NYR/BOS 10/5 Review: Fear and Loathing in NY! Lavy’s Lot Finishes Preseason 1-5; Every Season is Independent of Another, Cullye Says “CASE CLOSED;” Jury Still Out on Lafreniere (And What’s Next), Special Ed Special Team Streak Continues, Terrible TNT & Darren Pang, Let The Excuses Begin & More

Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. Thank the hockey gods that the preseason is over – but where at the same time – this team, especially their special ed teams, needs a ton of work.

Heck, the Rangers need a Joan Rivers’ sized amount of cosmetic surgery.

On Thursday night, October 5th, at “The World’s Most Expensive Arena” on 33rd St. and 7th Ave., the New York Rangers, who present themselves as a proud group and who also wish to exorcise the demons that have haunted them ever since May 1st of this year (the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs loss to the Devils), once again found another way to lose.

On brand.

Up 1-0 after a hell of a snipe from the young Finn Kaapo Kakko, which was set up by an equally as impressive backhanded pass from Chris Kreider, and a goal which was scored at the 10:14 mark of the first period – the Blueshirts never scored again – despite having five power-plays, including one four-minute power-play at the end of the middle frame and two more two-minute man-advantages during the closing minutes of the contest.

A Charlie Coyle power-play goal tied the game in the second period. A Matt Poitras (more on him later – as TNT broadcaster Darren Pang sounded like Jerry Sandusky when talking about him all game) goal put the Bruins ahead early into the third period. An A.J. Greer empty-netter sealed the deal, as the B’s swept the Rangers this preseason, where they won tonight’s final preseason tilt by a final score of 3-1.

The end result of this trying preseason?

A 1-5 record, where it’s not the win-loss record that concerns me the most, as once it’s again, it’s the lack of effort and ability to do anything right for any sustained amount of time that has me fearing and loathing this upcoming 2023-24 campaign.

But perhaps worse than all else?

A 1-21 power-play (that’s a “success” rate of 4.7% – and a real stat too), and where the one goal scored was a fluke goal, off of the skate of a Devils’ defenseman (Jonas Siegenthaler), during a Rangers’ 5 x 3 two-man advantage.

Otherwise, on the traditional 5 x 4 power-play, the Rangers “Golden Sombrero’d” themselves several times over, where they ultimately finished 0-20.

And the penalty kill, and when trying to find equalizers late when pulling the goalie for the extra attacker, was nearly equally as unimpressive.

But for the last time this year, the mandatory disclaimer – “IT’S ONLY THE PRESEASON AND BLAH BLAH BLAH!”

However, outside of a select few, such as Kaapo Kakko, Will Cuylle, Brennan Othmann, Nick Bonino and Erik Gustafsson – has anyone really impressed you?

While we can hopefully give a pass to the players with strong resumes and reputations in town, such as Adam Fox, Chris Kreider, Artemi History X Panarin and DJ Mika; at the same time, it was the new head coach in town, the 37th bench boss in franchise history, Peter Laviolette, who said, and I’m paraphrasing him here, “There is no magic switch. You have to play the right way all of the time and it starts in training camp.”

He also said, and multiple times over at that, “SYSTEMS, SYSTEMS, SYSTEMS,” and most likely said “MARCIA! MARCIA! MARCIA!” too.

After what Mike Francesa would describe as an “UDDA DISASTAH,” which was the Rangers’ performance against the Devils from Wednesday night (https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/10423/ ); another Mike, friend of the site, Michael Silvers, hit the Tweeter X machine to share the following:

The Rangers went 1-5 in the preseason while learning a new system with a veteran core back in 2013-2014. And they were horrendous early on. They only went to the Cup final that year. #NYR #GlassHalfFull

— Michael Silvers (@msilvers1979) October 5, 2023

Let me be clear.

I’m not trying to put any rust on the “Silvers” of the world right now, because I get where he is coming from – and heck, I’d like to be more positive than Robert Reed, Freddie Mercury and Rock Hudson once were too – but I just don’t see it for these Rangers – an opinion that I’ve had from day one of this off-season.

(But it is an opinion that I hope to be proven wrong about.)

