For headline purposes, the term “fire sale” works just fine as applied to MSG ownership’s commitment to transform the Rangers roster just as it transformed the building over the summers of 2011, 2012 and 2013.
Literally, however, with all dictionary definitions of the term as both a noun and adjective featuring the descriptive words, “heavily discounted prices,” this is not at all what general manager Jeff Gorton and his staff have in mind.
Which, as the process began with a winning trade Tuesday of pending free agent Nick Holden to the Bruins for a third-round draft choice and 24-year-old defenseman Rob O’Gara, is why Ryan McDonagh might remain the Rangers captain beyond the Feb.