By risking the future, Glen Sather is gambling on Keith Yandle to help the Rangers deliver the franchise’s fifth Stanley Cup.
Getty Images

In a blockbuster trade with the details still coming out, the Rangers have dealt for Keith Yandle. According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, the package looks to be Anthony Duclair, a 2016 first round pick and John Moore to the Coyotes for Yandle. Astonishingly, Arizona is picking up half of Yandle’s salary. His cap hit is $5.25 million and runs through 2015-16.

When the rumors started circulating on Twitter that the Coyotes were close to something imminent, I guessed correctly that it involved Glen Sather and Don Maloney. Given the ties they have from working together and making previous deals, it made sense. That there was talk that they almost traded Dan Girardi didn’t make much sense for a rebuilding team. He would’ve had to wave his no-trade clause. Instead, Sather risked the future giving away Duclair and another first round pick with Moore, who was being showcased the last two games. He scored in Saturday’s 3-2 loss to the Flyers and assisted on Lee Stempniak’s winner against Arizona.

While it’s true they needed to upgrade the blueline, they gave up a lot for Yandle. At 28, he’s not exactly lock down in his end. However, the talented left shooting defenseman is offensively gifted. His 37 assists, 41 points and 26 power play points led Arizona. Considering the Rangers recent power play struggles including giving up a shorthanded game-winner to Michael Del Zotto, it makes sense adding Yandle. He immediately upgrades a struggling unit that’s slipped to 11th (18.8 percent).

Editor’s Note: Yandle turns 29 this September 9.

The question with Yandle is can he improve defensively. His minus-32 rating was the worst on the Coyotes. Over half the production has come exclusively on the man-advantage. You have to be concerned about him at even strength. In his last 10 games for Arizona, he had only three assists and a minus-nine rating. He ended a six-game point drought with an assist on the Coyotes’ only tally in yesterday’s loss at Boston.

There are two ways to look at this trade. By including their most NHL ready prospect in Duclair and throwing away another first, Sather is gambling on Yandle in hopes he can be the final piece to a Stanley Cup. It’s no secret that the Rangers team defense isn’t the same since the subtraction of Anton Stralman and addition of Dan Boyle, who had a nightmarish game last night finishing minus-three. Does a third pair of Yandle and Boyle solve that issue or are they going to be exposed by good forechecking teams licking their chops?

It is my contention that the Rangers needed a tougher defenseman who could shore up the blueline. Not more mobility. It’s hard to fathom Sather giving away Duclair for a veteran player who could leave the following summer. But he’s essentially doing the same thing former ’94 architect Neil Smith did. He sacrificed the future moving Tony Amonte to the Blackhawks for Stephane Matteau and Brian Noonan. Of course, Smith made a bevy of moves acquiring Steve Larmer and Nick Kypreos in a three-team deal that sent Darren Turcotte and James Patrick to Hartford. He also swapped Mike Gartner for Glenn Anderson and moved Todd Marchant for Craig MacTavish.

Just like last year’s deadline when he rolled the dice dealing away popular captain Ryan Callahan and a first round pick for Martin St. Louis, Sather is doing it again. The Rangers are close. The East is wide open. Outside of the Canadiens who thanks to certain Hart and Vezina winner Carey Price are a strong contender, the Rangers are in the conversation for a second straight year. If Henrik Lundqvist returns healthy and with all indications that they’re going to keep Mats Zuccarello due to the Coyotes picking up half Yandle’s salary, they’re going for it.

I never would have envisioned Sather trading Duclair. Especially the way he impressed coach Alain Vigneault in camp enough to make the roster. That kid has superstar written all over him. And now, he’s gone. The one stud prospect they had for a 29-year old flawed defenseman with oodles of talent. If you thought their D was an adventure before, wait till you see it moving forward. I wonder if they’ll consider trying Yandle with Kevin Klein and stick Boyle with Marc Staal. That probably would be wise.

My final thoughts on this trade. In ’11-12, the Rangers had the East’s best record but clearly needed to do something at the deadline. Instead, Sather didn’t and shortchanged John Tortorella. He didn’t upgrade. That team went as far as they could playing a more conservative defensive oriented style dependent on blocking shots and Lundqvist. The Devils ousted them because Lou Lamoriello made moves including adding Marek Zidlicky and stealing Ryan Carter off waivers. He also traded for Alexei Ponikarovsky.

If you want to win, sometimes you have to go that extra mile. Look no further than the Kings who in their two Cup years added talent in Jeff Carter, Mike Richards and Marian Gaborik. This year, they sacrificed a top prospect in Roland McKeown and a first round pick for Andrej Sekera. Essentially the same thing Sather did but for a higher end defenseman. Should he have gone for Sekera, who’s more of a two-way blueliner? Would you have dealt Duclair and a first for Sekera, who turns unrestricted this summer? The answer is a resounding no.

In no way am I justifying what Sather did. I think it’s extremely careless. He’s back to tossing away prospects and first round picks like they grow on trees. The same mentality that eventually cost Neil Smith his job. If it means delivering the franchise’s fifth Cup, I’m all for it. With Lundqvist turning 33 tomorrow and a experienced club that includes St. Louis, Girardi and Marc Staal, the time to win is now.

Either Yandle fits in and does exactly what Vigneault wants or this could be one of those trades they regret. We’ll see how it works out this Spring and probably the next.