Feb 7, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick (32) is greeted by New York Rangers defenseman Braden Schneider (4) after defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-1 at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
NHL: Tampa Bay Lightning at New York Rangers
NEW YORK — The New York Rangers are off to a great start this season. They sit 1st in the Metropolitan division and currently are enjoying a three game win streak.
But as Rangers fans are well aware, the regular season and playoffs are two different beasts. And with the trade deadline looming (March 8th), fans are expecting the Blue Shirts’ to make a championship push. That means potentially trading draft picks in order to improve your roster, right?
Maybe not. This year might be different. After the Rangers were active at last years deadline, the expectation is that this year will be different.
Why? For starters, they are being operated by an egomaniac who doesn’t actually care about winning championships. A guy who will attempt to make everything about himself, even if it’s the NHL Trade Deadline. They’re operated by James Dolan.
NHL Insider Darren Dreger of TSN is reporting that the Rangers owner wants to protect their 2024 1st Round pick so that the team can be part of the spotlight at The Sphere that he owns part of. Notably, the 2024 NHL Draft will be held on June 28-29 at Sphere in Vegas.
Oh well. It’s not like the Rangers are in desperate need of scoring center. Something they’ve lacked over the last decade. But hey, hold onto the pick. The draft-day festivities are clearly more important to management.
Dreger noted that Dolan’s ownership of the Sphere does not bar the Rangers manager Chris Drury from using another first-round pick, and speculated that they could use or acquire a first-round pick in 2025. How thoughtful.
At the end of the day, it’s just another slap to the face of loyal Rangers fans who continue to support the team year despite their lack of leadership at the top.
But hey, that’s politics.
