Rangers GM backs Lundqvist’s vision for next season
Henrik Lundqvist has support from general manager Jeff Gorton regarding the franchise goaltender’s statement that the Rangers’ focus for 2018-19 “has to be about winning.”
Lundqvist first expressed that belief during a conversation with The Post on April 2. He repeated it in the aftermath of Saturday’s finale in Philadelphia, where he set making the playoffs as the objective for next season.
“I believe what he’s saying is true. I don’t think you should be playing in the NHL if it’s not about winning,” Gorton said Monday. “We’re going to try and win every game.
“Henrik is the ultimate competitor and I’m sure he’s going to approach this offseason like he’s approached no offseason in the past. He’s going to come back, prove to everyone we can turn around this thing quickly and that he can be the guy to be the backbone for that.
“I hope everybody in our room understands that we should be about winning.”
The Rangers, who hold three first-rounders and two second-rounders in the June draft, will certainly be a young bunch next year. But Gorton reiterated that he “would be foolish to rule anything out” regarding trades and free-agent signings.
“The league changes quickly,” he said. “We’re going to look at every scenario.”
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Rangers must go after Ilya Kovalchuk, who isnt who you think he is
Regarding the Rangers, whose playoff elimination tragic number was 15…
A report on Twitter out of Russia that Ilya Kovalchuk has agreed to a “two- or three-year deal” with the Rangers is premature. Kovalchuk, whose SKA club was eliminated from the KHL playoffs over the weekend, does not become a free agent until April 15, with his rights owned by the Devils through Saturday.
If the Rangers were to talk/negotiate with the winger before Sunday, they could be hit with a tampering charge that might disqualify the team from signing Kovalchuk. In other words, Circumvention III.
Gorton said he “can’t talk about somebody else’s player” when he was asked about the report.
Kovalchuk, who turns 35 on Sunday, has long been expected to make his NHL return with the Rangers, though he talked last week about how winning the Stanley Cup was the primary motivation for returning to the league after five seasons at home in Russia. The winger cannot sign a contract until July 1.
Blueshirts’ goaltending prospect Igor Shestyorkin played a sum of 59 seconds in relief for SKA in the playoffs, but according to a well-placed source, “There is no chance,” the 22-year-old would be allowed to leave the KHL for New York before the end of his contract that runs through next season.
Gorton announced associate coach Scott Arniel and assistant coach Darryl Williams had been dismissed. Assistant Lindy Ruff was scheduled to meet Monday afternoon with the GM, when it was expected that he would be terminated, as well. Ruff, who coached Dallas for four years after 14-plus seasons in Buffalo, is not believed to be a candidate to succeed Alain Vigneault.
Gorton said Kevin Shattenkirk is expected to be ready for the start of training camp after having been sidelined since Jan. 18 in the aftermath of knee surgery. Tony DeAngelo, who has recently begun skating after having suffered a March 12 ankle sprain that cost him the final 12 games of the year, should also be ready without restriction.
The GM said he was disappointed with the effort “of some people” over the final week, specifically citing the 5-0 finale in Philadelphia, and intends to address the issue during Tuesday’s exit meetings.