New York Rangers have officially entered uncharted territory

For years and years, the New York Rangers have been a model of success, but it appears that era is coming to a close. As one door closes and another opens, let’s take a look at how to handle these times as a fan.

As we head towards the trade deadline and the final months of the season, a lot of our questions are going to be answered. Again, this is a new territory for many fans as this situation has never quite happened in Rangerstown.

The last couple games, the team has all but appeared to have given up. Yes, Boston is on fire lately, yes they’re injuries to key Rangers. But that Rangers team didn’t lose because they were simply outmanned.

They did not execute in one facet of the game.

So buckle up Rangers fans, this could be a tough final stretch. Here are some things to try and remember as they continue down this path.

Be Realistic

This isn’t NHL 18 Be a GM mode. You cannot simply trade Nick Holden and a fourth-round pick for Nathan Mackinnon. Consider all factors in a trade and why both sides would agree to this not just how this benefits the Rangers.

Remember, this is a league where you have to give to get. So yes the asking price for Rick Nash might be a first-round pick, top prospect, and a lesser player. But if the trade deadline is coming to a close and Rick Nash is still a Ranger, that might force Jeff Gorton’s hand.

Remember getting something, whether it was the original asking price or not, is better than nothing. It’s just like buying a house. The asking price is what they want, but when push comes to shove and the sellers need the house off the market, something is better than nothing.

Don’t Believe Everything You Read on Twitter

Listen, there are many pretenders who sit behind their computers and on their phones who claim to have sources and investigate for hours. Even the more “reliable” sources out there can be shaky. Also, don’t buy into everything you hear about. Just because the Lightning and the Rangers are having “discussions” about Ryan McDonagh don’t assume he’s going there. Things change, injuries happen, and all of a sudden someone who had zero interest can become very interested. So don’t put your eggs all in one basket. This will save you much disappointment.

NHL Trade #Rumors: Tampa Bay Lightning linked to Ryan McDonagh https://t.co/5IoJOsos07 via @puck_prose pic.twitter.com/KtZQqueal2

— FanSided NHL (@FanSidedNHL) February 4, 2018

Remember These Are Human Beings

Yes, these guys make millions of dollars to puck a rubber disc in a net but at the end of the day, these guys are still humans. They go home and gripe about their job, their boss, and their co-workers just like we do. They have families, young kids who might attend schools in the area. So consider this before bashing a player and asking for his head on a spike. How easy would it be to uproot your family after three years at the snap of a finger? It’s not as easy as you might think. Not asking you to feel sorry for these guys but things aren’t as easy as you may think.

Be Hopeful

What good is it to be negative all the time? Be subjective, be opinionated, that’s your right. But think on the bright side of things. This team is not in the middle of an Arizona Coyotes full-on rebuild. There are still pieces here, starting with the goalie Henrik Lundqvist. Guys like Filip Chytil and Lias Andersson are already having success in one of the best hockey leagues in the world not named the NHL.

Have faith in Jeff Gorton. This guy wants to win and he’s proven he’s capable of doing so. Think about his stint in Boston. He traded Andrew Raycroft for Tuukka Rask (!) He signed Marc Savard and Zdeno Chara. He drafted Milan Lucic and Phil Kessel. Aside from Kessel, that’s the core of the Stanley Cup-winning team in 2011. So before you go ahead and assume you know more than he does, take a step back. There’s a reason he’s in the NHL and you’re not.

All in all folks, yes this is a difficult time for us Ranger fans. But for the first time, there is a sense of wonderment and excitement that the Rangers haven’t had in a long time. This team could be such a fast and young element; it could bring the most exciting hockey New York has ever seen.