BOSTON – The debate is no longer about whether the Rangers should sacrifice even a piece of their future for a potential upgrade for the moment. The team, admirable though its conscience and work ethic may be, is much too far away from being able to compete with the league’s elite to give that scenario a rational second thought.
Instead, the debate now is whether the Rangers should take a step back in order to accelerate the process of leaping two strides forward, even if that means trading some of their best players; men such as Adam Graves, John MacLean, Jeff Beukeboom, Ulf Samuelsson and even Mike Richter.
It’s a debate that is unfolding within the Ranger and Garden organizations, with the team close enough to a playoff berth for management to want to hold, but far enough away from championship consideration so that the wiser move is to fold.
“That’s the No. 1 discussion item all the time whenever Neil [Smith] and I talk,” Garden president Dave Checketts told Slap Shots on Thursday. “As a matter of fact we were on the phone for two hours [Wednesday] night, talking about just that. And to be honest, we think differently on the subject. “
Checketts deferred when asked to elaborate on the long-distance debate between himself and the GM. But a comment he offered regarding the Pavel Bure trade negotiations seemed like evidence that Smith is truly committed to a long-haul rebuilding project.
“It’s funny, but over the last little while, Neil and I have almost exchanged positions,” he said. “Throughout the entire Bure saga, he and John [Muckler] consistently argued against giving up the package of prospects Vancouver wanted. Any time I asked, they said, ‘No.’
“I, on the other hand, might have been suggesting that there just aren’t that many chances to get a superstar the magnitude of Bure.”Checketts seemed to resist the notion that the Rangers are probably going to have to take some steps back in order to take even more steps forward. The Garden president apparently believes that the Rangers can re-finish the product without stripping it.
‘When we let Colie [Campbell] go to bring in John and then traded [Mike] Keane and [Brian] Skrudland, that was the start of our commitment to building with youth rather than bringing in veterans to prop up young players,” Checketts said. “And I like what’s happened since.
“We all believe that Dan Cloutier is a blue-chip youngster and that Manny Malhotra is going to be a very, very good player. I like the way John is developing our kids without burdening them with undue pressure. We all know the qualities Todd Harvey brings to the team. So we’re committed to our youth and our future.
“At the same time, though, because the CBA allows you to sign impact unrestricted free agents at the age of 31 – and this summer the market is very good – we’re not turning our backs on Brian Leetch, Wayne Gretzky, Adam Graves and Mike Richter. We want to win for them and provide them another chance to win to win the Stanley Cup.”
In other words, it appears as if Checketts hopes that somehow the Rangers can have it both ways – that they don’t have to trade valuable veterans now, that Smith’s draft selections will one day actually make it to the NHL, and that the team this summer will sign free agents Theo Fleury, Mark Recchi and Vincent Damphousse (at least two of those three), thereby short-cutting the route to the top.
“Once you’ve decided to embark on a rebuilding process, it’s painful,” said Checketts.
“But I believe you can try to win at the same time. It’s very complicated, but it can be done.” *
TALENTED as they may be, the Red Wings are very concerned about their own lack of physical presence. The team’s failure to respond to Krzysztof Oliwa’s trashing of Larry Murphy at the Meadowlands on Monday – legal or not – raised eyebrows, ire and questions within the room and among management. Detroit GM Ken Holland has told the Rangers to let him know when Samuelsson becomes available.
Dallas, desperately seeking a left wing, is believed to have serious interest in Tampa Bay’s Wendel Clark, earlier thought on his way to Florida. In the wake of the Bure deal, however, the Panthers may not be able to give up the No. 2 that the Lightning is seeking in return for Clark.
Mike Keenan has told friends that he intends to spend some time overseas, learning European systems. “Those will be the first systems Keenan ever learns, then,” one coach said upon hearing of Iron Mike’s plans. *
FINALLY, there’s no tilt whatsoever within Garden management to their NBA team, none whatsoever. It’s just a coincidence that the floor-to-ceiling columns outside the Seventh Avenue box office lobby are now completely covered with pictures and logos of the Knicks, and the Knicks, exclusively.
Just a coincidence.
