The Rangers’ first victory in three weeks isn’t likely to influence what general manager Glen Sather does in the two weeks until the Feb. 28 NHL trade deadline.
Though yesterday’s 5-3 triumph at the Garden over the oh-so-put-upon Penguins that ended a six-game losing streak (0-5-1) was essential for the Rangers’ mental health, it doesn’t alter the reality established since the Jan. 24 shootout victory in Washington that they are more than one piece away from legitimate Stanley Cup contention.
“The last few weeks have made it a little more difficult to evaluate because first we had all those injuries and now with the guys coming back we’ve lost our rhythm,” Sather told The Post after the match.
“I think we have enough depth in the organization where if a move would make sense we would probably do that now.
“But I’m not going to give up a valuable piece. I don’t think that makes any sense.”
To translate, the Rangers will be on the lookout for a point man to rent who can bomb and/or quarterback the power play regardless of yesterday’s three-goal explosion with the man advantage, and the team will investigate the lend-lease market for a center who could fit in with Marian Gaborik, but not at substantial cost.
In other words, you bet the Rangers will inquire about Florida’s Bryan McCabe, who may return this week from the broken jaw that has sidelined him for approximately a month, but they won’t yield a first-round pick and a top prospect, let alone a young roster player, for the privilege of getting him.
The same is true as it applies to Toronto’s Tomas Kaberle, who, like McCabe, has a no-move contract, and who, by the way, is a poor defender hardly worth the price it would cost to get him.
The Rangers won’t be in on Florida’s Stephen Weiss or Ottawa’s Jason Spezza, or any center with a contract that extends beyond this season, for that matter, given that there is every reason to believe they will sign Dallas’ Brad Richards as a free agent this summer.
The rental market for centers capable of playing on a first line is soft. But the Rangers, who have Washington’s second-round pick in the draft as a result of last June’s deal with Carolina in which Bobby Sanguinetti went to the Hurricanes, in addition to their own, could be interested in sending a No. 2 to New Jersey for Jason Arnott.
The Rangers, who trailed 2-0 5:06 into Sunday’s match before roaring back with five straight goals following a timeout from John Tortorella, will try to build off this one.
“I think we’re more than a team that is just going to make the playoffs,” Henrik Lundqvist said. “I think we can get on a run where we looking ahead, not behind.”
Sather will try to help the Rangers in that quest, but not at any cost.