As each NHL team is eliminated from playoff contention -- either mathematically or by losing in the postseason -- we'll take a look at why its quest for the Stanley Cup fell short in 2017-18, along with three keys to its offseason and a way-too-early prediction of what 2018-19 will hold.
What went wrong
This was a long time coming for the New York Rangers.
Entering 2017-18, New York had made the playoffs in 11 of 12 seasons, while winning a Presidents' Trophy and completing a run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2014. But along the way, the Rangers mortgaged the future on the promise of winning now. Between 2012 and 2017, they did not have a first-round pick, and the barren pipeline finally caught up to them. Now New York is left wondering: Were the additions of Rick Nash, Martin St. Louis and Keith Yandle worth it?
While the outstanding play of Henrik Lundqvist can propel a team a long way, the Rangers handed out hefty contracts to too many players and were left lopsided. The buyout of Dan Girardi's contract last summer, as well as the trade of Derek Stepan and Antti Raanta, signaled that the Rangers were ready to rebuild. When the season began with pedestrian play, New York accelerated the process, becoming the biggest seller of the 2018 trade deadline.
Parting with Rick Nash and Michael Grabner was predictable; both players' contracts expire after this season. Saying goodbye to Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller was far more shocking, and showed management really believed the roster needed a total overhaul before it was poised to win again.
Keys to the offseason
1. Prioritize locking in a new core.
The Rangers are not bereft of talent. There are a few players on the roster who should usher this team into the future. Dynamic forwards Jimmy Vesey (24 years old) and Pavel Buchnevich (22) are still on entry-level contracts that expire in 2018 and 2019, respectively; the Rangers should seriously consider committing to both players for the long term.
Brady Skjei, a breakout defenseman in 2016-17, showed he's still on a strong trajectory, despite some lapses this season. The 23-year-old is a restricted free agent this summer, and should also be a priority re-signing for GM Jeff Gorton. Kevin Hayes and trade deadline acquisitions Vladislav Namestnikov and Ryan Spooner are all restricted free agents this summer, and management will have to decide which players are worth keeping around.
2. Make moves at the draft.
Thanks to dealing big names at the trade deadline, the Rangers have an embarrassment of draft capital this summer. In 2018, the Rangers own three first-round picks, two second-rounders and two third-rounders. Two of the first-round picks should come late in the round (they come from the Bruins and Lightning), but that's valuable currency to make a trade.
We don't expect the Rangers to be big-game hunters this offseason -- in seasons past, we'd automatically enter them into a sweepstakes for a player of Erik Karlsson's ilk -- but if there's an NHL player they like, they have the assets to make a trade happen.
3. Resist the big splash.
Come on, we all know the Rangers' tendencies. Identify the most coveted free agent and offer him a ton of money. They even secured Kevin Shattenkirk last year (albeit at a slight hometown discount) despite declaring themselves as non-buyers.
So even as New York says it is committed to a full rebuild, it needs to actually follow through. Rumor is that Ilya Kovalchuk is eyeing the Rangers as a possible destination for his NHL return. While it would be a sexy signing, adding the soon-to-be 35-year-old would be veering off the ultimate plan of building a sustainable contender.
Realistic expectation for 2018-19
If you're a Rangers fan, you'll hope your team is competitive in 2018-19, but really you're eyeing 2019-20 as the first glimpse of New York looking like a playoff threat again. Lundqvist will be 37 that season, and as long as he's healthy, should still be playing good hockey.
Without looking too far ahead, let's consider what the 2018-19 season will look like: an audition for young talent to get reps. Center Filip Chytil was the Rangers' second first-round pick in 2017 (No. 21 overall), and the 18-year-old initially made the Rangers' roster out of training camp before spending the bulk of the season with the AHL club in Hartford. Expect 2018-19 to be a showcase for Chytil, who will get meaningful minutes and seasoning to further develop his game.
Ditto Lias Andersson (he of World Junior Championship medal-tossing fame) who was selected No. 7 overall in 2017. After 22 games in the SHL, the 19-year-old Swede spent two months in the AHL, and should figure into New York's plans as soon as next season.
Both Chytil and Andersson were called up on March 26, and are getting a small taste of NHL experience in 2017-18 before potentially sticking around for good next fall.
The Rangers coveted 20-year-old defenseman Libor Hajek in the trade with Tampa Bay; expect Hajek to get a good look as well. Hajek had eight points in seven games at the World Juniors skating for the Czech Republic.
There's enough talent remaining on the Rangers' roster that they shouldn't slink into irrelevancy. However, we'd be surprised if New York was in contention for the playoffs next season. The team should still be entertaining to watch, but 2019-20 and beyond is when Rangers fans can really get excited about winning again.