Almost 3 weeks later, I'm curious to know how you feel going into the preseason. Enough time has passed for us to come down from our high about signing Brad Richards... unless of course you are like Dano and are creaming your pants in anticipation for Bobby Ryan (one day man way to keep the dream alive). Without a doubt the New York Rangers are better on paper than they were in 10-11, but just how good are we? Here's a realistic look at what our future could hold..
Option 1: Danoland- The New York Rangers win the Stanley Cup and restore honor to the Garden...
Bro I think it's time to get over it. I realize you probably have a hard time seeing from the last row in the 400 section, but this is just not a cup team yet. Michael Del Zotto will most likely not have 55-60 points and Bobby Ryan won't be the missing piece this year (not to say I don't agree with you, but any team that lets Bobby Ryan go deserves to finish dead last every single year). Give us a left winger and yeah we are talking, but until then definitely keep up the enthusiasm because someone needs to. Deep down I know you realize we aren't there yet, otherwise all those long train rides to the city were just a serious waste of money, although Phil Collins would disagree.
Option 2: Fucking Closet Islander Fans who can't drive and how Richards is like everyone else
Lets get this out of the way right now, Brad Richards CANNOT be compared to the likes of Holik, Gomez, and of course Drury. "Well he's only one hit away from the end of his career" says the Islander fan who hasn't been to a game since Chara was on the team. You know who else is only 1 hit away from having his career ended? The (in my mind) most talented player in the NHL and should be #1 pick in everyone's fantasy draft based on how unbelievable he was last year, Sidney Crosby. While I am a die hard NYR fan and wouldn't mind seeing his career shortened so we don't have to deal with the Penguins anymore, there is absolutely no denying this kid's talent based on his performance in the first half of last year. While Richards does have some years on Crosby, he is in the same situation and I don't expect him to play any different. In today's game everyone is susceptible to serious injury and I'm not about to say Richards wasn't worth signing because if concussion issues. This was the right move.
Option 3: The Realist
While it would be nice to think Brad Richards will bring the Rangers a cup, this type of fan realizes he cannot do it alone. Sure Gaborik is an elite player when healthy, having 86 points with absolutely no surrounding crowd his first season on Broadway, but it just seems so obvious that these two need a top line LW. This isn't your only concern however, because you clearly recognize that the window of opportunity is the next 2-4 years. While you still find it hard to believe because you watched him instantly assert himself to the starting position his rookie season, Henrik Lundqvist is now 29 and we can only hope he is on top of his game at 33. While he has shown absolutely no signs of falling off, it won't be long before the New York Rangers will have to start thinking about goaltending beyond King Henry. Recognizing your teams strengths and weaknesses, you accept the fact that you must shed some defensive talent that you may not want to, but in the end once the trade is complete and you have that top line LW you realize the cup is ours for the taking.
With serious question marks through the Rangers lineup heading into the regular season, whose to say that any particular point of view is the correct one? It's time New York Ranger fans started being realistic about this team and it's chances.
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