Furthermore, for any correlation and/or comparison that you can make from 1993-94 or 2013-14 to 2023-24, I’d also remind you of 1943-44, 1953-54, 1963-64, 1973-74, 1983-84 and 2003-04; where much like the ’94, ’14 and ’24 teams – there were also front office and head coaching changes – and moves that didn’t exactly work out the best for our beloved Blueshirts.

But we can dream.

However, I just go back to my two mottos, perhaps mantras as well, that I’ve been shouting from the rooftops ever since the start of this preseason/training camp:

“WHATEVER THE RANGERS DO IN THE REGULAR SEASON DOESN’T MATTER. THEY CAN ONLY BE JUDGED BY WHATEVER THEY DO IN THE 2024 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS!”

The other, and when that Judgment Day comes? The following:

“I HAVE NO EXPECTATIONS THIS SEASON. THIS WAY, I CAN’T BE LET DOWN – I CAN ONLY BE PLEASANTLY SURPRISED!”

Let’s hope for the latter.

Programming Note: For some reason, and I guess because some readers have missed it, as they are just coming back to the wide-world of hockey now, I have been asked, “Where’s your annual season preview blog?”

My answer? It was posted a month ago and you can find it here: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/2324nhlp/

Let’s now get into all of the news of the day – and this wretched game too – followed by some closing thoughts on this pathetic preseason.

Since the Rangers “played” last night (or whatever that was), the team didn’t have a morning skate on Thursday.

Later on in the day, at 5:30PM, Lateralette spoke to the media:

Maybe my eyes are failing me in my ripe old age of 41-years-old; but for whatever reason, Lateralette continued to push what he said last night – the team played well – but there were a few plays that he would have liked to have back.

Needless to say, I just don’t know how any resident in Rangerstown, USA could say that the team played well against the Devils on Wednesday night – and I’d want that entire sixty-minutes back too!

As far as anything else worth truly noting, the head coach said that Tyler Pitlick “had a great morning” and implied that he won’t be out for any significant amount of time either.

Here was tonight’s line-up for the sixth-and-final game of this Rangers’ preseason:

FIRST LINE: Kreider/Zibanejad/Kakko

SECOND LINE: Panarin/Goodrow/Lafreniere

THIRD LINE: Cuylle/Trocheck/Wheeler

FOURTH LINE: Vesey/Bonino/Othmann

FIRST PAIR: Lindgren/Fox

SECOND PAIR: Miller/Trouba

THIRD PAIR: Gustafsson/Jones

STARTER: CZAR IGOR

BACK-UP: Quick

BOX SCORE time.

The following graphics and information come from ESPN.com:

SCORING:

PENALTIES:

GOALIES:

Ever since TNT landed the NHL’s television rights deal, I have raved, and raved, and have I said raved yet, about the excellent job that TNT has done – and as I have continued to do during the past few years.

I’m not even joking right now – “NHL on TNT” is my favorite show in all of cable television today. I just love all of it.

Heck, I’ve even had many of you readers write in to me and say some version of: “Can you give it a rest? I get it, you love TNT!”

(And no one says this more than reader/friend Tom B.!)

For these readers, then you’ll be happy to know that I thought that tonight’s broadcast absolutely SUCKED.

Not only did TNT bypass the idea of having an in-studio show tonight, a panel which I thoroughly enjoy and was looking forward to; and rather than Kenny Albert, Edzo and company, we were instead “treated” to the likes of Brendan Burke, Jennifer Botterill and Darren Pang, with the latter obsessing over Boston’s Matthew Poitras as if he was Pierre McGuire stroking himself silly over Sidney Crosby.

In my eyes, Burke is fine – but he’s also no Mr. Albert.

Then again, Kenny has been doing this for a long time and can call these games (and any sport too) in his sleep.

Botterill, who I do think presents something strong in-studio, isn’t that much of a play-by-play person, nor much of a color analyst either.

To be fair to BOTTER, it did feel like she was treating this game as “only a preseason game,” rather than taking it seriously.

But “PANGER,” and as they call him, took the cake, as he sounded like one of those people who had an unfortunate run-in with Chris Hansen from “Catch a Predator,” or a “Stalk Boy Steven” type if you will.

Throughout the GAME REVIEW, and because if I had to suffer through them then so do you – I’ll bring up both the lunacy and creepiness that was displayed on the TNT airwaves on Thursday night.

As far as anything else prior to our main event segment, the GAME REVIEW?

