MTPS: A Blue Line Power-Up Turning Ferraro Into the Rangers’ Fire Flower
The acquisition of Gavrikov was a start, but the left side of the Rangers' defense still needs help, and there's a guy out there who makes way too much sense to ignore.
Alright gang, by now we all know the story. The left side of the New York Rangers' defense underwent a major (if incomplete) overhaul over the last twelve months. Gone are K'Andre Miller, Zac Jones, and Ryan Lindgren. And in their places are Vladislav Gavrikov, Carson Soucy, and Urho Vaakanainen, with Scott Morrow also in the mix. The projected lineup looks something like:
Gavrikov - Fox
Soucy - Borgen
Vaakanainen - Schneider
Improved? Absolutely. Gavrikov is better than anyone the Rangers had (yes, including Miller), but Soucy is coming off of a terrible season and Urho is, well, he's Urho.
There's a chance that the Rangers flip Braden Schneider to the left side and pair him with Morrow, moving Vaakanainen to the press box. And if we're to believe that when Schneider isn't playing with a torn shoulder he can be the player the Rangers brass keeps telling everyone he is, then that would make them better. And the Rangers are also banking on Will Borgen bringing out Carson Soucy's best self as he did when the two were teammates in Seattle. But that's still a lot of "ifs" and, in both the short and long term, the Rangers could use help.
Even if Schneider makes the move to the left, this is a make-or-break year for him. The former first round pick is in the final year of a contract where he's making $2.2 million and he's a pending RFA. We've already seen the Rangers move a player in a similar situation (K'Andre) rather than committing to an unknown for both long-term and big-money. Soucy is a pending UFA and, even if he's good, I can't see the Rangers committing to retain him given his age. Behind those players you have the aforementioned Urho Vaakanainen, and then NCAA prospects E.J. Emery and Drew Fortescue, along with Jackson Dorrington, the other player acquired in the J.T. Miller trade. Emery and Fortescue are certainly not going to factor into this season, and Dorrington will be entering his first year in the AHL. Given where the Rangers are in their contention window, I can't envision them putting all their eggs in the prospect basket.
So, what's a team to do?
Well, it just so happens that there's a left-side defenseman out there, in his prime, with connections to the Rangers coaching staff, in the final year of his contract, on a team not expected to contend.
