New York Rangers Jeff Gorton addressed a few items on Tuesday as the team prepares for one of the biggest offseasons in team history.
Over the past few weeks, some crazy rumors have surfaced regarding the New York Rangers and their second pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. General manager Jeff Gorton addressed that and some other things on Tuesday in a candid interview with Mike Zeisberger of NHL.com.
Trading the second pick has been a topic of conversation lately by everyone except the Rangers themselves. Gorton was asked the question and in one strong answer, put the question to bed once and for all.
“I think it’s fair to say we are going to take that pick. It’s our job, my job, in particular, to listen to anything anybody will say when the phone rings on any of those things. But we’re in a pretty good spot. We know we’re going to get a pretty good player. So like I said, the opportunity to pick this high at the highest the Rangers have ever picked, that’s where we want to be.”
The opportunity to make the highest selection in team history knowing the caliber of players available makes this a no brainer. Gorton announcing the no-movement future surely puts many worries to rest in Rangerstown.
The GM had a few more interesting things to say about his club. With regards to the team overall, Gorton expects a lot from his veterans and the younger players. Getting better every day is the emphasis he placed on the club.
“It sounds cliché, but I think for us, we need to get better every day. We need our young players to have big summers. We need a guy like Mika (Zibanejad) to go to another level, which he went to another one this year. So I think we’re looking for our veteran players to establish the way we want to play and show that. But we need our young players to get better, and the only way we’re going to go where we want to go is [if] we get better every day.”
Gorton also expressed, again, that he anticipates Henrik Lundqvist completing the two years he has left on his contract with the Rangers. The GM acknowledged that Hank wants to be back and the Blueshirts want to see him continue to play the way he did in the first half last season that earned him another All-Star appearance.
It absolutely sounds like Jeff Gorton has a game plan beginning with this year’s draft.
