That is the best thing for the franchise long term if they play it right.
The problem is that it's just not missing the playoffs this year. It's missing the playoffs for the next three seasons as well.
It's destroying the legacy of Henrik Lundqvist.
I *may* be coming around to the idea that they need to sell some assets. The problem is that even their most marketable assets aren't going to bring back nearly what most here think they will.
Grabner might bring back a late second round pick.
Nash might be worth a third.
Anyone else might be worth a third or a "prospect". Prospect meaning someone who might see a few shifts in the NHL in three years on a fourth line.
The deadline isn't going to be very active because of "parity". There aren't going to be many moves. And, those moves that are made -- nobody is going to overpay for a rental.
None of these picks address any talent gaps unless they get lucky and hit on a later pick.
They won't finish bad enough to have their first rounder amount to anything of major value.
This team's history with signing free agents hasn't been all that good.
I also don't have much faith in people who think Mika Zibanejad and players like him, are high end talent. That has been one of the biggest problems, and one of the hardest things about reading these boards. Zibanejad is a slightly above average player, as are most of the Rangers who are viewed as high end. The Rangers have been somewhat successful over the past decade because they've had a lot of these above average players, as opposed to elite talent (outside of Lundqvist). The Rangers still have a very strong bottom 6, and even if they go into purgatory, the bottom 6 will be extremely good. It's just they have a weak top 6, and have no real way of actually acquiring real high end top 6 talent.