Can the Rangers’ Retool Actually Work? Why the Post–Letter Plan Might Succeed
It won’t be easy—but it might be possible. Why the Rangers’ mix of Fox, Shesterkin, and rising young talent could make this retool work.
When New York Rangers general manager Chris Drury released The Letter 2.0, fans began to brace for many different outcomes. Whether it be a few seasons of missing out on the playoffs or the second coming of the dark ages, everyone has prepared for a negative outcome. But is there potential for everything to go as planned?
It is no secret that the New York Rangers need to get younger and reshape their core if they hope to once again become a playoff contender. While that process has already started with Artemi Panarin's departure, there are still plenty of changes that will be made. Even if everything goes right, it will be challenging to pull off, but the Rangers find themselves in a unique situation that could allow them to pull off a successful retool.
A Retool Starts With Superstars
When entering a rebuild of any sort, the first thing teams are looking for is how to add a superstar talent. Whether it's by winning the draft lottery or trading for a star player, teams need to add elite talent one way or another. Fortunately for the Rangers, they have not only one but two superstars in Adam Fox and Igor Shesterkin.
Take the Boston Bruins, for example. At last year's deadline, general manager Don Sweeney saw an aging roster that no longer had what it took to challenge for the Stanley Cup. This led to him selling off players like Brad Marchand, Brandon Carlo, Trent Frederic, and more. But more importantly, it is key to look at who he held onto.
Sweeney held on to key superstars David Pastrnak and Charlie MacAvoy. Both players are two of the best at their positions and are under the age of 30. So far this season, Pastrnak has 81 points, the seventh most in the league, and MacAvoy has 50 points in 55 games, the 10th most among defensemen. Holding onto them has allowed the Bruins to return to playoff contention this season while also getting a return for players who didn't fit their new timeline.
Drury has similar star-caliber players in Adam Fox and Igor Shesterkin. Fox is 28 years old, and Shesterkin is 30. Even if this retool takes two to three seasons, both players will still be young enough to play at a high level when the team is on the rebound.
Among defensemen with a minimum of 200 minutes played this season, Fox ranks in the top 10 in points per 60 and assists per 60 via MoneyPuck.com. Before getting injured against the Tampa Bay Lightning in November, Fox was having a Norris-caliber season, generating offense for the Blueshirts while also playing strong defensively.
The Rangers have also finally found him a long-term defensive partner in Vladislav Gavrikov. Gavrikov is under contract until 2032, and while he may not be the superstar that Fox is, he is Fox's ideal defensive partner. Gavrikov is a consistent lockdown defenseman that complements Fox perfectly.
Igor Shesterkin has also proved that he is still one of the best at his position despite the Rangers' poor spot in the standings. Shesterkin is top five in goals saved above expected and wins above replacement among goaltenders who have played at least five games this season via MoneyPuck.com.
Without Adam Fox and Igor Shesterkin, it would be nearly impossible to justify this new era of Rangers hockey as a retool. BUt Fox and Shesterkin provide an elite level of play game-in and game-out that could take years to replace if one of them were to leave the Big Apple.