What I said on Elon Musk’s social media app prior to puck drop, the following:

Remember, after tonight, the excuse is no longer, “IT’S JUST THE PRESEASON” – instead, “IT’S STILL EARLY IN THE REGULAR SEASON.” Then that will change to, “IT’S JUST T-DAY, WHAT ABOUT THE 2019 BLUES?” Lastly, it’s “WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR!”

But one last time – I do understand the glass half-full mentality – but my glass, that once overflowed with such positivity, has had all of the liquid evaporated from it following the events from last season.

GAME REVIEW time.

FIRST PERIOD:

Prior to both puck drop and the National Anthem (which was shown – and no – John Brancy doesn’t do the preseason either); TNT, and as predicted in this space last night, immediately started talking about Lafreniere’s on-ice issues. Keep this in mind for later.

After being shut out by these Bruins over a week ago in Beantown by a final score of 3-0, by the Dominik Hasek of his own generation, Brandon “WHO?” Bussi (and where the Rangers’ power-play went 0-5 in that game too); tonight, the Rangers lost by a 3-1 final, and where this time, Jeremy Swayman served the B’s in net.

In other words, the Blueshirts didn’t see the 2023 Vezina Trophy winner, Linus Ullmark, in their two preseason affairs with their Original Six foe. Instead, they couldn’t muster up a goal against the Bruins’ third-string goalie and then only scored one measly goal against Boston’s back-up.

Impressive!

Tell me what’s changed again, outside of the head coach?

After TNT showed us David Pastrnak sniffing smelling salts as if he was a coke-head doing key rails at 3AM at some shit-hole dive bar (no Don Murdoch joke needed); the puck was dropped, Zibanejad lost the draw and the final sixty-minutes of this pathetic preseason began.

While I don’t think that anything truly “hurts” in the preseason; what has to burn the asses of every Blueshirt backer is that the Rangers had one of their best periods of the preseason here, a period that was only outdone by the first frame that they had in their lone preseason victory, the game against the Islanders – yet they still found a way to lose – despite having numerous upon numerous chances to run away with a win.

Put it this way: The Bruins finished with only one shot on goal this period. That’s not a typo. ONE SHOT ON GOAL.

Goodrow, who I’m to assume subbed in for Filip Chytil tonight (but don’t say the word “concussion” – the Rangers’ beat and the club themselves begs of ya!), was fine in his role as the Rangers’ second line center. This also meant that Vincent Trocheck was devoid of the horror known as Artemi History X Panarin – as the new #16 in town isn’t like the one before him (Ryan Strome) – he plays much better whenever he isn’t flanked by “The Breadman” with no dough (or hair).

This was evident early on (and this trend continued throughout the game), as NONNA TROCHECK’S BAMBINO almost had Will Cuylle set-up for a back-door goal just 2:10 into the game, which of note, was their first shift of the tilt too.

Kakko, who as mentioned, also stood out in a good way tonight, forced a turnover with 16:30 remaining, which as a result, created some rare o-zone time for the Blueshirts this preseason.

A minute later, his fellow lottery man, Alexis “Can Everyone Stop Talking About Me?” Lafreniere, blew a tire in the neutral zone and coughed up a puck himself.

As Ranger fans put the word MORGUE into the letter M at M$G, as the lack of crowd participation was blatantly obvious, especially when seeing the rocking barns at Belmont and in Newark; another thing also became blatantly obvious – Lavy’s former charges in his previous stops, Nick Bonino (NSH) and Erik Gustafsson (WSH), put credence into his “SYSTEMS.”

These two were blocking shots left-and-right and when they weren’t – they weren’t “flamingoing” either – the puck just missed them instead.

In one of the previous preseason games, I wrote that Bonino didn’t really stand out to me and I didn’t even notice that he played. The complete opposite was true in this game.

And Gustafsson? He’s a cinch to win the 3LD spot next to Braden Schneider – and where similar to Bonino in the past – I rarely noticed Zac Jones tonight – who has Libor Hajek and Nils Lundkvist 2.0 written all over him – and as described on this site in the past.

Down to 11:58 remaining, Charlie Coyle smashed the iron, as a heat-seeking missile hit where the cross bar and left post intersect – a rare break for these Rangers.

A minute later, there was Trocheck again, who almost had Gustafsson, who has really displayed his offensive-awareness to go along with his defensive prowess this preseason, set-up for a goal.

