Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. Yeah, yeah, yeah – and like a pregnancy test that you don’t want – I’m way late.
But as stated in these pages on Thursday night, following the 8-4 home loss to the Ottawa Senators – then both real life responsibilities and alcohol-fueled pleasure comes before the New York Rangers for me these days!
After all, then the life support plug has been pulled out on this franchise long ago – and where there are no joys or jollies to be found at M$G these days either – and most certainly not whenever watching this centennial crew take the ice!
That said?
Then of course, with yours truly having some overtime at the real j-o-b on Friday, then a quick turnaround in order to get to my favorite local watering hole ahead of Saturday’s matinee where the Rangers played guest in Philly – and there was a cavalcade of Blueshirts’ news to be made – and where by now – you already know all of it.
I’m just here, extremely belated at that, to share my opinions on everything – while also sprinkling in a few news items too.
Plus, by catching up now, here on late Sunday night, then it will prevent a 50,000-word manifesto for you on Monday night, when the Rangers play next – and of course, against who else – two people who may be smiling right now – Chris Kreider and Jacob Trouba, presently of the Anaheim Ducks.
Before getting into everything Chris Drury related, including the words “rebuild” and “retool,” then I just wanted to give you my biggest takeaway from the Rangers’ 6-3 win in Philly from Saturday.
(I also have a ton of thoughts from the match – and where all of them will be included below.)
If you recall, then on April 10th, 2025, the Rangers, at the time, both officially and mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, had just dropped three games in a row.
Up next on the schedule was a road game at the IBS Arena, where the Blueshirts would play guest to baby brother on Long Island.
The Islanders, also extremely bad that season, decided to skate what was essentially a line-up full of minor-leaguers – and right down to third- and fourth-string goalies – Marcus Hogberg and Tristan Lennox.
For the Bad & Brutal Blueshirts on this night, they defeated the Islanders 9-2, and where Mika Zibanejad finished with a goal and an assist, Artemi Panarin scored three points via two goals and a helper, both Vincent Trocheck and Alexis Lafreniere scored a goal and assisted on another and the soon-to-be captain, J.T. Miller, also finished with a pair of assists.
Not a shabby night out for the FAT CATS – albeit, against an AHL roster.
Heck, even rookie Brett Berard was in on the action too, as he scored a pair of goals in what today, is still the best game of his young career.
For the Blueshirts on this night, it was a rare bright spot in what was one of the worst seasons in franchise history – but it was also a night that the Islanders would never forget about either.
For the Rangers, then just a season prior (2023-24), they had won the Presidents Trophy, while also reaching that year’s Eastern Conference Final.
Come their 9-2 win over the Islanders – then not only were they already eliminated from the playoffs – but they weren’t even close to sniffing the postseason.
We all know what happened next – and where I may have mentioned this story 79856786879755 times since it happened.
Less than a month later, May 5th, 2025 – and the Islanders, and as a direct result of this loss to the Rangers, had a bigger party than any other Cinco de Mayo gathering in all of the land – as they had just won the NHL Draft Lottery.
Had it been the blue-and-orange – and not the blue-and-white – that had won that meaningless game played on April 10th, 2025 (and a game that I attended with one of my loser Islander friends – and a long-time pal that left before the second period had even concluded too!) – and it would’ve been the Rangers, and not the Islanders, that would have then went on to draft Matthew Schaefer.
Granted, and I’ll give you this – perhaps if it was Chris Drury, and not the new GM on Long Island, Mathieu Darche, that had drafted Schaefer – then yeah – maybe the defenseman that’s now getting his name compared to the likes of not only Cale Makar, but to Bobby Orr too, would be a used car salesman today.
After all, then we are all well too aware of the Rangers’ draft history.
While time will tell how Schaefer ultimately winds up; but at the very least, and for now, then we can say that he’s been a smashing success.
We can’t say the same for players like Kaapo Kakko, Alexis Lafreniere, Lias Andersson, Brennan Othmann, Vitali Kravtsov and do I really need to go on-and-on here?
When I saw the Rangers just completely dismantle a rebuilding Flyers’ team on Saturday – including an orange-and-black attack that had a fourth-string KHL reject in their own net (Aleksei Kolosov) – then I had deja vu, chills and goose bumps (to go along with a high B.A.C. level too!) – as here were the down-and-already-out, and now admittedly “retooling” too, Rangers, celebrating their win against the Flyers as if they had just won the Stanley Cup.
Zibanejad, one of the greatest “FLYER KILLERS” in league history, scored another one of his ten career hat tricks against Philly on Saturday.
As it was ten months ago, and Panarin had an identical stat line of two goals and one assist.
Another identical stat line was the one of Captain Culture – as he registered two assists on Saturday.
Trocheck and Lafreniere, who finished with two points a piece on that ill-fated night of 4/10/2025, also scored two points against Philly – as both players netted a pair of assists.
And heck – even “The Appendix,” Brennan Othmann, and like Berard before him, scored a goal too – and the first goal of his current 35 games played career.
Long story short? (Easy for me to say!)
Then I wouldn’t be shocked, not even one iota, should the Flyers somehow win the 2026 NHL Draft lottery – and then go on to select Gavin McKenna.
And wouldn’t this scenario be “so Rangers” should it play out this way?
While I understand that the Blueshirts aren’t going to close out the season on a 35-game losing streak, and that only fans, and not players & coaches, root for “tanking;” but even so, and most especially after last year – then you have to wonder what the repercussions of this win over a fellow failing-and-flailing Metrosexual Division opponent will be come the future.
Another thing to wonder about?
Then why was Panarin even in the line-up in the first place?
More on that below.
Up next?
Of course, what’s now being dubbed as “The Letter 2.0.”
By now, and you already know – the ZOOM ZOOM general manager broke his self-imposed vow of silence on Friday – and where of course – not only was there controversy attached to what he said – but by the timing of his statement too.
