Stick to a plan: There are no half measures

The NHL’s offseason has officially begun, and in New York all eyes are on the Rangers and how they are going to manage their rebuild. They made the critical first step in March by selling off stars and rentals for future assets. Their second step was made last month by naming David Quinn as head coach.

Next up comes the draft and free agency, and all the fun stuff in between. That is where we will begin to see the roster take shape and what our expectations of next year’s squad will be. Will they retool? Or will it be a full tear down? These are the questions that will get answered next month. But no matter what, the Rangers need to stick to a plan.

There are no half measures. If Jeff Gorton and company decide they need to tear it down, then go all in. Trade Chris Kreider. Trade Mats Zuccarello. Trade everyone and anyone who will fetch a good return. It doesn’t all need to be done at once, but do it all.

If the plan is to retool, then there are no half measures. Identify those that are going to be a part of the future, and trade the rest by next year’s draft. If players are identified that could help grow the kids, like Ilya Kovalchuk, then bring them in.

If the plan is to use these assets to go after Karlsson and Tavares, then go for broke. Get Hank his Cup. Land Karlsson, sign Tavares, trade those assets to make the Rangers a better team than the Lightning and the Caps and the Leafs.

There are no half measures, and there is no second guessing. Second guessing makes you Florida. Half measures make you the Islanders. Be the Caps or be the Coyotes. Whatever the plan, there are no half measures. Pick one and stick to it, for better or for worse.