How To Rebuild the New York Rangers from Within

With all the debate going around about which UFA would fix the leaks in the Ranger ship, I felt it would be more important to talk about the bargains that they have already in house.

We've seen forwards like Brandon Dubinsky and Nigel Dawes become game changers. Marc Staal and Daniel Girardi have become game savers. We all know what Henrik's capable of.

What about the next crop of kids to come from Hartford?

Forward

Lauri Korpikoski 

A former first round pick of the Rangers... a guy who showed his worth by scoring in his first and only game at the NHL level.  This is a kid who played center for us during that game, but I believe is a winger as well.

Wingers are exactly what we need, and he has speed, decent size, a good shot and doesn't mind getting physical. Definitely second or third line potential, similar to Ryan Callahan.

Dane Byers

I've had my eye on this kid for a few seasons now.  I love his style of play: hard to the net, can take punishment, can score the dirty goal.  Which team doesn't need that?  He can fight, he can hit, and he is fearless.  If Avery goes, this guy HAS to get his shot at the lineup.

Pierre Alexandre Parenteau

My God where did this kid come from?  A conditional draft pick to the Blackhawks for the highest scoring player in Hartford?  He can score, he can pass, and he has a year under his belt within the Ranger system of play.  Who knows if he can break through at the NHL level... but if he can even put up half the numbers he did in Hartford, he'd be more than serviceable.

Artem Anisimov

With Gratchev and Cherepanov lurking around, are the Rangers thinking an all Russian line?  Anisimov was one of the last cuts in last year's training camp, and if Drury and Gomez weren't both signed, I'm sure he would have been on the roster.  A slick skating two-way pivot, this big kid has the potential to be a very solid second or third line center.  One of two things will occur; the Rangers will try to convert him to a winger, or he'll waste away in Hartford. Very curious to see what happens to the guy. A gem though.

Greg Moore

Got a cup of coffee last year, but didn't seem to do too much.  However, he's had very good success in Hartford, but like Parenteau, we have to see if he can handle the transition.  Good offensive numbers, Moore's known more as a playmaker who also is good in his own zone.  Again, solid third line potential.  Another player who could definitely step in and possibly have a seemless transition.

Defense

Bobby Sanguinetti

I think we all know what he brings.  He's an offensive defenseman, pure and simple.  Before we spend $7 million on the overrated Brian Campbell... maybe we should give this guy a chance? Sanguinetti/Staal is most likely going to be the Ranger top defensive pair for the upcoming decade.  If it's not, it's going to surely seem criminal.

Ivan Baranka

Similar to Sanguinetti, but nowhere near as talented.  I'm unsure if he'll fit in, but Baranka can make a solid first pass.  If injuries occur, I truly see this kid as the surprise no one mentioned.  He might be similar to Dan Girardi; given no consideration, and came out of nowhere to be an extremely solid NHL player.

Just a few thoughts.  Is Campbell the answer?  Or Rolston?  Orpik, Redden or Sundin?  I think we've gone down this path too many times...as a DIEHARD...I'd rather see two or even three years of average hockey to cultivate better players, instead of plugging holes with players that are past their prime. 

Let's take a chance with the kids instead of taking a chance with either vets, or salary cap nightmares.