News Article: A message from Glen Sather and Jeff Gorton

[Hire Sather]

We're selling everyone. They admit this team sucks. Gorton doesn't blame anyone. Doesn't blame AV. Doesn't blame himself. Doesn't blame injuries. We suck because "the team didn't gel" and "doesn't have an identity".

Are you mad, mate? Like not angry but crazy.

You want guys publicly called out and shamed? What will that do to the value of our players? What would that do about players or coaches coming to an organization that throws cats under the bus?

 

[NYR Viper]

Disagree. The guy who makes deals out of strength is always better off. Appear like you are still in it, rather than saying: we suck and are selling.

It's not a secret the team was retooling anyways. I am just surprised they came out and said this prior to making any move. I don't mind it as a fan, but man, it will be hard in that locker room to get up for games

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Imagine finishing #6 last, miraculously winning the draft lottery and... the Rangers take Brady Tkachuk. I’d turn in my fan card.

Yeah that won't happen.

I could see it happening if they got up to #2 though.

 

[FIRE DRURY]

Such an exciting day. A feeling that may very well, last a lifetime.

Im marking this bitch on my calendar.

 

[Samuel Culper III]

Yeah that won't happen.

I could see it happening if they got up to #2 though.

It was a joke. Well, more like a nightmare. But it wasn’t meant as a serious proposition

 

[Boruto]

So why would he bring it up in that environment if it was not on his mind in some capacity?

It wasn't a joke either. He followed it up by saying they were well in the playoffs 12 games ago. Those two sentences summed up his entire tenure during the 2000s.

 

[Mikos87]

The inclusion of CHARACTER has me a little worried. The Rangers targeted high character players to build this current core (and previous versions of it) and they ultimately failed. Instead of scouting for character, why not spend that time identifying players that can score goals and create offense?

You're wrong about that.

They looked past character the last couple of years for guys that can skate, and now they have a listless group that's low on effort.

They haven't have a guy that played with high character and gave it his all every night since MSL retired.

The Hagelin trade... they traded away a full effort guy for an artsy washout.

They traded or got rid of those heart and soul guys in favor of skill and skating ability and ended up with a soft group with a low competitive drive the last few years.

That's why you see character in there.

 

[Reijo29]

Sather was clearly not being totally serious with the playoffs comment

He absolutely was. He never gives up on a playoff spot.

 

[silverfish]

Are you mad, mate? Like not angry but crazy.

Yes.

 

[bobbop]

Everything must go! Stack 'em deep and sell them (for top dollar!)

I'm OK with a white flag for this year. As part of an expedited process, I expect the Rangers will use some of the available cap space to pick up more assets (read Arizona, Las Vegas strategies) And I also expect them to spend money this summer.

I am not interested in a long rebuild. Probably because I am 66.

 

[Nopuckluck]

What's funny is I could see Mika getting an 'A' next year if McDonagh, Zucc, and Nash are all gone lol.

Absolutely zero chance

I think the Rangers are going Florida Marlins here

 

[ColonialsHockey10]

Kreider, Staal and Miller/Hayes all with As for now. Let a leader emerge. Please not DJ Bleach Blonde. I’m not one of the ones calling for him to be traded or who is particularly unhappy with him. I think he’s a bit soft especially for how big he actually is but I like him as a player and just wish he was “on” more often. I think eventually, if we can find a legitimate C he’s a excellent RW trigger man. But I do not want him wearing a letter. He’s just so mild.

You're probably right about who get the As to an extent, unfortunately.

I can't be the only one who's concerned that our new "young leadership" core is made up of a mental midget who completely collapsed the moment the playoffs rolled around, and an inconsistent headcase though.

I won't even touch on Hayes. That guy shouldn't sniff a leadership role on a peewee hockey team. For many reasons that do and do not belong here.

 

[nyr2k2]

The newsletter means Zuke is getting traded.

I definitely interpreted it as meaning Zucc, McDonagh, or someone else very popular is on the way out. Unless they're talking about Nash, whom the fan base has generally seemed ambivalent towards.

 

[ZiGOODejad]

The official statement is along the lines of "we will evaluate during the off season"

I don't think Gorton supported AV in anyway except for platitudes for a coach that they're not planning on firing right now.

I hope he doesnt support av

 

[bobbop]

Depending on who you follow, there are somewhere between 5-8 real blue chip prospects this year. Dahlen is clearly the jackpot pick. We may get there on merit but remember the draft lottery. I'll get my people doing rosaries and my friends can put together a prayer quorum.