Following the Rangers dropping their season-high fifth game in a row, and as they did on Thursday night when they were embarrassed by Ottawa to a tune of 8-4; then come Friday morning, and prior to driving down I-95 to Philadelphia – and the team reconvened at their training facility in Tarrytown for practice.
The biggest team news following all of the bloviated and big-talk Blueshirt post-practice interviews was that the reliable Carson Soucy was demoted to seventh defenseman status.
It was later revealed that Soucy had a personal matter to attend to, and whether it be trade related or not (the Rangers are saying no – but how can you trust them?)- and Connor Mackey was soon recalled from Hartford.
Once the bags were packed and the Rangers started to head down to the Land of Cheesteaks.
Just as you thought that Friday would be like any other travel day – then boom – Drury crawled out of his hole at 1:30PM – and just to give you the black-and-white of it – and here’s what he said:
“We wanted to take a moment to connect with our loyal and passionate fanbase. We know and feel your disappointment with how the season has gone to this point. We are just as frustrated and want nothing more than to deliver an on-ice product you can be proud of – it’s what drives us every day. No one in the organization is happy with what has transpired – from management, to coaches, to players. Over the last few years, we’ve had some successes and moments to cherish, but ultimately it was not the end goal. We are working relentlessly every day to bring a Stanley Cup back to New York because that is what our fans deserve.
“With our position in the standings and injuries to key players this season, we must be honest and realistic about our situation. We are not going to stand pat – a shift will give us the ability to be smart and opportunistic as we retool the team. This will not be a rebuild. This will be a retool built around our core players and prospects. We will target players that bring tenacity, skill, speed, and a winning pedigree with a focus on obtaining young players, draft picks, and cap space to allow us flexibility moving forward. That may mean saying goodbye to players that have brought us and our fans great moments over the years. These players represented the Rangers with pride and class and will always be a part of our family.
“As we start on this new strategic plan, we will continue to play hard with pride and passion for our fans. We appreciate your unwavering support for the Rangers more than we can describe and thank you for all that you do for our organization. You will begin to see some of our plans come to light in the coming weeks and months.”
As noted – then the timing of Drury’s statement was a well-calculated one on his behalf.
Not only did all of this news break only AFTER the Rangers had departed their training facility for Philadelphia – but just one day after all season ticket monies were collected for this season too.
As one reader, who has a pair of season tickets, put it to me, “I was just billed $12,000 yesterday and now this!?!?!?!”
As far as what Drury said, then yeah, and duh too – the Rangers need to overhaul their roster.
However, then I’m not sure a “retool,” rather than a “rebuild,” is the correct course of action.
Then again, and when trying to see it from Drury’s perspective – then I guess that he has to say “retool.”
After all, then while he does have the full support of Dolan – but his boss isn’t a patient man who can sit through a proper 6-8 year rebuild.
And quite frankly, I don’t think that the fans can either.
Plus, and not all rebuilds are guaranteed either. See Sabres, Buffalo for more.
Furthermore, then the Rangers charge the most money in the league for their ducats, which means that Drury can’t hurt Dolan’s bottom line by having half-empty houses every night.
This also brings me to the “FIRE DRURY!” camp.
If you want Drury to hit the unemployment line (and like most of us do), then the best way to accomplish that goal is not by chanting “FIRE DRURY!” at every home game – but by not showing up.
But that will never happen, as for every fan that calls it quits on going to the Garden – and ten more people will pop-up.
That’s just the way it is in the largest population market in the league today.
Elsewhere, then you also have both Adam Fox, who moved heaven and earth in order to play for his favorite team, and CZAR IGOR, currently in the first year of an eight-year deal that carries a no movement clause, on the books.
It is also of no coincidence that the Rangers are playing their worst hockey of the season right now with both of these players injured.
And of course, then there’s also the Mika Zibanejad contract that will seemingly never expire and the latest big-money acquisition too, Captain Culture himself, J.T. Miller.
Knowing all of this – then yeah – I can understand the word “retool” being used here – and where at this point – then such a word, for at least right now, is being exclusively applied to Artemi Panarin.
Just nanoseconds after Drury’s missive was released, and where it should also be mentioned that his statement only appeared on the Rangers’ social media channels – and not on the team’s official website; and Elliotte Friedman, in Canada, broke this news:
Hearing Rangers GM Chris Drury met with the team today…and members of the leadership group individually to tell them this was the plan.
We will see where this takes us through the trade deadline https://t.co/XFNm5uEMwj
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) January 16, 2026
Once again, and I had to laugh that it was the Canadian Friedman that broke this story – and not one of the regulars on the Birdbrain Blueshirts’ beat – which at this point these days – is also known as the usual.
Friedman later reported, and a report that was eventually picked up by everyone else, that Drury, prior to releasing his statement, had informed Mike Sullivan and all of his players that this proclamation was coming.
Friedman also reported that Drury had a special one-on-one chat with Panarin – and where the pending unrestricted free agent was informed that he would not be receiving a contract offer for next season anymore.
During the talks, and Drury made it clear that Panarin, who does have a NMC, can waive it for any Cup contending team that he so desires to hook up with.
Obviously, then there are a ton of ramifications coming out of this.
Panarin, now with only a few months remaining on his seven-year deal first signed back in July of 2019, is not only the greatest free agent signing in franchise history – but one of the best regular season players in Rangers’ history too.
(I had some people mention to me that Adam Graves is the greatest free agent signing in franchise history – but he was an offer-sheet signing – and where the Rangers then had to give up Troy Mallette afterwards.)
Panarin, ever since his Big Apple arrival, has led the team in scoring in every single season.
And if it wasn’t for Chris Kreider’s 52-goal 2021-22 season – then Panarin would end his Rangers’ tenure by leading the team in goals too, to go along with his team leading assist and point totals on a season-by-season basis.
