I wouldn't say it's getting worried over nothing. There are very legitimate reasons for concern. The thing, for me, is that this is what I have expected since November. I'm not as upset as I normally would be and I'm not in the sky is falling, panic mode I probably have been in in years past because I've learned my lessons. This is the NY Rangers we're talking about. I'm not surprised we're in danger of missing the playoffs; I'm surprised how many of you let them fool you again after what they showed us to start this season. So what, Nash got hot and padded his personal stats. Of course Lundqvist's game normalized, earning us wins by default, because that's what happens when Hank is in net. So what, we looked good during the most meaningless stretch of the season? We never addressed any of the problems or issues though. Did everyone think they just magically went away? Or did you actually start to believe that maybe we actually did have enough scoring? Maybe we didn't actually need to fill that offensive hole on the blue line? Maybe the gaping holes in our roster were just lies that jaded fans made up and didn't need to be addressed? Did you really let the biggest, softest, most heartless mercenary of a Ranger I can remember trick you into thinking he was actually a big game player when he ramped his game up just in time for the Olympics, only to promptly disappear again once he had his gold medal around his neck? I mean, does anyone REALLY think this is a competitive roster?
Don't get me wrong, I've watched 90% of the games this season, but I have never once thought "maybe we can actually make a run". I watch the games because I love hockey, and for the time being, I scout the players we've got, assess the things we need to change and the holes we need to fill and I dream about the future. I've never had hope for this season. I just don't see how you could without completely kidding yourself. This team is poorly assembled. We add pieces that do not make sense and there is no semblance of a plan or a destination. I honestly don't even know if I believe Sather cares about winning a Cup; you could easily sell me on the notion that he gets a percentage of playoff revenue in his contract and all he cares about is two guaranteed home games in the post season. It's all but certain that's all Dolan wants.
Let's take the Callahan/St. Louis scenario. I haven't complained about the trade for a couple of reasons. First, I like Marty St. Louis and second, I really, really did not want us to give Callahan the contract that was being discussed. By moving Callahan for MSL we dodged that bullet, but if you had asked me if I had any interest in trading our 1st and 2nd for a 38 year old, win now pick up I'd have had no hesitation in answering "**** no". Add in the fact that we could have dealt Callahan himself for a 1st, a young player or, at least, a 2nd and you're basically choosing a 38 year old who indicates we're in a win now mind state that we CLEARLY shouldn't be in over our 1st, our 2nd and an additional 1st or young player. To me, there is no clearer proof in the world that this organization has no clue what they're doing and no plan at all. We simply can't compete with the top teams in the league. Adding MSL doesn't change that. Now, I would have been furious had they done this but, for arguments sake, had they added MSL and then followed it up with a couple more win now moves to really bolster the roster and try to make a run (which still would have been futile and a waste of assets), at least it would indicate that they have a plan to actually go for it. But they didn't load up to go for it AND they didn't use Callahan to add a pick/young player and try to set up our future. They just added one 38 year old player, who came at a premium we had no business paying, but didn't make the team any more competitive this year, or any better equipped for the future. No plan. No direction. Nothing.
The kind of process that led to the above is the same process that led us to where we are right now. An identity-less, patch work, unlikable, difficult to invest in roster that doesn't have a particular style or strength, doesn't play for one another, doesn't bring a respectable effort and doesn't have a chance at winning, nor a very bright future. Our prospect pool is not good. Our drafting is not great. Our current roster is a mish mosh of no heart players, only some of whom can contribute. Why would you let this team fool you into thinking they were legit at any point during this season? Going in with guys like Pouliot (who has actually surprised me and been much better than he usually is, everywhere else he's been) and Pyatt to start this season, I knew our roster wasn't competitive. The previous 4 or 5 years were as good as it's going to get any time soon for us Rangers fans, I fear. We've been trending downward since our peak in the ECF and I don't see any prospect in the system who can make an impact to change that, any free agent that would actually right this ship, any draft picks that we can use to get help or any plan from management to address any of it. I like MSL just fine - I've always been a fan - but bringing him in at the expense of our 1st and 2nd when we could have turned Cally into additiional young assets just tells me that I shouldn't get my hopes up any time soon. Turning Cally into a late 1st and then packaging our 1st, the other 1st, a player like Brassard and a prospect like Miller to acquire a genuine impact player under 25 (like Seguin) is the only kind of trade we should be making where first rounders are even considered available. Trading Cally, our 1st and a 2nd for a 38 year old tells you everything you ever needed to know. This team is hopeless. Being a Rangers fan is a self inflicted torture and the less you get your hopes up and let them trick you, the less disappointing the experience.