 

[Thirty One]

I definitely interpreted it as meaning Zucc, McDonagh, or someone else very popular is on the way out. Unless they're talking about Nash, whom the fan base has generally seemed ambivalent towards.

Think they're bracing us for the Holden trade.

 

[nyrage]

It seems odd to me that they would come out with this before making a major trade. They must feel confident about the return on some of these players or on the progress they have made in discussions.

What happens if teams lowball the Rangers now knowing that they have already come out and said that they will sell? Do Gorton and Sather have another press conference to say we didn't make these trades because the returns weren't very good? Or maybe the presser just doesn't matter in negotiations. I don't know. Just seems odd.

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

So dumb. You don't announce a sell off unless you want to tank the market on what you're selling.

Not true at all.

1) These are quality assets: there will be a demand for them.
2) There's an artificial, non-negotiable deadline. You want these assets for this year, you need to make your best offer by the deadline, otherwise you don't have the player you want for the POs. Eliminates the tactic of stringing out the process.
3) It's a competitive market. You're not negotiating against the Rangers, you're negotiating against the offers from every other PO contender. AND you also have to factor in the value of keeping the players away from those other contenders.
4) A number of the players who will be available have multiple years left on their deals (notably McD and Zucc). If the Rangers don't get the value they want for them, they have two more chances to sell them (at the draft and next year's TDL).

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

Disagree. I'm sure they've been working the phones and the League knows at this point that the Rangers are open for business. Acknowledging it to your fans doesn't cost you any leverage.

Also, this.

 

[Nopuckluck]

You're wrong about that.

They looked past character the last couple of years for guys that can skate, and now they have a listless group that's low on effort.

They haven't have a guy that played with high character and gave it his all every night since MSL retired.

The Hagelin trade... they traded away a full effort guy for an artsy washout.

They traded or got rid of those heart and soul guys in favor of skill and skating ability and ended up with a soft group with a low competitive drive the last few years.

That's why you see character in there.

The character reference was a shot to the Mr. Softees on our team. I think you may be surprised at who we get rid of

 

[Mikos87]

It seems odd to me that they would come out with this before making a major trade. They must feel confident about the return on some of these players or on the progress they have made in discussions.

What happens if teams lowball the Rangers now knowing that they have already come out and said that they will sell? Do Gorton and Sather have another press conference to say we didn't make these trades because the returns weren't very good? Or maybe the presser just doesn't matter in negotiations. I don't know. Just seems odd.

Typically, teams negotiate for months before pulling the trigger on a deal. I'm sure the conversations started early after the start they had. To your point. I think they've come to some agreeable terms for some good assets.

My gut: It's Zucc.

 

[NCRanger]

I am not of the thinking that returns for this fire sale are going to be anything of major value.

May very well be half of what this board thinks.

This is going to be long and painful. Probably longer than anyone thinks. Younger does not automatically mean better and more talented.

I have no faith in this organization to get anything right, nor do I think anything will go right (cursed bad luck). I can easily see them signing John Tavares and either Tavares scores 12 points in the first 8 games and then breaks a leg, or Tavares coming in and being like most UFA signings.

Dolan is going to need Billy Joel to play three times a month until he dies.

 

[Nopuckluck]

EVERYONE IS ON THE TABLE. Guys who don’t bring it every night (Mika, Hayes, Kreider etc have been put on notice and may even be gone.

 

[Mikos87]

The character reference was a shot to the Mr. Softees on our team. I think you may be surprised at who we get rid of

I doubt it. Outside of the rentals, there are how many keepers on this team?

If you ask yourself, who can you win with on this roster there are only two names on this roster that come to my mind:

McD- Who will get a major league haul in a trade... which is needed.

Hank- Who holds the cards if he's going to move.

 

[Boruto]

I am not of the thinking that returns for this fire sale are going to be anything of major value.

May very well be half of what this board thinks.

This is going to be long and painful. Probably longer than anyone thinks. Younger does not automatically mean better and more talented.

I have no faith in this organization to get anything right, nor do I think anything will go right (cursed bad luck). I can easily see them signing John Tavares and either Tavares scores 12 points in the first 8 games and then breaks a leg, or Tavares coming in and being like most UFA signings.

Dolan is going to need Billy Joel to play three times a month until he dies.

I politely disagree with everything said here especially the part about Billy Joel.