from Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News,

What does clearly set the Rangers back, however, is what happened elsewhere in the Metropolitan Division these past couple weeks, primarily in Washington and Columbus:

As the Rangers failed even to maintain the status quo, many of their closest rivals improved or — at the bare minimum — had the cap space and wherewithal to take their best run at doing so.

There may be significant skepticism about how much the Capitals upgraded by trading right wing Troy Brouwer in Thursday’s deal for St. Louis Blues right wing and USA Olympic shootout phenom T.J. Oshie, 28. Yet there is a question to pose to the doubters: How long can a team continue trotting out the same core of players, year after year, and always come up short before changing something up front?

Washington revamped its blue line last summer with the signings of Matt Niskanen and Brooks Orpik. Goaltender Braden Holtby had by far his best season as a pro. Alex Ovechkin didn’t win the MVP award, but he played like one. And now GM Brian MacLellan has added the skilled Oshie (115 points the past two seasons) as well as “Mr. Game 7,” former L.A. Kings Conn Smythe winner Justin Williams, 33, on the right side.

You know who needed a player exactly like Williams? The Rangers. Too bad a two-year, $6.5 million deal shoved them out of any consideration, since they’re so tight against the salary cap.

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