At the time, the Rangers were humming here and as a result, they were rewarded with 9:45 remaining:

Kakko 🎯 pic.twitter.com/ifE6oANBWp

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) October 5, 2023

1-0, GOOD GUYS!

This was a superb play, as Kreider won a puck battle in the neutral zone, stuck with the play, brought the rubber into the o-zone and BOOM – made a backhanded pass to an awaiting Kakko – who then, and unlike he’s done so many times in the past – didn’t hesitate or look to make a pass himself – as instead, he just ripped a puck from the high slot just between the circles for the score.

(HOLY DASHES BATMAN!)

That has to be a confidence booster – and proof to himself that he should always shoot first, ask questions later.

As is tradition, right after the goal, the Rangers’ opponent had no issues entering their zone, but BOOM – there was Bonino again blocking a shot – thus preventing any sort of work load for CZAR IGOR this period.

And oh, since I haven’t mentioned it already – Jonathan Quick backed up Mr. Shestyorkin tonight – as Dylan Garand, after sitting on the bench last night, was returned to Hartford on Thursday morning.

Still, I think we’ll see him make his NHL debut at some point this season – and perhaps by the time that the trick-or-treaters start rapping on wooden doors.

In one positive play from Lafreniere tonight; with 6:37 remaining, Panarin set him up for a tip-try in front of Swayman. This puck was denied – and this would go down as #13’s lone shot on goal of the game.

Of note: Cuylle had four times as many shots as Lafreniere tonight – and all of high quality too.

With 3:55 remaining, A.J. Greer was boxed for interfering with Panarin, which as a result, gave the Rangers another chance to work on their downright abysmal power-play.

For what it’s worth, this was the best power-play that the Rangers had tonight, as Panarin hit a post, Cuylle knocked down Swayman on a shot that the goalie saved from his rear-end and Lafreniere just missed the net at the end of it.

But still, this is a results business.

0-1 on the special ed teams.

1-0, GOOD GUYS, after twenty.

Here’s what I said at the time:

1-0, GOOD GUYS, after 20. 1P Thoughts:
— Finally a lead – and some sign of life too.
— Heck of a rip for Kakko.
— Gotta score on the power-play.
— Bruins only credited with one SOG – “That’s So Rangers!”
— Laf looks better, but like his fellow lotto pick – “needs to…

— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) October 6, 2023

SECOND PERIOD:

Following an interview with Cam Neely at the booth, I was left wondering – would Neely’s counterpart in New York, Chris “ZOOM ZOOM” Drury, be interviewed during the second intermission?

As you could probably ascertain, the answer to that question is NO – as apparently, there was a big late night rush at Colony Pizza for Mr. Jong Drury.

This is where the broadcast also started getting wacky.

After TNT brought up again that Lafreniere could be better (again, keep this in mind for later); everyone in the booth was impressed that DJ Mika Zibanejad can play music on his computer. They were also impressed that Jacob Trouba has a hell of a finger-painting career on his hands too.

And Panarin sporting a similar head as Pang? Well as Joe Micheletti would say, it was all “FABULOUS!”

Following the remarks about Lafreniere, just two minutes into the period, he made another god-awful turnover which then set up a Bruins’ two-vs-one odd-man rush the other way – but there was Gustafsson, who went all out, as he made a sliding block to prevent an easy goal for the black-and-gold, who ironically, were wearing lily white jerseys tonight – an article of clothing that had Botterill doing back-flips over.

(If you don’t know this about me, then here it is: I do not care what jerseys, color schemes or styles that these NHL teams wear. The Rangers can wear pink tutus for all I care. I just want a Stanley Cup.)

Down to 16:08 remaining, Ryan Lindgren took his first of two penalties when he hooked someone featured in my new book, “RANGER KILLER” Brad Marchand.

And as you may be aware of – these two have plenty of history between each other – and I think that “The Rat” knows who #55 on the Rangers is now too.

The Rangers actually looked competent on this penalty kill and where CZAR IGOR didn’t have to break a sweat. By the end of the successful kill, #31, in net for now over 25-minutes, only had two saves to his ledger.

Come 12:00 remaining, Miller prevented a backdoor Boston goal, as once again, the Blueshirt rearguards weren’t allowing much to get through.