While the beat reporters, and seemingly everyone else too, chooses to ignore it; but Panarin wasn’t exactly a saint throughout his Rangers’ career either – but I’ve brought up the “NDA PANARIN” stuff about 7856786795676767565857 times before – so by now – and you should know it all.
As previously repeated in this space, then earlier this season and Friedman had reported that during negotiations with Drury, and both Panarin and his agent made it clear that he wasn’t going to take any sort of a “hometown discount.”
Simply stated – and Panarin wants a huge deal – as the summer of 2026 will mark the last time in his life where he’ll be able to get the big bucks.
Conversely, and Drury was hoping to pay less – while also offering less years too.
Compounding matters for the Rangers, but only increasing Panarin’s worth, is the fact that every potential big name UFA this summer have already re-signed with their own respective teams in-season, including Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, Kirill Kaprizov and several others.
In turn, then not only is Panarin the best trade deadline rental this year – but he’s now the most coveted free agent come the summer too – barring a sign-and-trade when Drury finally deals him.
I should also mention here that due to all of this – then Drury, who will have a ton of cap space this summer, doesn’t really have anyone to spend it on – that is – unless he’s able to pry a superstar via a trade from someone else.
And no – I don’t think that Brady Tkachuk wants to leave Ottawa, nor do I believe that the Senators want to move on from either.
Panarin, who will turn 35-years-old next season, wants to get paid.
You can’t fault him for that – but you can point out how this franchise supported him throughout his sex scandal and confirmed no disclosure agreement – and as was the case at the end of the 2024-25 campaign.
And while he was completely innocent and exonerated after Russian sexual assault allegations made against him during the 2021 season – but the Rangers, as an organization, also supported him throughout that entire ordeal too.
But as we all know – and hockey, and just like any other sport, is a business.
There’s not much loyalty these days – and that goes both ways.
After all, then Zibanejad is hellbent on never leaving.
It’s not specifically known what Panarin wants, but it’s being reported out of the Great White North that the Russian is not only seeking a raise from his annual contract that pays him $11.67M – but a long-term deal too.
And with the salary cap going up, combined with league-wide parity too (which gives more teams a shot to contend) – then he’ll eventually get what he so desperately desires.
If you’ve been reading me all year, and most especially during the summer – then I must’ve said 785665566567567856785765 times that I didn’t see Panarin finishing the 2025-26 season in New York.
It’s always been my prediction that Panarin will wind up in Florida, with the Panthers – as not only do they have money to make it happen (because of the Sasha Barkov injury) – but because one of his best friends is there too, goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.
Following all of this news, and a lot of Panarin conjecture, and as you’d expect, was tossed around all over the place.
ALLEGEDLY, then teams like the Capitals, Islanders, Ducks, Wild and Red Wings are all interested in him.
The Capitals would be funny to me – as after all – then who can forget about the Tom Wilson/Panarin incident from 2021?
I just can’t see the Islanders as a possible destination – as Drury and Dolan would never hear the end of it should Panarin win a Stanley Cup there.
Obviously, there is a lot of familiarity with the Ducks, as not only has Anaheim been a regular trading partner of Drury’s, but they also have a ton of ex-Rangers there too.
Furthermore, and one of Panarin’s old coaches (in Chicago), one that he liked, Joel Quenneville, is the bench boss in Disneyland.
Detroit, which also features men that Panarin has connections with too, most notably Patrick Kane, would be interesting – but are the Wings really a Cup contender?
The Wild have the Russian connection, as Kaprizov, who is also represented by Panarin’s agent, Paul Theofanous, would love to have his countryman in the fold.
While these are the teams that are allegedly interested in Panarin; but of course, someone else that we’re not thinking of could emerge out of the pack – including a team that once was infamously rumored not interested in doing business with the Rangers (Jack Eichel), the Buffalo Sabres.
It is thought that Drury would like to make all of his franchise altering decisions prior to the Olympic break – as the three-week stoppage to this season is also unofficially serving as another trade deadline.
When it comes to this news, then yeah, I was expecting it.
For as amazing as Panarin has been in the regular season – then not once did he ever dominate a playoff series.
While I understand that Panarin and Zibanejad have different contract situations and legacies in New York; but I’m also left wondering why isn’t Mika, another unproductive playoff player, being excluded from Drury’s mission.
After all, and as I’ve mentioned 7986787679867676786 times before, and we’ve seen GM’s threaten a player’s ice time if they won’t get flexible about their NMC’s in the past – and as we just recently saw last week in New Jersey, in the newest instance of this – GM Tom Fitzgerald v. defenseman Dougie Hamilton.
(It should also be mentioned that Fitzgerald held a public press conference with the media about all of this – which is something that Drury won’t do unless obligated by a league mandate.)
Of course, then this Panarin situation is also extremely complicated.
On one hand, then the Rangers most likely would’ve missed the playoffs in every year that he was here.
On the other, then once there, and he never shows up.
And had all of us had our choice, including Drury himself, then we’d rather any Tkachuk brother over Panarin come the playoffs.
Following all of this news from Friday?
Then I was completely flabbergasted and shocked when I saw that Panarin was in Sullivan’s line-up on Saturday.
After all, then one injury, and in a season full of them for the Rangers – and the Blueshirts are now running the risk of getting nothing back for the top name of this year’s trade deadline.
Obviously, then for Drury, Dolan and everyone else with an interest in this team – and you can’t have another John Tavares/Islanders situation in New York.
Simply put: The Rangers MUST get back a haul for Panarin – and should #10 get injured before he can be dealt away – then Drury would have blown this major opportunity.
Should that happen?
Then that would be the biggest fireable offense of them all.
As far as what the Rangers could get back for Panarin?
