New York Rangers: Which Guys Are on the Hot Seat This Coming Season?

Last season, the New York Rangers failed to compete in the playoffs for the first time since the lock-out. Previous to last season, the Rangers failed to make it passed the first round of playoffs, though they had a 3-1 series lead over the powerful Washington Capitals. Constant play like this does not sit well with Ranger fans; I hope Glen Sather starts to feel the same way.

Season after season, the Rangers acquire big players during free agency and all those players (except Marian Gaborik) failed to do well in Rangers blue. Last season, Ales Kotalik, Chris Higgins, and Donald Brashear all failed to do well for the Rangers after being acquired over the offseason. None of those players lasted the whole season in New York, as they all became casualties of the Ranger fans “Boo-birds”.

Brashear was sent to Hartford about two months after the season started. Both Kotalik and Higgins were sent to Calgary in exchange for Olli Jokenin and Brandon Prust. The Rangers won that trade, but not because of Jokenin. Jokenin, who was supposed to bring secondary scoring to the team, failed to score more than two goals as a New York Ranger. Prust became a huge part of the Rangers playoff run down the stretch (that is why he will return next season, not Jokenin).

So far, the Rangers have acquired Alexander Frolov, Steve Eminger, Todd White, Derek Boogaard, Mats Zuccarello Aasen, and Marty Biron to assist a mediocre Rangers team (with the exceptions of Gaby and Lundqvist). I always wonder why the Sather has to constantly sign free agents to help his team, although the Rangers hold multiple talented youngsters.

Aren’t players like Dubinsky, Callahan, Staal, Girardi, Anisimov, and Del Zotto supposed to be the Rangers future? Aren’t they supposed to be the ones that lead the team to a Stanley Cup? Then why must Sather sign all of these big names during the offseason? The reason for that is that these young players have not shown what they are capable of.

I thought Brandon Dubinsky was going to be a very talented goal scorer? Well, he is just another underachieving Ranger that scores around 20 goals per season. He is better than Drury, I’ll give him that. But when will Dubinsky prove that he is a 25 plus goals scorer?

What about Girardi? What is so special about him that Sather had to pay him $3.3 million and leave Staal out to dry? I’d much rather have Staal filling a roster spot than Girardi. I guess Sather felt the urge that he had to bring back both Girardi and Staal, which may not happen.

Going into the season there are going to be a lot of Rangers that must prove to the Rangers brass that they are worth a contract. Why? Because about half of the players on the Rangers roster right now will become free agents next season. I’m not going to right about all of them, instead I will choose the top five players who must prove themselves before their contracts expire at the end of the season.

1. Brandon Dubinsky

As I said before, Dubinsky has not proven to me (or anyone I think) that he is the player he was made out to be. As much as I’d love to see him traded for something useful, I don’t think it will happen. This will have to be Dubinsky’s big season if he would like a big qualifying offer from the Rangers at the end of next season. If he is unable to do well this upcoming season, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him moved before free agency.

2. Ryan Callahan

I have a good feeling that Cally will get a long term offer from the Rangers. Hhe is the hardest working skater for the Rangers besides Gaborik. I also see him as the future Rangers captain. I highly doubt the Rangers will walk away from Callahan, but if for some reason they do then he would have had an extremely bad season. Callahan is a hardworking talented two-way forward, who is very useful on the Rangers penalty kill. If he can continue playing the way he has the previous few seasons, then there should be no problem with locking him up long term.

3. Artem Anisimov

Anisimov had a very good rookie season for the Rangers, and hopefully he could follow it up with a better sophomore season. Artie is an extremely talented center, who can play both offense and defense very well (as in the PK). Many believe that he may be able to crack a spot on the first or second line this season. If he does, I would expect him to hit around 20 goals. I do not think he will get a long term deal from the Rangers, but I do think Sather intends on keeping him after this season.

4. Matt Gilroy

Gilly was probably my biggest upset last season. But it was definitely not his fault. Bringing him to the NHL a season after he signs an entry level contract was not a good idea. If he were given a year or two in the AHL I’m sure he could’ve been the second MDZ in a couple of seasons. Moving Gilroy through a trade probably wouldn’t be that hard, and placed in the right package he could probably bring something useful back in return. If Sather keeps him, I do not expect him to crack the opening night roster unless one, or both, of Rozi and Redden are gone.

5. Alexander Frolov

Yes, this is Fro’s first season as a Ranger. But Frolov is definitely out to prove himself this season. After a sub poor season in 2009-10, Frolov expected a long term contract from whichever team signed him this offseason. Sather did the smart thing by signing him to a one year deal in which Frolov will have to prove that he is still worthy to play for a NHL team. If he does well and becomes secondary scoring to Marian Gaborik, perhaps the Rangers offer him a long term contract. If he fails to perform the way everyone is hoping and expecting him to perform, he may become the next Ales Kotalik and be traded at the trade deadline.

Honorable Mention goes to… John Tortorella

If he fails to make the playoffs for two seasons straight, do not expect to see him back for a third term.

There it is, hope you enjoyed. Feel free to leave a response below.