As we crossed the half-way point of the game/period; with 9:16 to go, Trouba tripped Greer as the Bruin had deked him out with a dangle and was approaching Mr. Shestyorkin.

The Rangers’ PK could never touch the puck here, and as a result, just 29-seconds later, Pavel Zacha, Pavel Zacha, dorme vu, dorme vu, began a tic-tac-toe goal play, as he found Pastrnak and the new mega-million-dollar man in Beantown then found Coyle, all alone and undisturbed, at the top of CZAR IGOR’s crease, for the no-doubt-about-it goal.

1-1.

There was nothing that the 2022 Vezina Trophy winner could do on this play. The Rangers were just beat.

Following the goal, and with 6:10 remaining, CZAR IGOR made one of his patented homerun passes to Lafreniere, but ironically, the softball king couldn’t get a hold of it.

In what was a turning point in the game, with 4:22 remaining, we had a slew of penalties.

Coyle received a rare triple minor following some jaw-jackin’ and glove-droppin’ with Jimmy Vesey.

In turn, the Rangers then had four minutes of an uninterrupted power-play.

The best scoring chance during these 240-seconds?

When CZAR IGOR stopped Brad Marchand.

0-2 on the power-play.

0-3 on the power-play.

And if you can’t score during these multiple-minute advantages, then you deserve to lose.

1-1 after forty minutes of play.

Here’s what I said at the time:

1-1 through 40 minutes. 2P Thoughts:
— Rangers’ special teams 1 for 5 this game, not good.
— PP 0-3 tonight, 0-18 5 x 4 this preseason, 1-19 in total. Bru-tal.
— If this is a fair fight, then Cuylle has beaten out both Laf and Othmann.
— Why did we get saddled with TNT’s…

— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) October 6, 2023

THIRD PERIOD:

If Darren Pang has been creepy in the past, then I guess that I have never noticed it before. However, here’s a transcript of his second intermission:

[When interviewing Poitras]: “You look great for a nineteen-year-old.”

He may as well have offered the Bruin some candy from his van or ended his sentence with, “What are you doing after the game? I got a motel not too far from here – and it has free cable and a jacuzzi.”

[When talking about Connor Bedard, you know, a player in Chicago who wasn’t involved in this game]: “He looks great. His legs are super thick. His pipes are good.”

I’d love to know what he meant by “pipes.”

[When talking to Marchand]: “How does it feel to wear the “C” big guy?”

I know that I have the maturity level of a twelve-year-old (and I won’t make a Pang joke about someone of that age either – so I guess that I’m more mature than I think!); but I gotta say, I was crying laughing when listening to Pang talking as if he was Brad Aldrich.

(Maybe I’m not as mature as I thought after that horrendous joke – a joke that I’m sure some people will now want me CANCELED over!)

I stand up with you my fellow aspiring stand-up comedians – everyone wants to be offended and doesn’t want to laugh anymore.

I guess that’s also why we don’t see those annual Comedy Central Roasts on TV anymore either.

And I guess it’s also why I have to clearly state:

NO, I DON’T THINK THAT PANG IS DOING ANYTHING CRIMINAL. I AM J-O-K-I-N-G, IN MY HORRIBLE ATTEMPT TO MAKE YOU LAUGH FOLLOWING ANOTHER MISERABLE NIGHT OF RANGER HOCKEY!

Furthermore, and in an attempt to be 100% crystal clear with you:

NO, I DON’T THINK THAT PANG IS SOME SORT OF SEXUAL DEVIANT, AN EVIL AND VILE DEVIANT WITH NO MORALS WHAT TO SPEAK OF, AND WHO HANGS OUT AT RANDOM TRUCK STOPS IN FLIN FLON, MANITOBA, ALL WITH THE DESPERATE HOPES OF GETTING A GLIMPSE OF A HOCKEY PLAYER LOOKING TO ENJOY A LATE NIGHT SNACK OR TAKE A LEAK. NO, I DON’T THINK THAT PANG DOES ANY OF THAT! HOW DARE ANYONE SUGGEST SUCH A THING!

Ugh.

And this is only the preseason.

Imagine the crap and bad comedy that I’ll come up with during the regular season – and most especially if the losing in New York continues.

One more time – UGH!

And oh – Rest in Peace to the great Gilbert Gottfried.

