Waking up on Trade Deadline day 2020, the Rangers find themselves a mere 4 points out of the second wild card spot after a solid month of real process improvement and tangible results. Igor Shesterkin has ushered in a new era between the pipes with his inspired play, the defense has shown improvements and development has continued under David Quinn.

Despite all of this, I am here to plead with the front office: DO NOT GO FOR IT. DO NOT STAND PAT OR ADD IN HOPES OF MAKING THE PLAYOFFS.

Look, the process improvement is good. It’s progress in growing this team into an actual contender. Maybe Igor Shesterkin can steal a series if you sneak in. That is all short-sighted thinking, though. The organization is maybe 3/4 through this rebuild. Just because things are looking up, don’t get closed-minded at a deadline when you are holding some of the more attractive trade assets available, with wide open Wild Card fields.

I get why it’s tempting to push the recent success forward. Take a look at this information via Sean Tierney at Charting Hockey. It is evidence of real tangible improvement and capability to compete against other playoff bound teams.

https://twitter.com/ChartingHockey/status/1231227744131964928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

There is a middle to figuratively split. Don’t sell just to sell. The returns have to be good, and retaining good players is certainly an option. If the organization can re-sign Chris Kreider at a reasonable cost, fine. But, be honest. Are all of Kreider, DeAngelo, Fast, Strome, Lemieux or Georgiev really going to be rostered on the next proper contending team? I didn’t think so.

The 2020 Draft is considered to be one of the best Drafts in the past few years. A combination of high-end skill and depth bodes well for even picks in the back half of the first round. Given the returns so far for the completed trades, it seems possible that Kreider, Strome, and maybe Georgiev could net the club an additional first rounder.

I’m not saying that the club should trade every one of these guys. Maybe Fast or Lemieux are willing to sign inexpensive extensions. Maybe DeAngelo is willing to extend with the team who has given him an opportunity to thrive (which is also close to home), but after the non-raise this offseason for cap purposes, I’d be surprised if he was willing to leave more money on the table, but I digress.

The point is, the improvement the team has shown, from the end of December, really, should be considered progress and the team continue to lean into what is working. The bigger picture is that while this team is improving, it has a tremendous opportunity to add more talent into the organization by not fixating on an outside shot at the playoffs. Trust the process, continue to see the rebuild through.

I’m truly hoping the front office is looking at the big picture here. Let’s finishing this thing right and keep pumping talent into the organization. Next season could be the start of actual contention, but let’s not lose the forest for the trees after a couple of good months. We’ll see by 3pm which way the organization chooses to go.

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