The New York Rangers have been playing better as of late, surprising with a decent stretch (albeit against not the best teams). With the rest of the season looking like a race to the bottom of the standings, there’s been a lot of conversation surrounding how to root for a team that would benefit from finishing in the bottom spot. While it seems counterintuitive, it’s a valid question about draft position. Do we want the Rangers to win games right now? Or do we want them to get the best possible chance at a top pick?
Realistically, the Rangers have a chance at drafting anywhere in the 1-8 range, with the worst case scenario being a huge run by the Rangers and falling all the way to the double digits. Most likely, the Rangers will not go on that run and will draft in a 1-5 type of spot. They are still 29th in the NHL in points percentage, which helps cover the gap between games played across the bottom of the league.
Of course, the lottery could wreak havoc on all of this, making every Rangers win a knock on their chances of getting a generational talent in the draft. With that, many fans have taken to rooting against their own team, and even more intensely, criticizing those who do want the Rangers to win games.
I’m not going to be intentionally naive and say I don’t get it. The Rangers are desperately in need of a young infusion of talent, and the best way to get that talent will be drafting as early as possible. It’s fair to say draft position is more important.
You are not wrong if you want the Rangers to win games. In fact, I have a few issues with the notion that rooting for the Rangers is a silly thing to do. One, we are quite literally Rangers fans and we want the Rangers to win games. While many enjoy the concept of a brighter future, that doesn’t help with enjoying the games today. If you’re still watching the Rangers this season, you are investing your valuable time and energy into a bad team. You care. So why should you be rewarded with terrible play and an empty feeling after each loss?
Additionally, time after time we see teams have excellent finishes to seasons, then carry that momentum into the next season. Mike Sullivan isn’t going anywhere, so seeing the team start to adapt better to his style and get some positive energy for the new season would go a long way toward a better start to next year.
Understandably, you may not want the Rangers to win games next season either, but then what is this all about? Are we rooting against the Rangers next year, too? At what point does it get too far? Top draft picks don’t always guarantee success. Just look at the 20 year rebuild in Buffalo.
All I know is I went to the Rangers game in Philadelphia with the attitude that my favorite team was playing, and I wanted to see my favorite team perform well. I want the Rangers to win games. After every goal, I got to feel that awesome feeling of knowing my favorite team scored. I got to cheer with my fellow fans and feel the camaraderie of a hockey game.
Isn’t that what it’s all about, rooting for your team, and having fun while doing it?