Then, and as predicted in this space before, a major package featuring first-rounders and prospects – and perhaps first-rounders that Drury could then use to move up in what’s reported to be a deep 2026 NHL Draft.
And should Panarin remain healthy before Drury pulls the trigger?
Then take a look at this trade from Sunday evening:
Andersson to Vegas with 50 per cent retained
Return:
Whitecloud
2027 1st
2027 2nd, becomes a first if Vegas wins Cup this year
Abram Weibe, a defenceman at UND— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) January 18, 2026
Nothing against the talented defenseman, Rasmus Andersson – but he isn’t Artemi Panarin.
If Calgary could potentially receive two first-round picks, an NHL regular and a prospect for Andersson, then Drury will get much more back for Panarin.
However, the future Panarin trade needs this caveat reminded:
Since he has a NMC, then Panarin is calling the shots.
In turn, then the field that Drury could trade him to has been shortened.
Rather than 31-teams vying for his services, and instead, then it may only be five or six that truly have a chance to plead their cases to Drury, Panarin and Co.
But at the very least, and Drury should get two first-round picks and a promising prospect in return for Panarin – and whatever else going back to New York would be gravy – and gravy that will no longer have any bread to be poured upon.
That’s Panarin for now.
What about everyone else?
Mika Zibanejad, a player that for over two-years now, I said that I’d trade, is having a bounce-back season this year.
Not only is #93 climbing and topping many franchise record lists (except for playoff goals, Stanley Cup wins, and you get my point); but unlike in recent years past – and Zibanejad’s trade value has never been higher.
While I can never forget (duh) about all of his playoff misses, slow starts and how he twirled around last season like a limp-wristed ballerina while four of his teammates were participating in a line brawl against the Devils; but regardless, and despite his poor plus/minus rating this season too – and Zibanejad has been the best forward on the team this season – and he’s doing it in every facet too – five-vs-five and by starting on both special team units.
As noted, and there isn’t any other Ranger in franchise history that routinely destroys the Flyers like Mika does.
Granted, while Philly had a third-string KHL goalie in their net on Saturday – but once again – and there was Mika – and this time, with not only the tenth hat trick of his career – but a franchise leading 117th power-play goal too.
While good for Mika on Saturday; but really, and as we’ve seen far too often throughout the years – then while being able to rack up nice scoring totals against the bad teams – he’s not very often there when it matters most – against the league’s upper-echelon.
But to say that he’s been bad this season would be a falsehood.
That said?
Then as I write these words on Sunday night here on the east coast, then, and over in the west coast, and in the Anaheim Pacific Standard Time – and I’m hoping that two of his chums, his BFF Chris Kreider, and former captain Jacob Trouba, are convincing him to waive his NMC – and in turn – then accept a trade to one of Drury’s favorite GM’s to do business with, the former Ranger of a yesteryear, and the current man in charge of the Ducks today, Pat Verbeek.
But alas – and at best – and this is all wishful thinking.
Following the news of Drury’s meeting with players, coaches and then individually with Panarin too; then it was reported league-wide that the players with iron-clad NMC’s – Adam Fox, CZAR IGOR, Vladislav Gavrikov, J.T. Miller, and of course, Mika himself – have all expressed their interest in remaining for whatever is next for the Rangers.
To a lesser extent, then bench boss Mike Sullivan, during another one of his lengthy word-salad chats with the media, said the same.
But what would you expect the highest-paid coach in the sport to do?
Walk away from his bed buddy Drury – and the $28M still owed to him after this season?
When it comes to this new “core” of players with NMC’s, then I can’t see Gavrikov going anytime soon.
After all, he took less money in order to come here in the first place – and I don’t see him wanting to uproot his life at the moment.
In the case of Captain Culture, then what team would want to give him $8M annually throughout the remainder of this decade – and especially if Miller, soon to turn 33-years-old, is already showing signs of wear-and-tear via his never-ending injuries?
Fox, as already mentioned, did everything in his power to become a Ranger. I can’t see him leaving, nor wanting to move away from his family either.
CZAR IGOR had a chance to bail last season prior to signing a deal that made him the highest-paid goalie in the league.
New York is all that #31 has ever known during his big-league career. It’s just my gut belief that he doesn’t want to leave his comfy confines – and where furthermore – it may be tough to find a trading partner that can accommodate his contract anyway – and especially with the days of three-party trades, where the third-party can accept 25% of a contract, are no more.
That brings us back to Zibanejad, who after several bad seasons, could be an asset for a potential Cup winning hopeful.
Perhaps the biggest problem for Zibanejad during the various failed Ranger playoff runs was the fact that he was tasked to be the man. He was supposed to be the Blueshirts’ 1A player and only second fiddle to Panarin.
Maybe elsewhere?
Then perhaps Mika, no longer tasked to carry the ball, could be an excellent third- or fourth-scoring threat.
While they aren’t the same; then think of Brad Marchand from last year – who after many years of being a first line stud in Boston, accepted a third-line role in Florida – and then went on to win the Cup.
But, and one last time – and it feels like Mika, like the others, doesn’t want to uproot his family from New York either.
As far as who goes, then it’s obviously the names you already know – and names that we have spoke about all-season long on this site too.
Vincent Trocheck, where the playoffs seem like a custom-fit for him, should return the Rangers a package featuring a first-round pick.
Second and third line centers are valuable in the playoffs – and especially middle men that not only can win draws – but can also be featured on both the power-play and penalty kill.
Trocheck, who has a modified 12-team NMC, is the easiest big name to move – and where assuming a contender isn’t on his list – then he could be convinced to waive.
I’m sure that all sixteen playoff teams would love to have him on their roster – but losing Trocheck would also hurt the Rangers. Big-time at that.
It would also cost the captain his best friend too.
Another name that can be moved is Alexis Lafreniere – but really – what are you going to get for him?
