Cup together in 2004 with Tampa Bay. Not only that, but Richards would lead the Rangers to 6 playoff series victories in his 3 years as a Ranger center, scoring big goals.

#31 – Drafting Brandon Dubinsky (June 26, 2004):

Dubinsky was the 4th of four forwards drafted by the Sather in the 2nd round of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. Who were the other three? Darin Oliver, Dane Byers and Bruce Graham. So needless to say, Dubinsky turned out to be the lone success coming out of that round for Sather. In fact, only David Krejci (selected three picks later by the Boston Bruins) tops Dubinsky’s present-day stats as an NHL forward from that round.

Before being one of the pieces involved in the blockbuster trade that landed Rick Nash, Dubinsky performed well while on Broadway. In 424 games, Dubinsky scored 88 goals, 142 assists and 230 points. He is also the 2nd highest scoring Alaskan-born NHL player (behind the infamous Scott Gomez, whom he played with from 2007-2009).

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Stay tuned for Part THREE of this series, as we will gradually unveil Sather’s Top 50 BEST moves as Rangers’ General Manager. Follow me on Twitter @HockeyStatMiner, and follow all of Full Tilt’s Ranger coverage at @NYR_FullTilt.

At the 2014 Trade Deadline, New York Rangers general manager Glen Sather traded away the heart and soul of his team, also his captain, for a grizzled veteran who would ultimately play a huge role in the Rangers’ run to the Cup a season ago.

That player was Ryan Callahan, and the trade took many by surprise, and left fans gutted. They weren’t gutted when they saw their team make it all the way to the final round with acquisition Martin St. Louis leading the way.

After the Rangers lost in five games to the Los Angeles Kings, defenseman Anton Stralman walked away from the team, along with fourth line forward Brian Boyle. Two tough blows to a team coming off a Cup Final loss.

Many were left wondering if the Rangers would have the ability to fill in the voids left by those players. Tanner Glass was brought in but he did not help much during the 2014-15 regular season. James Sheppard was acquired at this year’s deadline, which brought some stability to the fourth line.

Now the tables have turned drastically. New York suffered a seven game loss to the Lightning. To make things worse, all three former Rangers celebrated a Final berth on Madison Square Garden ice.

Ryan Callahan, Anton Stralman and Brian Boyle carved a path of their own, and will now have the opportunity to hoist the greatest trophy in sports.

It obviously stings to even ponder the thought of those players lifting the trophy, but if it happens, it is what it is, and there is absolutely nothing we can do to change that.

The Chicago Blackhawks will put up a good fight, they have a tremendous amount of experience and will be going for their third championship in six years, so they know how to win at this level.

Brad Richards who was bought out at the end of last season is also back in the Final. Dan Carcillo is also back with the Blackhawks too. If the Tampa Rangers don’t hoist it, the Chicago Rangers will.

The Lightning boast an enormous amount of talent and speed, but they are a very young team, will they accomplish their goal on hockey’s biggest stage?

Fans should have no hard feelings toward Callahan, Stralman, and Boyle. They all played their heart out while in New York and had huge roles within the lineup.

The unfortunate thing about sports is that things change, players leave for better places, and so be it.

It was thought that the Rangers got the better end of the Callahan-St. Louis deal, but now with Marty on the brink of retirement, I think we know who won that swap.

Last night at Madison Square Garden, Brad Richards got a bit of sweet revenge by scoring the only goal in a tight contest. Afterwards, he was nothing but gracious to the Rangers and their fans.

[su_quote cite=”NHL.com” url=”https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/en/recap?id=2014021050&navid=nhl:topheads”]”It’s a bonus to get one in this building against them, but not in a bad way,” Richards said. “I have nothing bad to say about this organization or New York. Everyone knows how much I love playing here. It was pretty cool to score against them and win the game.”[/su_quote]

BLACKHAWKS 1 v. RANGERS 0

The way the game was played by both teams, you knew this one was going to be decided by a goal. Hockey is a game of inches, maybe even centimeters because before Richards scored, Dan Boyle‘s shot was heading right into the net. Scott Darling came across to play the shot and just got a piece of his helmet on it to change its direction. Even then it could have gone in but hit the crossbar instead.

Now, the Hawks headed the other way and Brad Richards had corralled the puck and went behind the net. Matt Hunwick left his man to chase Richards but inexplicably stopped and reversed course instead of continuing pursuit. Tanner Glass went to the net to pick up Hunwick’s man and prevent the cross ice pass option. Jesper Fast then didn’t make the read and failed to pick up Richards who waltzed in front and scored the game winner.

That’s hockey! Almost win it one minute, lose it a minute later. The real concern has to be the Rangers lack of scoring in their last 7 games. 11 goals since scoring 4 against Nashville isn’t going to cut it.

Where are the Rangers top guns? During this 7 game drought, NY’s top 6 forwards have scored a total of 4 goals! Two of them were from Marty St. Louis and he isn’t in the lineup right now. Derick Brassard and Rick Nash have the other two goals.

TOP 6 OFFENSIVE OFFENSE

Derick Brassard – 7GP, 1G, 1A

Rick Nash – 7GP, 1G, 2A

Chris Kreider – 7GP, 0G, 2A

Mats Zuccarello – 7GP, 0G, 3A

Martin St. Louis – 6GP, 2G, 1A

Derek Stepan – 7GP, 0G, 0A

That ladies and gentlemen is the only issue and the Rangers will need to correct it.

