To succeed in today’s NHL, a team needs defensemen who can move the puck, play a strong two way game, and skate well. While these defensemen are in short supply, teams need them to win championships. Look at the recent Stanley Cup winners; Pittsburgh has Kris Letang, Chicago has Duncan Keith, and Los Angeles has Drew Doughty.
The last defenseman that the Rangers had who fits this mold is Brian Leetch. After he left, they never replaced him. They tried to, signing Dan Boyle in the 2014 offseason and acquiring Keith Yandle at the 2015 trade deadline, but it wasn’t quite the same.