Vancouver, another one of Drury’s favorite teams to deal with, could be an option – as Lafreniere’s former agent, Émilie Castonguay, is the assistant general manager of the Canucks.
However, if Vancouver, like the Rangers, in a state of flux too, should be interested – then they aren’t going to give the Blueshirts what they want – top prospects and picks.
And can Lafreniere really be an asset for a playoff team right now?
Whatever your response is, then at the same time – then I don’t think that any team with their eyes on the prize wants to run the risk by finding out the answer to this question.
At $7,450,000 annually, although the Rangers could trade Lafreniere right now – then Drury would be behind the eight-ball – as he may be asked to give up rather than to get back.
Braden Schneider is another name in the mix, but like Lafreniere, what will the return really be?
And with not much in the defensive ranks right now – and the Rangers may be better off with him than without him.
Two veterans, Carson Soucy and Sam Carrick, are perfect depth pieces for a contender and should allow Drury to get something valuable in return for both of them.
The Rangers have previously expressed interest in trading Brennan Othmann – and where even the player has allegedly asked his agent to look elsewhere too.
But again, what’s really the return going to be for someone of Othmann’s ilk? Another reclamation project?
Panarin is going.
We know that 100%.
Trocheck will most likely be going too.
But if Zibanejad doesn’t go along with them, then I don’t really see what changes.
Making matters even worse for the Rangers is that their farm system, Hartford, isn’t that strong either.
That’s why they need to stockpile as many picks and prospects as possible – and where they’ll never get more back for Mika as they would right now.
And if Mika, Panarin and Trocheck are all dealt?
Then it will be time for the likes of Noah Laba and Gabe Perreault to really grab the bull by the horns.
Ditto Will Cuylle – who like everyone else – and perhaps contrary to popular opinion as well – shouldn’t be considered as “unmovable” either.
As far as both the player and coach reaction to this news goes, then it was what you’d expect – they all understand and they are sorry that they are in this position.
That said?
And once again, and Drury allowed his employees to face the music and heat – and rather than to address the media himself.
That’s why we call him “COWARDLY CHRIS!”
I still can’t listen to Sullivan anymore, as much like his players – and the guy who Sidney Crosby carried to two Stanley Cups is all talk.
And how are the Penguins doing these days, and with Dan Muse behind their bench no less?
Fascinating.
Should you desire all of the reaction to this news, then you can find all of the interviews here:
https://www.youtube.com/@nyrangers/videos
That all said?
Then if there is one interview that we should highlight here, then it was what Panarin said, and where these words followed the Rangers’ 6-3 win in Philly:
“It’s hard to say how I feel, still confused.”
I don’t know how he is confused. He wants to be paid top-dollar, and with a long-term deal to boot. Instead, and he wants to hold the franchise hostage – and a franchise, as previously mentioned, that’s repeatedly defended-and-protected him at every turn.
“The team [NYR] decides to go in a different direction. I’m OK with that. I’m a Ranger player right now, so I gotta play every game 100%.”
That’s a good outlook – and where it should be mentioned where he was never asked if he was worried about an injury preventing a deal – which would then derail his chance at a Cup too.
“I’m trying to be smart once in my life.”
Truer words were never spoken.
In case you missed it, then here’s where I last left off, the Rangers getting doubled-up by the Senators on Thursday night by a 8-4 final:
NYR/OTT 1/14 Review: Blueshirts Unearth a New Rockbottom; Get Blown Out At Home Again, Another Classic & Inexcusable “Captain Culture” Post-Game Interview; Selfish Miller Wants Milan, Broken Record/Same Old Rangers, Sens Score Six Before The Home Team Can Score One; A-Rod Goals Galore, Silly Sully Rewards Lazy Lafreniere; Punishes JQ32, Maloney Rips Schneider a New One; “FIRE DRURY” Chants Return, Nada Since The Fluke Outside in Florida, M$GN & More
When it comes to the Rangers’ 6-3 win against the Flyers, a team who like the Rangers, entered this matinee soiree on an identical five-game losing streak – then I didn’t really take much out of it.
In other words, then I didn’t think this win was the start of something, a “F-U” response to Drury or anything like that.
Instead, and I just thought that the Flyers sucked.
Furthermore?
Then I wouldn’t be shocked should the Rangers be swept in California this week either.
As previously noted, then due to an injury sustained to goaltender Dan Vladar, then the Flyers were forced to start a no-name goalie out of the KHL – and an Aleksei Kolosov that eventually gave up three goals on the only three shots that he saw during his 8:25 in net. (Following the trio of Ranger strikes, Sam Ersson came on in relief for the next 51:35.)
While yes, the Blueshirts also have their injuries, most notably to Fox and Igor; then the rebuilding Flyers were also without Bobby Brink, Tyson Foerster and Rasmus Ristolainen.
And really, the Rangers, despite their ailments, should handle a team like the Flyers – and especially with Zibanejad, who just tortures this team, in the line-up.
After all, then for a Blueshirts’ team that doesn’t win much, then one of the five Ranger wins of twenty-one games on home ice this season has taken place against the Flyers – and as was the case back on 12/20 – a 5-4 Blueshirts’ shootout win – and in a game where Philly blew a pair of two-goal leads in too.
In what’s largely forgotten about by now, then it was actually Travis Konecny that kicked off the scoring – and as he did with his 1-0 goal at just the 6:22 mark against a Rangers’ KHL goalie of their own – Spencer Martin.
Up next?
Three Blueshirt goals, and in all of eighty-seconds too, as Panarin tied the game at the 7:05 mark, Mika gave the Rangers their first lead at the 7:26 mark, and Othmann, of all people, ended Kolosov’s night at the 8:25 mark, following his 3 x 1 odd-man rush, 3-1, goal.
