The Core: (Will be back next season)- Henrik Lundqvist, Marian Gaborik, Marc Staal (RFA), Ryan Callahan, Chris Drury, Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov, Sean Avery, Michael Del Zotto and Michal Roszival.

Should I Stay or Should I Go: (Players who may or may not be back, with my best guess)-UFA’s: Vinny Prospal (will be back if he accepts one year deal with small raise), Olli Jokinen (Don’t Let the Door Hit Ya!!!!), Alex Auld (probably gone), P.A. Parenteau (will get a better offer somewhere else), Anders Eriksson (gone), Jody Shelley (I think the Rangers will bring him back based on his play down the stretch), Corey Potter (I would let him walk). RFA’s: Staal (long term deal), Dan Girardi (might be priced out by Staal but my guess is he returns), Erik Christensen (50-50 I think he goes), Brandon Prust (could be a choice between him and Dane Byers, he gets my vote), Byers (probably edged out by Prust), Enver Lisin and Ilkka Heikkenen (nice to know ya!).

Fire Sale: (players who should be in Hartford or will be offered around for a bag of pucks)- Wade Redden, Aaron Voros, Brian Boyle and Matt Gilroy.

I have read many articles over the last few days (from some great writers like Larry Brooks of the NY Post and Steve Zipay at Newsday) about what the Rangers need NOT to do this offseason. I agree with most of what they say about free agency and trades. The Rangers do NOT need Vinny Lecavalier, Patrick Marleau, Illya Kovalchuck, Joe Thornton, Pavol Demitra or any of the other big name, huge contract suspects that will most likely be available at season’s end. The one thing I haven’t read in any of these articles is a plan for what the Rangers SHOULD do once the final buzzer sounds on another NHL campaign. Most likely the Blueshirts will have anywhere from $10-14 million dollars in cap room this offseason to re-sign Marc Staal and a few others but Glen Sather should not go on a boldface buying spree in hopes of filling his team’s needs. He should show restraint, sit down behind his desk, light up a cigar and make three phone calls. That’s it, 3 simple calls.

Call 1: Dean Lombardi, GM, Los Angeles Kings- Jack Johnson is the type of physical, edgy, stand up defenseman the Rangers have not had put on their sweater since the days of Jeff Beukeboom. A 23 year old physical specimen who plays with a chip on his shoulder and goes right up to the whistle. The Kings would love to retain Johnson to a long term deal but Lombardi has been unable to come to an agreement with him (and may not want to, looking at the huge payday that Drew Doughty will no doubt seek in a few seasons) and he is currently one year away from hitting the open market with a cap number for 2010-11 of 1.425 million. Sather should call Lombardi and ask what it would take to get the hulking defenseman to Broadway and continue to listen even after the discussion begins with the name Evgeny Grachev (whom the Kings might have interest in if they lose Alexander Frolov via free agency). If Sather could get Johnson to MSG and lock him up long term, the Rangers could have their No.1 pair (along with Staal) under contract for the foreseeable future.

Call 2: Bobby Ryan‘s Agent- The Rangers have a number of promising youngsters in the pipeline (Stepan, Kreider, Grachev, McDonagh, Bourque, Hagelin) and nobody is suggesting that Sather mortgage the future by sending these youngsters away in a deal for a quick fix but signing a 23 year old forward who is on the verge of being a top 5 power forward in the league to an offer sheet and surrendering draft picks in return if the offer is not matched is not the kind of move that could hurt this franchise. The Rangers have built up depth through the draft as of late but no one knows if any of these youngsters or anyone that the Rangers draft during the next year or two will ever be stars at the NHL level. Here is a chance to get a young player who has already proven himself on the biggest stage and will only get better. John Tortorella wants younger players who come to work every night. If the Rangers got Ryan they could have three forwards under the age of 25 who could conceivably put up 30-goal campaigns with Dubinsky, Callahan and Ryan.

Call 3: Alexander Radulov- We already had the Nik Zherdev saga, with the young talented winger who left the NHL for Russia and now here is another young, supremely talented sniper who might just be ready to give the NHL another chance. Nashville GM David Poile has had enough of Radulov and his agents and would probably be more than happy to move this headache for a mid round pick and a prospect. Reports have said that Radulov is interested in returning to the league and the idea of playing on the brightest stage in NYC might just be the dangling carrot that gets the deal done. Wouldn’t Radulov fit perfectly playing across from Gaborik on the top line next season?

I know these three moves aren’t all the GM needs to do to make sure this team takes the next step. I know it’s easy to throw out names and scenarios and think that you know better than a guy who has multiple Stanley Cup rings. I know nothing is easy in the NHL especially winning. I’m not saying I have all the answers and that the powers that be (who get paid much more than I do) haven’t already pondered these moves but what I am saying is no one gets better by standing still or staying pat. Nobody gets better by hoping that players with potential will someday mature into leaders and superstars. The Rangers have a superstar backstop entering his prime, a game changing sniper ready to rise to another level, a shutdown defenseman about to become known on a league wide basis and a group of hard working youngsters on the verge of being valuable NHL performers. Now is the time for creative thinking, creative moves and creative building. Now is the time for Glen Sather to stop filling holes and start building a winner.

