A respected Ranger fan put it best on Wednesday night when
he poignantly wrote:

"I'm feeling strange feelings for Sather right now
... kind of like ... *less* hate."

So, since journalistic integrity should have some value, I
need to give credit where it is due.

And considering that I cringe at the sight and sound of him,
it is with a shaking thumb that I point it up and in
Glen Sather's direction.

Of course, if Messier is still here after Tuesday without a
retirement ceremony planned, then that thumb can go right up
Sather's ass.

Damn, so much for journalistic integrity ... anyway.

An Unexpected Plan

I was surprised at the boldness of the firesale.

I can't recall a complete housecleaning the likes of which we
are now witnessing in the history of the Rangers.

Heck, has a New York sports team ever dismantled its entire
team in order to rebuild to this extent?

And to do it in Cablevision, especially after Isiah took over
the Knicks and explained that New York couldn't handle
rebuilding?

Maybe Sather did have a plan after all. Give Messier 20 minutes
a night; pair Leetch with Poti; and refuse to match lines, so
that a rebuilding would be inevitable. Brilliant!

Sum of Parts is Important

I've read opinions that criticize the returns of individual
trades. Fun debate, and part of the fun of developing young players.

But by arguing too hard in that direction, you miss that Sather
has taken a different approach to rebuilding in New York. And
it's one for which he should be commended.

Rather than going after one "stud" prospect, he's accumulating
a wealth of prospects so as to create a real farm system.

The problem with 18-year old saviors, as Pavel Brendl and others
can tell you, is that it's too much pressure on one person.

But gather a group of young players and have them develop
together on a team that gives them opportunity through real
competition and you're on a path to success.

Leetch brought four good players: two prospects and two picks.

Kovalev brought two players: a prospect and a pick.

Nedved brought two players: a prospect and a pick.

(The above does not count returns that I count as "filler.")

So we have already added eight players to the development system,
will likely add more in a few more deals, and still have our
draft picks this year.

Add that to kids like Tyutin, Jessiman, Lundmark, Blackburn,
Moore, Murray, and others and it's an exciting future.

Some guys will be busts; some will be role players; and some
may be top players in the league.

It's watching that process that is so much fun.

So Enjoy This

This is perhaps rarer than the Stanley Cup victory; it is
a true rebuilding effort.

We will have a stockpile of young talent the depth of which we
have never seen before in the Rangers organization.

But, just as important, we have jettisoned the veterans who
historically blocked the path and development of the kids.

It's a simple formula, but one that no Ranger GM has wanted
to do until now.

It doesn't excuse Sather's atrocious four years of management,
but it does make me feel ... *less* hate.

-Gabe

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