New York Rangers: 5 Things to Do Now That Brad Richards Is in Town

The New York Rangers have already made the biggest move of the summer free agency period, but there are still supplemental moves to be made if the team wants to contend for the Stanley Cup.

Now that Brad Richards has been brought into the fold to provide a top line center to pair with Marian Gaborik, the expectation level for this team will surely rise.

No longer will the sixth to eighth place finishes of the recent past be acceptable to the Rangers or their fans, not with this roster. 

The Rangers have struggled to score both at even strength and with a man advantage in recent seasons, which has put entirely too much pressure on goalie Henrik Lundqvist. 

Richards should aid in the scoring department, as he should be able to light a spark under Marian Gaborik. The team's young and improving defensive core should help ease some of the burden Lundqvist has faced. 

However, the roster is not complete at this point. A few of the team's most important players remain unsigned, and coach John Tortorella has a big decision to make. 

5. Re-Sign Brian Boyle

Brian Boyle, a former first-round pick of the Los Angeles Kings in 2003, had the best season of his career this past season. 

Boyle recorded career highs with 21 goals, 14 assists and 35 points, all while providing his trademark toughness in doling out another career high 240 hits. 

Boyle teamed with Brandon Prust and Ruslan Fedotenko for much of the season and provided an excellent checking line for the Rangers. 

The chemistry that unit showed together last throughout much of the season, and coach John Tortorella developed more confidence in them as the season went along. 

Boyle is also an asset on the penalty kill because he is unafraid to sacrifice his body to block shots. His huge presence in front of the net created scoring opportunities for others as well. 

Boyle is a restricted free agent, but bringing him back into the fold as a third or fourth line center will help the Rangers with their depth down the middle and keep their penalty killing unit among the strongest in the NHL.

4. Sign Drew Doughty to an Offer Sheet

The Rangers will likely have about $4 million in cap space after signing all of their restricted free agents and (presumably) buying out Wojtek Wolski. 

That leaves just enough space to make a competitive offer sheet to Drew Doughty, the young Los Angeles Kings defenseman who would be a great fit on an emerging corps of blue liners. 

Marc Staal is the star. Dan Girardi, Ryan McDonagh and Michael Sauer are all solid. Michael Del Zotto is a bit of a wild card, and you don't know yet what you'll be able to get from youngsters like Pavel Valentenko and Dylan McIlrath.

Doughty has had 99 points in the last two seasons combined, and the Rangers could use that kind of scoring punch from the blue line. 

They have had trouble scoring the last few seasons, and Doughty along with Brad Richards would go a long way toward solving that problem. 

3. If Martin Biron Is Healthy, Bring Him Back: If Not, Find Another Good Backup

Martin Biron was a solid and capable backup to Henrik Lundqvist last year... when he was healthy. 

Lundqvist has played entirely too many games over the course of his career, and the Rangers need to find a backup who can stay healthy and play well enough to ease the load throughout the regular season.

Biron went 8-6 with a .923 save percentage and a 2.13 goals against average in 17 games and 15 starts last season. 

He was a starter in the NHL for a long time and is more than capable of coming in for about 25 games and doing an admirable job. If, however, the Rangers can't say with full confidence that he'll stay healthy, they need to find somebody else. 

2. Sign Brandon Dubinsky Long Term and Make Him Assistant Captain

Brandon Dubinsky is a restricted free agent who has filed for arbitration, so he will be a Ranger next year barring unforeseen circumstances.

What should happen is that Dubinsky and the Rangers should agree to a long term deal sometime between now and July 21, when Dubinsky's case is set to be heard before the arbitrator. 

Dubinsky had his best season yet this past year, setting careers highs in goals with 24, assists with 30, points with 54, hits with 141 and shots with 202. 

He's one of the hardest working players on the team, but also one of the most skilled. After Brad Richards and Marian Gaborik, he probably has the most natural puck skills on the team.

He made big plays at big times, like his unbelievable pass to Ryan Callahan to set up an overtime winner against Pittsburgh. 

He also grew one of the best playoff mustaches in recent history. 

He's a homegrown talent who has earned the right and responsibility of having a letter on his jersey and being acknowledged as one of the true leaders on the team.

John Tortorella sometimes gets on him about his effort, but no one can deny that Dubinsky goes all out almost all the time. Moving him into a leadership role will bring more of that out of him.

1. Sign Ryan Callahan Long Term and Make Him Captain

Ryan Callahan is one of the most hard working players in the entire NHL, and that alone would make him a very good checking line player for the Rangers.

However, Callahan is also one of the most skilled checking line players in the entire NHL, and that is what makes him a great player for the Rangers and one of the most important building blocks for the future of the team.

If there is one player who truly embodies what the Rangers are all about, it is Ryan Callahan. He is constantly moving, constantly working, constantly pestering the opposition.

He's great on both the fore check and back check, can player on the power play or the penalty kill and has enough skill and grit to fit in John Tortorella's aggressive system.

Callahan is another player who has grown up a Ranger and is already one of the leaders of the team. While Chris Drury was out, he was arguably the leader in the locker room for the Rangers last season. 

While making Brandon Dubinsky or Marc Staal the Captain would also be acceptable, I'd argue there is no better choice than Ryan Callahan.