New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury announced the team will begin a roster retooling this season, potentially involving the departure of key players. This announcement was made in a public letter released on Friday, following the team's five-game losing streak, which places them last in the Eastern Conference with a .479 points percentage.
Retooling Strategy
Drury stated the strategy is a "retool built around our core players and prospects," not a full rebuild. The team aims to acquire young players, draft picks, and cap space to gain future flexibility. This approach may necessitate trading players who have contributed significantly to the team's past successes.
Current Team Performance
The Rangers have been outscored 27-10 in their last four games, played without injured goalie Igor Shesterkin and defenseman Adam Fox. They currently have the fewest home wins in the Eastern Conference (five) and rank 30th in the League, averaging 2.58 goals per game. Drury acknowledged that no one in the organization is satisfied with the team's performance.
Potential Player Movements
Artemi Panarin, who is in the final year of a seven-year, $81.5 million contract, is a potential trade candidate. He has led the Rangers in scoring for six consecutive seasons and has a team-leading 51 points this season. Reports indicate the Rangers will not offer him a new contract and will work to find him a new destination before the NHL Trade Deadline on March 6.
Additional players who could become unrestricted free agents on July 1 include defenseman Carson Soucy, forwards Jonny Brodzinski and Conor Sheary, and goalie Jonathan Quick. Many core players, such as Vincent Trocheck, Adam Fox, Mika Zibanejad, J.T. Miller, Will Borgen, Vladislav Gavrikov, Alexis Lafreniere, and Igor Shesterkin, are signed to long-term contracts.
Historical Context
This marks the second time in approximately eight years that the Rangers have announced significant roster changes via a letter to fans due to disappointing on-ice performance. A similar letter was issued on February 8, 2018, leading to a focus on making the roster younger. The organization aims to bring a Stanley Cup to New York.