Manhattan Project wrote:But since 2015 what have the Rangers done that was so bad? The days of Sather just throwing money at free agents are over. Gorton has done a good job of building this team piece by piece and the trades he's done were all rational to me. Maybe the Hagelin trade, but the jury is still out on Gropp. The Eric Staal trade ended up being a bust, but I had no problem with the deal. The Smith contract in hindsight looks bad, but his play in the playoffs last year was good. Maybe losing Lindberg to the Golden Knights, but we were going to lose someone. Maybe the Stepan trades blows up in our face, but we got a seventh overall and a solid prospect in return.
I mean I think your being way to hard on Gorton, Sather ain't calling the shots no more.
My point is, there's nothing to indicate that the Rangers need a total overhaul, it almost never works in hockey and if nothing else lengthens rebuilding...
Sather admitted his mistake in 2004, he's responsible for building the team that made a Stanley Cup run in 2014. Gorton took over the season after. No...I don't give him credit for the 2014 team.
As for the moves Gorton made...
He's the guy who traded away Hagelin for a defensive bust, Emerson.
He's the guy who traded for Yandle then lost him...
He's the guy who signed Brendan Smith to an outrageous contract.
He's the guy who brought in Shattenkirk who doesn't fit that team.
Other moves weren't as distressing but haven't really panned out: Mika Zibanejad can't stay healthy.
AV hates Buchnevich...who seems to get Ntilikina treatment in playing time.
We'll see if he can get good value for expiring contracts and sign Kane, Karlsson (another Swede) but those are clearly the BEST moves he can make.