The New York Rangers’ visit to Montreal on Tuesday serves as a reminder of the valuable legacy left by their former general manager, Jeff Gorton, before his departure in May 2021.
Now serving as the executive vice president of hockey operations for the Montreal Canadiens, Gorton’s influence is evident in the current Rangers roster, including the core players who have led the team to the Eastern Conference Final in two of the last three seasons. During his time as GM from July 2015 to May 2021, Gorton made significant moves, such as signing Artemi Panarin, acquiring Mika Zibanejad, Ryan Lindgren, Adam Fox, and Jacob Trouba, and drafting Alexis Lafreniere, Filip Chytil, and Kaapo Kakko. Notably, all top six defensemen for the Rangers this season were either drafted or traded for under his leadership.
Gorton played a crucial role in the team’s rebuild initiated by The Letter on February 8, 2018, bringing in solid players like Ryan Strome while also acquiring additional draft picks to accelerate the process.
One of his standout contributions came from the 2020 draft, Gorton’s last as GM, which produced four players currently on the Rangers’ roster, along with two more in Hartford showing promise for the future. The Rangers secured the first overall pick that year, selecting Lafreniere, who had an impressive breakout season last year with 28 goals and made significant contributions during the playoffs. This season, Lafreniere has started strong with three goals and six points.
Gorton also performed well with the Rangers’ next two picks, selecting Braden Schneider at 19th overall and Will Cuylle in the second round. Schneider, now in his fourth NHL season, has become an important player, adapting to various roles this season. Cuylle led NHL rookies in hits last season while contributing to the third line, and he continues to make an impact this year.
In addition, the 2020 draft included other promising players like Matt Rempe, Brett Berard, and goalie Dylan Garand, who are currently developing in the AHL. Berard has notable offensive skills, leading his team in goals, while Garand is seen as a potential future backup for Igor Shesterkin.
Overall, Gorton’s successful drafting and trades have left a substantial legacy with the Rangers. Perhaps current GM Chris Drury can show his appreciation to Gorton over some poutine while in Montreal this week.