If you haven’t figured it out, then I ripped off this stupid (but hilarious to me) bit from him.

Back to the hockey game.

Just 1:13 into this final frame – BOOM – Poitras, who Pang had cartoon hearts popping out of his eyes for (and who knows what was sprouting downstairs – and perish the thought!), scored the go-ahead goal.

2-1, bad guys – and on a goal where both Miller and Lafreniere could have prevented.

Similar to the Coyle goal, Poitras was left all alone at the top of CZAR IGOR’s crease and all that Miller & Lafreniere could do was watch.

I’m sure that Poitras also got a call from a blocked number about his late Thursday night plans following his game-winning tally – and I’ll let you guess from who!

Now down 2-1, we saw a repeat episode of “The Twilight Zone: Guest Starring the New York Rangers.”

I’m getting fed-up, so let me blow through the rest of this.

In what we’ve seen 789678968968968967896 times before, the Blueshirts went balls-to-the-wall when trying to find the equalizer, but once again, the goalie in the other barrel wasn’t having any of that.

Between dings, blocked shots, big saves and near-misses – the Rangers never tied the game.

If there was anything good to come from this, then it was Big Willie Cuylle, as no joke – and let me capitalize and bold this for effect – YOU NOTICED HIM ON EVERY SHIFT.

Whether he was driving the offense, skating around like madman or stifling the Bruins – he was the Rangers’ best player tonight – as he continued his strong preseason/training camp.

If there was anything bad to come from this, then it was everything else – and especially at the end of the game.

With 5:40 to go, Kakko drew Coyle for a tripping penalty. As TNT reminded us that Adam Fox was born in Jericho, NY (no joke – Fox’s #23 will go to the rafters one day, and a 132-year-old Sam Rosen will shriek, “OH JOE, ADAM FOX JOE, HE’S FROM JERICHO, NY JOE!”), I thought to myself – too bad this penalty didn’t take place three-minutes later – just so Lavy could use his timeout and pull CZAR IGOR too for the extra attacker.

And to prove that I said this in real-time, and not just saying this with the benefit of hindsight – my live tweets from the end of this mess to conclude tonight’s GAME REVIEW:

Too bad this PP didn’t take place three minutes later – could’ve pulled Igor for the extra attacker #NYR

— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) October 6, 2023

PP1 takes the full two minutes and can’t score, what a disaster #NYR

— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) October 6, 2023

And now #NYR will be able to pull the goalie – 3:04 to go – Othmann draws a boarding penalty on Pavel Zacha dorme vu, dorme vu

— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) October 6, 2023

Igor remains in net to start – let’s see how this goes, maybe pull him with 2:00 to go and depending where the puck is #NYR

— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) October 6, 2023

Of note, I would’ve taken the timeout before the PP started #NYR

— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) October 6, 2023

And Igor does go to the bench, 6 x 4, 1:55 to go #NYR

— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) October 6, 2023

Now Lavy uses his timeout with only 7 seconds left on the PP, 1:10 in the game – I’m just a bullshit blogger, not an NHL HC, but I would’ve used the TO at the start of the PP as said earlier. #NYR

— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) October 6, 2023

Greer, ENG, 3-1, bad guys, 21.1 to go. That will do it. #NYR go 1-5 this preseason and where their special teams are special ed.

— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) October 6, 2023

3-1, bad guys, your final.

Let the excuses for the regular season begin – after all, it’s still early – and who cares if two points in the early weeks count just as much as the points in March and April – am I right?

Back to the top topic in Rangertown, USA right now, fair or unfair, Mr. Lafreniere.

A few nights ago, I shared with you just a snippet of a conversation that I had with an active member of the Rangers’ beat, the following:

After releasing this text (with permission), this story has gone viral, where a lot of misinterpretation (predictably at that) ensued.

Of course, my detractors questioned if this reporter is even real – but as said at the time – why would I make this up? I’m not making any sort of monetary gain on this. Hell, I refuse advertisers from plugging their wares on this site! (But buy my books please!)

And the idea of clickbait?

If I cared about that, then I’d break up these 978678686969667679 word blogs into 7896789678978686 different links.

One reason why this conversation HAD TO BE FAKE?

GASP, the reporter wasn’t using proper grammar! The horror! How dare anyone speak freely and type shorthand in a text or direct message!

