Aside from John Tavares last summer and Steven Stamkos two summers prior, elite players rarely reach unrestricted free agency. Organizations all recognize the fact that if it wants to compete at the highest level, they will need to pony up the salary to keep quality homegrown talent in the fold. As the New York Rangers work on rebuilding, acquiring such talent remains a priority.
With Henrik Lundqvist serving as the team’s best player, the Rangers were ultimately unable to win the Stanley Cup. Though no fault of the goaltender, the organization failed to surround him with the proper mix of complimentary talent to capture the best trophy in sports.