Erik Christensen provided a highlight goal on an otherwise disappointing night.

On a night when the Rangers found their offense, they completely forgot how to play defense. Leaving their franchise netminder Henrik Lundqvist on an island for most of the first two periods, the Rangers fell to the Devils 6-3 and moved closer to missing the postseason in the process.

Thumbs Up- Michael Del Zotto was the Rangers’ best defenseman tonight (not a tough task considering how horrible the defense played). Welcome to the Rangers, Jody Shelley! It took a while for him to get involved but his fight with Pierre Luc Letourneau LeBlond was one of the few highlights tonight for the Blueshirts. The goals by Vinny Prospal and Erik Christensen were some of the prettiest plays of the season.

Thumbs Down- The Rangers defense was non existent. Wade Redden was absolutely atrocious and Marc Staal was just plain average tonight. Henrik Lundqvist was the victim of some terrible defense and bad deflections but he also deserves some blame for a subpar performance. Marian Gaborik was once again a non factor. Sean Avery was talking early but he has to try harder to get involved in the game, especially on a night like tonight when the Devils could have easily been shaken after the Rangers responded to each of their first three tallies.

Three Stars- 3- Alex Auld- Replacing Lundqvist after the Devils’ fifth goal, Auld looked sharp and made some strong saves to keep the deficit at two goals going into the third period. Unfortunately, the Blueshirts couldn’t muster another comeback and Auld finally faltered on a late goal by Travis Zajac that he should’ve stopped.
2- Jody Shelley- The enforcer finally decided to join the party and scored a victory in his battle with Devs tough guy Pierre Luc Letourneau LeBlond (MOUTHFUL!!!). Shelley was also a physical force at even strength and continued his smart play not reacting to a crushing hit leveled on him during the second period by Colin White.

1- Brandon Prust- The other pugilist brought in by Glen Sather at deadline time, Prust brought the offense tonight, scoring his first goal as a Blueshirt. Like his teammate, Jody Shelley, Prust also played a physical contest and was diligent in his defensive game using a strong backchecking performance to help his inexplicably beleaguered defense tonight. Prust is a UFA following the season but his play of late might be enough to get an invite back for a longer look next season.

The Rangers will try to get back on the winning track when they face the Thrashers on Friday night at 7 PM.

Henrik Lundqvist also returned to the ice this morning following his exit from the Olympic tournament in Vancouver. Lundqvist said he needed a couple of days to absorb and get over Sweden’s quarterfinal loss on Wednesday but is now ready to focus on the rest of the NHL season. “Today, I’m focused on the Rangers,” Lundqvist added. “I wanted a couple of days off. But it felt good coming into the rink today.”

Newly acquired backup goalie Alex Auld also was on the ice with his new team for the first time and spoke to reporters following his first practice. Auld said he was happy to be with the Rangers, especially considering the alternative was likely playing in the AHL. But he said he’s always liked New York and he’s excited by the chance to work with Rangers goalie coach Benoit Allaire and with Lundqvist. He also told Andrew Gross of Ranger Rants that he was ready to contribute in any way he is needed. “I want to keep an open mind,” said Auld, “I understand who the other guy is in net and how good he is. I understand his role and what he brings. I just want to help, however much that may be. I’ve found out through my career that if I’m worried about when I’m not in net, when I do play, it can be a distraction.”

The NHL trade freeze will be lifted at midnight tonight and the trade deadline is scheduled for March 3rd at 3pm. The Rangers haven’t made it clear as of yet whether they will be buyers or sellers over the coming days but either way, Rangers fans will be looking forward to watching Glen Sather and Co. attempt to pull the trigger on some deals and to watching their team begin another late season push for the postseason. Whatever happens, we’ll have all of it right here for you.

Alex Auld Joins the Blueshirts

The Rangers finally made a move to shore up their suspect backup goaltending situation this morning when they claimed veteran Alex Auld off waivers from the Dallas Stars. After Stephen Valiquette imploded early on, the blueshirts have been using a backup by committee approach, shuttling youngsters Chad Johnson, Matt Zaba and Mika Wiikman between Hartford and Manhattan, to fill the gaping hole behind starter Henrik Lundqvist.

The 6-5, 223 lb. backstop has appeared in 204 career NHL games with the Vancouver Canucks, Florida Panthers, Phoenix Coyotes, Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators and Dallas Stars, posting a record of 83-81-2-26, along with a 2.78 GAA, a .904 save percentage and six shutouts.  Auld owns a career 13-9-5 record vs. Atlantic Division opponents.  He registered a career-high three shutouts while skating with Phoenix and Boston in 2007-08. He has compiled a 9-6-3 record with a 3.00 GAA and a save percentage of .894 over 21 games this season. The Stars waived Auld in the last year of his contract which pays him $1 million for this season and since the Rangers claimed him on re-entry waivers they are only responsible for $500,000 of his salary.

For the official release, click here.