But I don’t need to prove myself to any of you lovely guys and gals, nor do I care about strangers on the internet either!

Anyway, the point of all of this is that this story got a lot of traction – where now other beat reporters are trying to fan the flames – where I guess as a result, and if you use your brain – you may be able to figure out who the person who gave me this info was.

Larry Brooks, the best on the beat, did his best P.R. job for the Blueshirts on Thursday morning – a gig that he’s held for years – as he’s always been the organization’s conduit on material that they want released.

(And that’s why no one else on the beat breaks stories besides him – and he’s the only reporter that James Dolan will talk to.)

Brooks’ story? No one is questioning Lafreniere’s summer – but c’mon – after watching this training camp can you really say that he’s anywhere close to a cut above the rest – including 18-year-olds and junior hockey players that he’s failed against this preseason? (To be fair, Brooks did suggest as much too, but he said it in a polite manner.)

And let us be clear too – I’m not, nor is the reporter above, saying that Lafreniere didn’t train. In fact, the complete opposite.

However, it’s what I’ve alluded to all summer on this site before releasing this conversation – did he make the best use of his summer?

Again, I don’t judge anyone if they take a break away from work and have a few beers (most of us do it – and I know that I do) – but what’s truly in question is how rigorous his training really was.

In other words – Did he do everything that he could? Did he go the extra mile?

And go figure – after releasing this message, I had several people tell me that M$GN’s Steve Valiquette, not exactly my BFF (he’s certainly not a fan of my Sieve Vagistat nickname!), said the exact same thing, but not verbatim – but he did imply that Lafreniere hasn’t really had the most productive summers.

But to put a bow on this for now, it goes back to what I’ve said from day one of this off-season, the following:

“If Lafreniere has a slow start this preseason/training camp, then you will hear a lot about his off-season/summer.”

I probably wrote the above sentence no less than 7896786679676 times during the hot months on this site.

Fast-forward to today, and now less than a week out from the start of the 2023-24 season – Lafreniere is being questioned left-and-right – and by everyone – fans, national reporters, Ranger beat people, M$GN employees – again everyone.

I don’t mean to kick the guy when he’s down, I really don’t.

But this is an organization operating under a “WIN-NOW” banner – and you tell me – are the Rangers better off with him – or seeing what they got with either, or both, Will Cuylle and Brennan Othmann?

Hell, would the Rangers be better off trading Lafreniere’s cap-hit and signing a healthy proven winner, Patrick Kane, where again – the “WIN-NOW” banner goes above all else.

I don’t know how long this Rangers’ core has left, but we all know what the textbook definition of insanity is.

And as we’ve seen in the past with other lotto-pick players such as Lias Andersson, Vitali Kravtsov and others – you want to cut bait before it’s too late.

Can Lafreniere turn it around and shut up all of this talk?

I’m rooting for it.

After all, that’s what’s best for this WIN-NOW team – but I’m also not sure how long his leash should be.

I glad that I’m “just a blogger” – and not a general manager – as I really don’t have an answer!

Here’s Laviolette following tonight’s debacle:

My favorite question?

When Lateralette was asked, “Do you think you need to work more on the power-play?”

That’s like asking me, “Do you want another beer when watching the Rangers play?”

That’s a wrap on this woefully bad Rangers’ preseason.

Up next: Roster Cuts and where yep, you know it – guaranteed contracts and players who can & can not clear waivers will impact all decisions.

That’s probably why Zac Jones will make the team – unless a trade, ala Lundkvist, is coming. If not, then he’ll have to work on removing the ass indents of Hajek from the Rangers’ press box.

Cuylle should make the team and perhaps if the injuries to Chytil and Pitlick roll into October 12th, then he will.

I rank Othmann one tier below Cuylle, but it’s redundant – I’d like him here but we know the story.

Moving forward, I’m sure that I’ll have some big-ass blog next week, but as the roster cut news trickles in (at least the news that we expect), I might just post short updates just to cover it.

In other words, subscribe to the site.

Thanks for sticking with me tonight as I know that I was all over the place – but sometimes you just got to vent  – and the Blueshirts have given me many reasons to do so!

Bring on the Sabres – where ugh – I shudder to think of what Devon Levi will do on 10/12.