I totally understood Othmann’s overboard celebration (he almost took out a referee during it) – but where yeah, and this includes his self-praise and gushing over himself theatrics during his post-game interview too – but all of this screamed as “he’s never done this before.”
This Othmann goal pretty much ended the Flyers’ hopes of winning this game – and that says something about Philly – as no one is more prone to blowing two-goal first period leads like the Rangers – and as they just did this past Monday against Seattle.
Mika, via his franchise-leading 117th power-play goal, put the Rangers ahead 4-1 at the 5:38 mark. He capped off his hat-trick, which also tied him with Bill Cook for most in franchise history, at the 8:25 mark.
And what does that say?
Not for nothing, but Cook played in an era with no forward pass, games that usually featured 1-0 scores and in 44-48 game seasons.
Cook, who didn’t start his NHL career until he was thirty-years old, skated in 475 NHL games.
Zibanejad, who has had 82 games available to him every season, is nearing 1,000 career games (978 after Saturday).
Both men now have nine hat tricks for the Rangers (Mika had another during his early days in Ottawa).
Panarin, close to a hat trick himself, pushed the score to 6-1 at the 14:31 mark.
Had the Rangers somehow blown this game, then it would’ve been because of the same old thing – special teams.
Still up 6-1 and Nikita Grebenkin went off at the 15:22 mark for tripping Matthew Robertson.
Just over a minute later, and Travis Sanheim improved the Flyers’ score to 6-2, following his shorthanded strike against Martin.
A Trevor Zegras goal, scored at the 8:01 mark of the third period, also doubled-up as our final score of this 6-3 match.
I know that the Rangers had a big lead – but yeah – they were out-scored 2-0 to close the game – but then again – Martin wasn’t really that great either.
No joke?
During the third period and the Flyers had a zillion chances to score – but had their shots either blocked or miss the net on 99% of these opportunities.
Martin, in his first start as a Ranger, finished with a .893 save percentage after going 25/28.
While those numbers are somewhat respectable – and especially when you consider that he’s the team’s third-string goalie; but even so, and I still don’t understand why Dylan Garand wasn’t recalled and then placed in net for this game against a bad team.
It also wasn’t lost on me that the Rangers, in a rarity, scored six goals in support for their goalie.
Jonathan Quick, without a win since Election Day, and mainly because the Rangers can never score when he’s in net, must’ve had some thoughts about this – and thoughts that he’d never express publicly either.
Also not lost on me?
The fact that this win against a bad team snapped a Rangers’ five-game losing streak – and where even after the two-points netted – and they were still dead-last in the Eastern Conference standings – and with an extra game or two played above the teams they are “chasing” to boot.
End of the day?
Then I thought this game was more about the Flyers being worse than the Rangers than anything else – and even more so after watching Othmann finally score!
And my poor friend Rob A. – a diehard Philly fan.
Just don’t gloat to me should you guys get Gavin McKenna come May!
Following Saturday’s win in Philly, the Rangers then boarded their bird and took off on their six-hour flight to California.
On Sunday morning, the jet-lagged Rangers practiced.
Outside of the news that both Fox and Igor are skating on their own, then it was also reported that Soucy wasn’t at the practice – but that he was expected to rejoin the team ahead of Monday night’s tilt.
I’m left to assume that’s what happened, as after the practice, then the Rangers announced that Connor Mackey had been returned to Hartford, while Anton Blidh was called-up to the big-league club for the second time this season.
In other words, then perhaps Soucy isn’t being moved – yet.
The Blueshirts, who were dominated by the Ducks last time around on 12/15 by a 4-1 final at M$G, now find Anaheim struggling.
The orange wearin’ team, who held a first-place spot in the Pacific Division not that long ago, have now dropped to fifth-place.
Prior to January 13th, and the Ducks were even worse than the Rangers, as they were on the wrong end of nine consecutive games.
Entering Monday night and the Ducks may be turning things around, as after losing nine in a row, they’ve now won three straight – and in tight games against the Stars and Kings – and where in the latter – then in the Battle of California, and Anaheim needed bonus time to beat their Los Angeles foes on both back-to-back occasions.
The Rangers, who just snapped a five-game losing streak on their first game of this four-game road-trip in Philly, will play the Ducks on Monday night, the Kings 24-hours later, then the red-hot Sharks on Friday, January 23rd.
The Blueshirts will then return home on Monday, January 26th – and against the team that may have kicked off this “retool” too – the Bruins – as the Bostonians handed the Rangers’ an epic 10-2 ass-kicking last week, on 1/10.
That said?
Then really, and for now until the Olympic break (February 6th) – and it won’t be game results that matter most – as instead – it will be whatever moves that Drury makes.
I’ll try to react to all of them in a timely manner, but if not, then I’ll have it on my Tweeter/X page – then do something long-form here.
One last segment before going home tonight – the death of a former Ranger, Phil Goyette, as “The Professor” passed away on Sunday, January 18th.
As you know, then to close each one of these regular manifestos, and I plug all of my books for you.
With the passing of Goyette, then I thought that this was a good time to share some of the stuff that I’ve written about him in the past.
RIP Phil Goyette – and I hope that you guys and gals enjoy these excerpts from my books too.
The following first appeared in “The New York Rangers Rink of Honor and the Rafters of Madison Square Garden” – and book that turns five-years-old this year too:
— Phil Goyette: (1963-1969) (1971-1972)
By the time that Phil Goyette, born on Halloween of 1933, came to the Rangers, then he already was a four-time Stanley Cup champion, having won all of his championships as a member of the historic Montreal Canadiens.
The Rangers acquired the soon-to-be thirty-year-old Goyette on June 4th, 1963, in perhaps the biggest NHL trade of that off-season. In the trade, the Rangers and the Canadiens swapped their starting goaltenders with Lorne “Gump” Worsley going to Montreal and with the eccentric Jacques Plante coming to New York. In the trade, Goyette and Don Marshall joined Plante in New York, while New York bid adieu to Dave Balon, Leon Rochefort, and Len Ronson.
