For an NHL team on the cusp of greatness, the trade market is often the best course of action to improve.
Being that a team typically taps out its in house resources first, trades are the way to fill in a serious need. In the case of the New York Rangers, the 2011-2012 team that lost in the conference final needed more offense.
So, in the middle of July, before the owners locked out the players, the Rangers made a league shifting trade. New York sent Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov, Tim Erixon and a first round to the Columbus Blue Jackets for Rick Nash, Steven Delisle and a third round pick.