Salary Cap was the best thing to happen to the Rangers in the last 20 years. Remember here in 05 before the league rebooted when people were flipping their lids when the Rangers didn't sign Forsberg and Khaubeboulin? Does Lundqvist develop the same with Khabby in net? They already had Weekes and you know Henrik would have started in the minors no mater how well he played. Whose to say he doesn't get a Cherneski like injury there?
Hawks and Kings have been competitive and Dynasty-esque for the last six years. You gotta draft the right players with killer instinct who can step it up and perform under pressure. These aren't always first rounders; Justin Williams, Joel Ward, Nikita Kucherov, Connor Shearey. Esa Tikkanen and Claude Lemeiux are known for their playoff legends.
Rangers have been much better since the lockout, not perfect but much better. Only two issues are making two drafting blunders (Giroux and Tarasenko) and at times signing the wrong UFAs. Talent can be found, just have to make the right decisions.
I cannot stand this whole "Hey, they gave us 1994 so let's give them the keys to the kingdom" thing in reference to Leetch or anyone else. Yeah, Bryan Trottier worked out real well here because of his Cups, and Nystrom was also an assistant coach in the 80s for crying out loud.
Beuk has put in the work, Housley has put in the work, Brad Shaw has put in the work, etc. These guys are professional coaches. Any of them would be fine. Rick Bowness, John Paddock....guys that were coaching when I was a kid.
I love 1994 as much as the next guy but work to win a Cup every 20-30 years with a different core and not leftovers. That's reasonable to me.