The genesis of this trade centered around the goaltenders. In New York, Gump Worsley was fed up with losing. He also couldn’t stand his head coach, “Fiery” Phil Watson. For the record, when it comes to Watson, then historian Stan Fischler, who never has a bad word to say about anyone, told me personally that “Phil Watson was an asshole.” And let me reiterate; 99.9% of the time, Fischler never says anything negative about anyone. Watson was that .01% type of guy!
While Watson was already gone by the time that Worsley was traded, the constant losing wore Worsley down. Over in Montreal, Plante, for all of his successes, was known to be a loner and never really acclimated himself well to his teammates.
In stories repeatedly told by players from that era, Plante was known to never drink with the boys. Plante would usually knit by himself during these long and rickety train rides, a form of travel which today, is now antiquated. Making matters worse was that in interviews with the media, Plante would rarely take blame for a goal allowed, and in turn, would usually blame his teammates instead. Going hand-in-hand with that attitude was how Plante would usually take all of the credit after shut-out victories.
Phil Goyette, also known as “The Thin Man” and “The Professor,” was a strong two-way forward. Due to the fact that Goyette was playing on a stacked Toe Blake-era Montreal Canadiens’ dynasty team, Goyette didn’t get much ice time. From Montreal’s perspective, Goyette was expendable. By joining the Rangers, Goyette was guaranteed more playing time. With this increased ice time, Goyette posted the best offensive stats of his career, including 65-point seasons on multiple occasions.
Goyette, a center, would immediately be teamed up with Rangers’ captain Bob Nevin and with his former Canadien teammate, Donnie Marshall. In turn, then in Goyette’s six seasons with the Rangers, Goyette was often tops on the team when it came to goals, assists and points.
Goyette, who did join the Rangers during a dark time in their history when playoff appearances were few and far between, would find himself and the Rangers in the playoffs during the back half of his first stint with the Rangers.
After six seasons with the Blueshirts, the Rangers traded Goyette to the St. Louis Blues. In that 1969-70 season, Goyette and the Blues would be swept by the Boston Bruins in the 1970 Stanley Cup Final. Goyette, after his one season in St. Louis, would then play for the Buffalo Sabres for parts of two seasons before coming back to the Rangers during the 1971-72 season.
In the final NHL games played in Goyette’s career, he and the Rangers would make it to the Stanley Cup Final in 1972. In 13 games played during those Stanley Cup Playoffs, Goyette would pick up a goal and three assists. However, and similar to Goyette’s St. Louis Blues team of 1970 – and the Rangers would lose in the Stanley Cup Final to those same Bruins, dropping the series in six games.
As a player, Goyette found his best individual success with the Rangers, but all of Goyette’s championship hardware came from his days with Montreal.
Upon retirement, Goyette immediately joined the coaching ranks, leaving New York City for the suburbs – as he became the first-ever head coach of the then-new expansion team known as the New York Islanders. However, despite predicting that it would be a rocky road ahead, Goyette didn’t realize how bad it would truly be with this new club.
At just over the mid-way point of the 1972-73 season and with the Islanders sporting a horrendously poor 6-40-6 record, Goyette was fired. Goyette’s former Rangers’ teammate, Earl Ingarfield Sr., replaced Goyette. Ingarfield didn’t fare much better, as Ingarfield’s Islanders would then finish out the campaign by going 6-22-2. Similar to Goyette, Ingarfield would then be fired, which, in turn, ushered in the Al Arbour era in Long Island.
Of note, Goyette never coached again after this.
In a 2013 interview with the Utica Observer Dispatch, Goyette responded to reporter Anne Delaney when asked about his brief coaching tenure, with this: “I took the opportunity offered but I should have never done it.” In addition, then in the same interview, Goyette said that here was no bad blood between the Islanders and himself.
Upon retirement from hockey altogether, Goyette worked as a paralegal in the import/export industry. I think that was George Costanza’s dream job!
In the present day, Goyette maintains his home in his native Lachine, a city in the province of Quebec. Despite approaching the age of 90, Goyette still plays golf to this very day. In looking back on his hockey career, as upon a request from his wife, Goyette has turned his own basement into a man cave with trinkets and artifacts from his stellar career.
In six full seasons with the Rangers and a few games played at the end of the 1971-72 season too, Goyette was always a fan favorite, as he was able to pick up points and shut down top players. It’s the way that fans of Goyette’s era still remember him today.
The following originally appeared in “Tricks of the Trade: Volume I”:
DATE OF TRADE: June 4th, 1963
RANGERS ACQUIRE: Phil Goyette, Don Marshall, and Jacques Plante
MONTREAL CANADIENS ACQUIRE: Dave Balon, Leon Rochefort, Len Ronson, and Lorne “Gump” Worsley
While not exactly “The Trade” of 1975, when Phil Esposito, Jean Ratelle, and Brad Park were the biggest names to trade locations, this was also a blockbuster trade. It was also somewhat of a last-ditch effort to change the club’s fortunes.
Lorne “Gump” Worsley and Phil Goyette are extensively featured in “The New York Rangers Rink of Honor and the Rafters of Madison Square Garden.” I will try not to repeat what I wrote in that book here.
When it comes to Worsley, born in Montreal, Quebec, the biggest principle of this trade going to Montreal is much irony. For starters, he and Jacques Plante, the other big name in this trade, did not get along. While the word “despise” may be a severe exaggeration, regardless, the two could not be any more like night and day.
Also ironic was that Worsley in New York was like Doug Harvey in Montreal – he wanted an NHL Players’ union. Once that “u” word was mentioned, Patrick quickly looked to get Worsley out of town, where, after trading him, Patrick didn’t tell Worsley that he was traded.