NOTES

Per Elias: Rangers first NHL team to allow 1 goal or fewer in regulation in 8 straight games since Stars did so March 13–28, 2001.

— Andrew Gross (@AGrossRecord) March 19, 2015

#Rangers‘ first regulation loss since Feb. 28, and just their second regulation loss since Feb. 8. They had been on a 14-1-3 streak. — Seth Rothman (@RothmanHockey) March 19, 2015

Lundqvist’s wife is due any day now to have their second daughter. So he may not travel to Carolina but likely will next week to Ott/Bost

— Pat Leonard (@PLeonardNYDN) March 18, 2015

Lundqvist says he will not force getting back into a game. Sounds more relieved to be cleared than anything — Pat Leonard (@PLeonardNYDN) March 18, 2015

Hunwick goes behind the net chases Richards & stops. Glass covered the front. Blame Glass because? Hate blinds. pic.twitter.com/Vox6WMvk9f

— FullTilt Rangers (@NYR_FullTilt) March 19, 2015

HIGHLIGHTS AND INTERVIEWS

Since July 1st, most sports talks shows, websites and experts had basically knocked the NY Rangers. The losses of Brad Richards, Anton Stralman, Brian Boyle, and Benoit Pouliot are simply too much for them to overcome. We said it back in the summer and we will say it again – NONSENSE!

DAN BOYLE vs. ANTON STRALMAN

While those were significant pieces to last year’s team, they were hardly irreplaceable. In all fairness, the Rangers began their transformation by addressing their need for a PP QB in Dan Boyle. Of course, his signing came at a cost by the name of Anton Stralman.

Don’t get me wrong, Stralman was a solid defensive player for the Rangers but did little to generate any offense. Worse yet, the Rangers were forced to use the regressing Brad Richards on the point. NY’s power play last season was 18.2% in the regular season and an abysmal 12.6% in the playoffs.

This season, the Blueshirt’s power play is operating at a rate of 21.2%. Since December 16th, NY has gone 12 for 31 on the man advantage for a success rate of 38%. A key contributor to the PP’s success has been Dan Boyle, who has 5 PP points during this stretch (1G-4A).

His ability to move the puck quickly, join the the play down low and legit threat of a point shot has given the Rangers a totally new dynamic to their power play. Last year it was well known that Richards had limited mobility and a shot that couldn’t break a pane of glass. Now it’s a whole new dynamic.

Boyle’s injury certainly hampered his production early, but he and the Rangers are moving ahead nicely. His 4 goals and 9 points in 22 games are good for .41 points per game average that is rising. Stralman is also having a solid season with 2 goals and 18 points for a .43 points per game rate.

Here is the key indicator that says it all and will eventually move Boyle way ahead of Stralman on the scoresheet. Dan Boyle is averaging 1.9 shots per game to Stralman’s 1.5 shots. This is significant as more shots generated obviously lead to more scoring chances. Another important factor is 78% of Boyle’s points have come on the power play while only 27% of Stralman’s have.

These stats are exactly what Glen Sather and the Rangers organization were looking for in a defenseman who could QB a PP. Stralman simply wasn’t going to fit that bill. Also, his contract demands were high and longterm. On paper both Boyle and Stralman have the same 4.5 cap hit, but Florida has no State Income Tax. That would’ve meant giving Stralman possibly 20% more to match.

When you look at Marc Staal’s impending contract and those of players like UFA, Mats Zuccarello and RFA Derek Stepan to name just a few. You realize that Boyle’s 2 year deal fits this team for today and the future better than an average stay at home defenseman like Stralman.

KEVIN HAYES vs. BRAD RICHARDS

Brad Richards would actually be a really good fit as a 3rd line center for this team. Unfortunately his contract was simply intolerable going forward. Kevin Hayes has basically taken his role and done an admirable job as a rookie.

Hayes has 5 goals and 15 points in 35 games for a points per game average of .43% on the NYR 3rd line. Richards who makes 1.1M more and is in the twilight of his career is at .63 on a high powered Blackhawks team’s 2nd line.

Today it’s obvious Brad may have been a better fit but Kevin Hayes’ future is bright for both he and the Rangers.

LEE STEMNIAK vs. BENOIT POULIOT

This one is the easiest one of the bunch. It goes like this, Benoit Pouliot makes 4M dollars a year and Stempniak makes 900K. Pouliot has 4 goals and 9 points this season with an average points per game of .39. Stempniak has 6 goals and 14 points with a .44 points per game rate.

Clear cut win.

JT MILLER vs BRIAN BOYLE

First off, let me say I was a huge fan of what Brian Boyle brought to the Rangers. He was a tenacious checker with decent speed. His ability to kill penalties, block shots and most importantly win draws are still hard to replace.

However, he was looking for a larger role and more money and NY had to consider the longterm health of the franchise. Brian signed in the neighborhood of 2M but again, in Florida there is no State Income Tax so the Rangers would’ve had to offer more to match.

As JT Miller has started to cement himself as a 4th line winger, he is bringing more speed and offensive prowess than Boyle ever could. Boyle is averaging .26 points per game which pales in comparison to Miller’s .55 average.

Of course, the luxury of having Brian Boyle on the PK and face-off circle doesn’t make this one a clear cut decision. We know longterm that JT Miller can be a top 6 forward, but for today Boyle could have certainly helped.

We can call this one even for now.