Because this team should rebuild.
I'd 100% be on board with trading Lundqvist, Callahan, Girardi, Nash, Del Zotto, Brassard -- whoever wasnt nailed down/cost controlled for assets. Just so long as management was honest with the fans that this is whats happening and convey a vision for the team going forward.
It'll never happen with that stubborn old cigar chewing fossil in the executive suite -- and even if it did, he'd **** it up.
I actually have a response to this that I think will change your mind. The concept of rebuilding is great in some cases. For example, the Mets and Jets... The concept of the full rebuild was one that I thought fit perfectly with long term success for both clubs. Stockpile young talent, get better draft picks, build through the farm.
That's essential to having sustained longterm success. I agree with you there (if that is what you believe, which it probably is). However, there are two things that need to be adjusted with this mentality.
1) While rebuilding and stockpiling young, controllable, cheap talent, a team needs to spend to develop it... through veterans. The best veterans cost money. For a team to be successful, and by successful I mean late in playoffs and eventual championship, there needs to be a healthy mix of good veterans and growing talent. It's nearly impossible to win a championship on young talent alone.
2) This is New York City. The notion of a full rebuild isn't accepted by the majority of this demographic. We're not a small market team, fans respond to immediate gratification. They pay a high premium for tickets, higher than the majority of other teams' fans, and they expect a competitive team with talented players. Rebuilding can almost never be a team's strategy in NYC and expect the fans to continue to come and support the team. It's a financial nightmare for the organization.
Now, the Rangers have taken steps to address this rebuilding concept but in a hybrid way. They've loaded the team with the most expensive veterans, and they've also paid a high premium to add some of the best scouts, so that they can find talent in the latter half of rounds/throw ins for trades and still pan out into NHL players.
The problem is, Sather, has not signed the best free agents. His fault lies with his judgement in free agents. Actually, it's a common problem in many people, where they decide they can't wait for the right product, so they pay the same price for an inferior one. If anything, with old age, Sather should have become wiser and recognized the fault in overspending for the point of overspending. That is one thing he hasn't ever changed.
Besides that, I agree with how he's approached building this team. It's a healthy mix of home grown talent and veteran free agents. Problem is, over the years, he's been signing the likes of Drury, Gomez, Gaborik, Redden, and now Richards. We could have had Kovalchuk but didn't have the space to fit him because we had signed Gomez Drury and Redden... He had to wait a year. He couldn't do it.
I don't think this team is in need of a full rebuild. Richards needs to be cut. If Del Zotto can net Zibanedjad, somehow (miraculously), that adds raw talent to our top 6 for the future right there. Stepan, Kreider, Zibi, Nash. You can add Zuke to that top 6 because he'll be able to effectively feed our other wingers.
We need a top 6 center. Those are hard to find. Rangers didn't want to trade for ROR last year. Maybe they give Colorado a 1st (or more) for him this offseason. Cally, Hagelin, Miller/Kristo should be able to be an effective enough 3rd line. 4th line should get younger and more aggressive.
McIlrath is coming up for defense. I think we'll let Girardi go at the end of the season. Maybe Sather recognizes the need to prepare for the future and deals him at the deadline as well. He'll get us at least a top prospect and a high draft pick. That helps with the farm.
Staal is part of the future. I don't trade him unless he demands a trade to Carolina. Even then, we can probably get Ryan Murphy, and still conceivably not have that large of a drop off in talent. Otherwise, he remains on our blue line.
McDonough is here to stay. Resign Stralman. Moore can be a decent bottom line player. We have Allen, Falk, Skjei to be able to handle the 6th defenseman's responsibilities.
I don't think this team is in need of a rebuild. They just need to find the right players to fit in the right holes.