And I’m going to Columbus for Game 2 of the season – where I’m sure that Adam Fantilli will have a field day in the Blue Jackets’ home-opener.

Want to donate to this site and bolster my beer-funds & road-trip blogs?

Then, and should you be so willing, you can do so by hitting up my PayPal address of BULLSMC@AOL.COM or visiting my Venmo account @Sean-McCaffrey-34.

PLUGS TIME! (Buy a book and support my Rangers’ induced therapy bills. After all, I don’t run ads on this site!

“The Top 100 Villains of New York Rangers History,” is now available for preorder.

For complete information, please visit: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/rangerkillers/

My second plug of tonight’s blog – the mandatory plug for my book, “The New York Rangers Rink of Honor and the Rafters of Madison Square Garden.”

As mentioned previously, the book is now available in hardcover, in paperback and in Kindle formats. To purchase a copy of the book, visit this link:

https://www.amazon.com/Rangers-Rafters-Madison-Square-Garden-ebook/dp/B09CM5N2WD

For those still looking for signed paperback versions of the book, I have re-ordered more copies. I now have a few signed copies for sale at $25 a pop (includes shipping price) through me directly. Here is all the information on that:

Order “The New York Rangers Rink of Honor and the Rafters of Madison Square Garden” Book Today

My four-volume set of books, “One Game at a Time – A Season to Remember,” is a game-by-game recount of the Rangers 2021-22 campaign.

My second title as an author, “One Game at a Time – A Season to Remember,” is now available in eBook, paperback and hardcover formats.

To obtain signed copies, visit: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/onegamebook/

To purchase all four volumes on Amazon, visit: Amazon.com – “One Game at a Time.”

The greatest volume-set of books on Rangers’ history today!

“Tricks of the Trade – A Century-Long Journey Through Every Trade Made In New York Rangers’ History,” a four-volume set of books that meticulously covers every trade made in franchise history, is now on sale.

All four volumes of the title can be purchased on Amazon.com and are presented in three different formats – eBook, paperback and hardcover.

To purchase Volume I: Conn Smythe (1926) – Craig Patrick (1986), visit Amazon.com

To purchase Volume II: Phil Esposito (1986) – Neil Smith (2000), visit Amazon.com

To purchase Volume III: Glen Sather (2000-2015), visit Amazon.com

To purchase Volume IV: Jeff Gorton (2015) – Chris Drury (2022), visit Amazon.com

To purchase signed copies of all four volumes, visit https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/tricksofthetrade/

Here are my last few blogs, in case you missed them:

NYR/NJD 10/4 Review: DEJA POO! Devils Dominate Blueshirts Again; 2023 Stanley Cup Playoff Vibes Won’t Go Away, Can’t Blame Lafreniere, Special Ed Teams Continue To Sink; “Quicksand” No Better, Cuylle Lone Bright Spot & More

The 23 Concerns For the 2023-24 New York Rangers; Overreactions vs Facts, NYC Sports, Rangers’ Alum Derek Stepan Announces Retirement; His Place in Franchise History, Roster Cuts & The Varsity Club, “LAVY LOUNGES” & More

NYR/NYI 9/30 Review: Isles Run Over Blueshirts at IBS, M$GN Focuses on “The Softball Sensation;” Lafreniere Outplayed Again By Both Cuylle & Othmann, Laviolette’s “System” Overload; Goes to the Line Blender & Calls Out #13 in a Damning Interview, Chris “Jong” Drury Makes Roster Moves, Quick Prediction Getting Stronger By the Day & More. Plus: Is Zuccarello a Hall of Famer?

NYR/NJD 9/28 Review: No “Laugh-freniere” Matter! Ranger Rookies (and Veterans) Continue to Outplay “The Softball Sensation,” Schmid Happens (Again); Shut Out Streak Extended, Who’d You Rather – “WIN NOW” NYR Right Wing Options, Othmann Hates Hartford, Ken Daneyko, M$GN & More

If you haven’t already, subscribe to this blog for the next update:

Don’t forget to order my recently released four-volume set of books, “Tricks of the Trade!”

If you don’t order through me, all four volumes are now available on Amazon.com

For more details, check out: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/tricksofthetrade/

Thanks for reading.

LET’S GO RANGERS!

Sean McCaffrey

BULLSMC@aol.com

@NYCTHEMIC on the Tweeter machine