Patrick’s failure to let his goalie know that he was traded ultimately led to Worsley never having anything to do with the Rangers again – despite his status as one of the few franchise goaltenders in team history. Worsley said as much in his autobiography, “They Call Me Gump.”
Another thing mentioned in Worsley’s memoirs – his never-ending battle to get a pay raise, where over $500, the Rangers, during the 1953-54 season, sent him to the Vancouver Canucks, one of their affiliates at the time, as a form of punishment. The season prior, Worsley won the Calder Trophy, making this demotion over a $500 squabble even more insulting.
Many hockey historians and Ranger fans consider this trade a loss because Jacques Plante, born in Shawinigan Falls, Quebec, didn’t pan out with the Rangers, while Worsley won all his hardware in Montreal.
In comparison, Plante won six Stanley Cups and six Vezina Trophies in Montreal. He also won the Hart Trophy in 1962. Following the trade, Plante would win one more Vezina in 1969 – in St. Louis – where he shared the trophy with teammate Glenn Hall.
The other Hall of Fame goalie (Plante and Hall, too, for that matter, were eventually enshrined), Gump Worsley, went on to win four Stanley Cups and two Vezina Trophies in Montreal. Previously, the only hardware he had with the Rangers was the aforementioned Calder Trophy – and look where that got him! A one-way ticket to Vancouver!
What’s often lost in the Plante vs. Worsley debate following this trade is that the Montreal Canadiens were world-beaters and had every advantage of the league in their favor. Any halfway decent goalie would have won multiple Stanley Cups and Vezina Trophies with the Habs in this era. The New York Rangers were in a dark age, which rocked Plante’s world.
After all, there is a reason why Worsley, in his Ranger years, when asked, “what team gives you the most trouble?” – promptly replied with “The Rangers!”
Plante’s two seasons with the Rangers were the worst of his career, which was truly an indictment on the team in front of him. Once leaving New York, Plante would return to prime form, where he had outstanding seasons in both St. Louis and Toronto, where his goals-allowed average and save percentage were actually better than the numbers he posted in his glory years in Montreal.
So yeah – Plante’s run in New York was his worst, but the Rangers were much worse at the time.
As far as the skater faces trading places, Phil Goyette, a center from Lachine, Quebec, had six strong seasons with the Rangers. Lost in Montreal’s depth (where he was part of a checking line), Goyette thrived in New York. He was a tremendous acquisition on behalf of Patrick.
Donnie Marshall, from Verdun, Quebec, was Goyette’s left-winger in Montreal. Marshall won the Stanley Cup with his centerman four times, in 1957, 1958, 1959, and in 1960. Marshall also won another Stanley Cup with the Habs in 1956 as well, which made him a five-time Stanley Cup champ at the time of this trade.
Just like Goyette, Marshall also had an impressive run in New York, playing for the Rangers in seven different seasons. Marshall also set career highs with the Rangers, where during the 1965-66 season, he had 26 goals, 28 assists, and 54 points – the best scoring totals of his career.
Yes, while Plante didn’t have the best defensive teams in front of him, offensively, both Marshall and Goyette thrived in New York.
Going to Montreal was left-winger Len Ronson, who, aside from five games with the Oakland Seals during the 1968-69 season (where he didn’t record a single point while playing on a historically bad team), the native of Brantford, Ontario, never played in the NHL again.
Centerman Leon Rochefort, from Cap-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec, couldn’t crack Montreal’s deep lineup until many years later, although with one game played in the 1965-66 season and four more games played in the 1966 Stanley Cup Playoffs, he did get his name on the Stanley Cup. He’d win it again in 1971 as a regular roster member, but following the parade, he soon found himself with the Red Wings.
Dave Balon, a left-winger from Wakaw, Saskatchewan, was the most successful skater of the Rangers going to Montreal. Balon first became a full-time Ranger during the 1961-62 season. Now in Montreal, he would win two Stanley Cups (1965 and 1966).
Ironically, Balon would eventually find himself back in New York for the Emile Francis era.
After being claimed by the Minnesota North Stars during the 1967 expansion draft, Francis traded for Balon, where the left-winger returned to his first club at the start of the 1968-69 season. Along with Bill Fairbairn and Walt Tkaczuk, Balon would become one-third of the famous “Bulldog” line, a featured trio in the peak Francis years.
In summary, while the Canadiens would continue their winning ways (something that the Rangers couldn’t prevent), the Rangers received two outstanding players in Goyette and Marshall. And since Balon eventually returned to the Blueshirts, it’s tough to claim this trade was a flat-out loss like others do.
In my eyes, this trade is a win – even if the standings wouldn’t suggest as much. After all, it just wasn’t the Rangers – not many teams could impede all the winning in Montreal.
I know this was a long one tonight – but it would have been even longer had I saved all of this stuff for tomorrow – and where I’ll be back on this site after every game played on the California road-trip too.
After all, then I’m a night owl!
Until then, hoot hoot everyone, and of course, not only will I see you tomorrow night/late Tuesday morning, after Ducks/Rangers, but I leave you with your favorite segment too, you know…
PLUGS TIME! (Buy a book and support my Rangers’ induced therapy bills. After all, I don’t run ads on this site!)
My fourth title and tenth book is now available!
“The Top 100 Villains of New York Rangers History,” is now available for sale!
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/
If you haven’t already, subscribe to this blog for the next update:
Don’t forget to order my 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
Could not agree with more, when an arsonist burns down a structure do you rehire the same arsonist to rebuild it?
How in the world can Dolan let Drury negotiate trades based on his 5 year history of failure, & 4 friggen coaches in 5 years! Right on with Mika, only chance for him to play with his BFF’s. The only GM that could bring the Rangers back to respectability is the “Messiah”, a die-hard Ranger, not the Masshole circus Drury brought to town.