Report: Martin St. Louis Unlikely To Return To New York Rangers

Photo Credit: hockey.dobbersports.com

The New York Rangers season ended in disappointment, as they lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Larry Brooks of the New York Post reported that alternate captain Martin St. Louis and the Rangers will be preparing to, “move on,” from each others’ company.

St. Louis was shipped from the Tampa Bay Lightning to the Rangers in 2014 following him asking to be traded. The Lightning traded the winger for captain Ryan Callahan and several draft picks. During his tenure with the Rangers thus far, as he will become an unrestricted free agent this off-season, he aided the Rangers to the Stanley Cup in 2014 and the Eastern Conference Finals against his former team, the Lightning.

The career St. Louis has provided NHL fans to witness has surely been a great one so far. St Louis, who turns 40 on Thursday, has provided Rangers and Lightning fans joy due to his impressive play. During the 2015 Stanley Cup playoffs, St. Louis certainly struggled, as the Rangers looked for a reliable goalscorer late in the playoffs. Rangers’ fans were expecting the same St. Louis they had received in the 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs; then, St. Louis scored eight goals.

The established leadership St. Louis provides is evident, and can be appealing to teams undergoing a drastic amount of changes. However, it should be noted that if St. Louis intends to keep his winning ways afloat, perhaps joining a young, undeveloped, team is not smart, at this point. What should be kept in mind is, does St. Louis want to continue to play in the NHL?

As Rangers’ fans say their farewells to St. Louis it shouldn’t be on a bitter note. The two meshed well together for a brief season and a half, but it is time the two move apart.