Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. Any news?
NOTE: DUE TO MY SCHEDULE, I AM POSTING THIS BLOG WITHOUT PROOF-READING IT FIRST. IN OTHER WORDS, HIT THE REFRESH BUTTON FOR THE FINAL PRODUCT – AND IN THE MEANTIME – THEN I THINK THAT YOU’LL GET THE GIST ANYWAY! LGR!
And a big UGH to Rangers’ GM Chris Drury too.
After all, he had to drop this boisterous Blueshirts bombshell on us on this date of 12/6/24 – when I had a double-shift at work – and then have to report back to the j-o-b at 6AM, December 7th?
(And no – no Pearl Harbor bombing joke required here either.)
I mean really – he couldn’t have done this last week when I had a four-day weekend!?!?!?
Bastard!
And of course, and unless you’ve been living under a rock during the past 24-hours, or perhaps you were comatose for a one-day period as well, then you already know about the epic news story that I’m referring to – the awaited (if not welcomed for some too) trade of team captain Jacob Trouba – and a “Great Eight” who is now the third consecutive Blueshirt captain to have sustained such a fate during the past ten-years too (Ryan Callahan and Ryan McDonagh).
While Trouba’s trade to Anaheim will be a central theme throughout tonight’s tome; perhaps the most telling piece of information revealed on Friday, is when the now former captain of the Blueshirts, a not-so-mighty Duck today, said that all of the rumor-mongering, first started by Larry Brooks of the New York Post, got to him.
As Trouba told the press, and in a video interview that was later aired on ESPN during the first intermission from tonight’s Rangers vs. Penguins game, then the man with the doctor wife said that he felt like all of the trade chatter negatively impacted his ability to lead his team.
Furthermore, and I’ll have the full interview for you below, as this segment is just a “tease;” then Trouba also made it clear that he wasn’t a fan of how Drury handled things, nor how the media (who seemed to relish in this story) treated him either.
At one point, Trouba even went as far as to say that Drury “threatened” him – not physically, but by telling his now ex-charge that he’d be waived if he didn’t acquiesce to the general manager’s/dictator’s demands.
No matter how you feel about Trouba, Drury and this trade in general, then we can all agree that the former captain exercised his contractual rights when he refused to be traded earlier this summer.
At the same time, Drury is also allowed to run his team anyway that he sees fit. (How Mika still fits in? Don’t ask me that – as I have no clue!)
And as we all know – hockey is a business amongst all.
Don’t believe me?
Then you don’t have to ask Trouba for such confirmation.
Instead, just see how much the Blueshirts are charging for tickets these days – where on most nights – the get-in price (worst seat in the house) will run you nearly $300.
(HOCKEY IS FOR EVERYONE – with cash that is!)
During a real-time six-hour period, that first began at 9:16AM and then ran just short of 3PM, then it was initially announced that Trouba was being withheld from Friday night’s match. As that was going on, the Rangers were prepping for Pittsburgh during their morning skate.
If that wasn’t enough at the time, then it was also announced that Victor Mancini and Matthew Robertson (and surprisingly, not Chad Ruhwedel) had been recalled.
As everyone continued to refresh their phones for Rangers’ news, and where in addition, both the players and the coach were forced to speak about Trouba’s future too; then come the hour of 2PM, everyone was foaming at the mouth when trying to find out if Drury had waived #8 or not.
When the NHL released their daily waiver wire results at that 2PM hour, then only one name was listed – former Ranger Brendan Lemieux, who the Carolina Hurricanes gave the boot to today.
As the clock was nearing 3PM – boom – it was official.
Trouba had played his last game as a New York Ranger.
As I presently try to cover everything when up against the clock, then officially, here’s what the Rangers had to say about the trade, courtesy of https://www.nhl.com/rangers/news/rangers-acquire-2025-fourth-round-pick-and-urho-vaakanainen-in-exchange-for-jacob-trouba :
Again – and as all you intelligent readers already know – this was simply a salary cap dump of a transaction.
The Rangers, already stock-piled with borderline defensemen that can’t break into the ranks, acquired the currently injured Urho Vaakanainen – and where for my spellchecker’s sake – I hope that he never plays in one game for the club!
But aside from opening up $8M in cap space, then this trade was also good news for Victor Mancini, as he was immediately promoted to the varsity roster.
As previously said during the summer, and multiple times at that; while I understand every reason why you would want Trouba’s contract off of the books (and I’m not opposed either); but at the same time, I also believe that you’ll miss Trouba’s physicality when it matters most – the playoffs.
And yep, and just to be clear – akin to an $8.5M third-line (and allegedly “elite”) center who can’t score on the power-play – then you can’t pay a third-pair d-man $8M either.
However, or at least for now, then Drury only wanted to play hardball with his captain – and not his long-haired hippie hugging alternate.
What can Drury do with Trouba’s freed $8M from his books?
Well, the general manager also answered this question on Friday afternoon too.
The now former pending-UFA-to-be, CZAR IGOR, who had previously rejected an eight-year deal worth $88M overall ($11M annually) at the start of the season, got a raise that he was looking for on Friday, a sum of $500K extra per-year ($4M in total), when he agreed upon an eight-year extension.
And yep – I can’t wait to hear what Stan Fischler has to say about this too!
I have mixed-feelings about this contract – and for all of the reasons that I have previously outlined on this site.
For the quick-and-dirty; on one hand, if CZAR IGOR wins the Stanley Cup this season, then I wouldn’t have cared if the Rangers gave him every cap dollar available over the summer – while skating no one in front of him next year.
Suffice to say – I just want one parade as an adult – and before I die too!
While granted, the salary cap will jump up exponentially during the next few years (all the COVID escrow has been taken care of); but regardless, and I still don’t like a goaltender eating up 10% or more of the cap.
In other words, and we all know what I said about Henrik Lundqvist’s final contract – then this isn’t exactly the same thing.
After all, think deep about those four-words “Henrik Lundqvist’s final contract.”
Fingers-crossed, then this won’t be CZAR IGOR’s final contract.
Instead, it will just go down as his biggest.
Furthermore, and as noted, with the salary cap set to make leaps-and-bounds towards a much higher figure – than this annual pact of $11.5M may not even take up 10% of the team’s cap space.
On the other hand, then RIGHT NOW, and I don’t think that CZAR IGOR is the best goalie in the league, nor worth $3M-$4M more than the likes of Connor Hellbuyck and Andrei Vasilevskiy either.
But, and as I continue to talk out of both sides of my mouth and give you every angle here, then what’s the one point that I’ve been hammering home ever since 2022?
Your reminder?
THE PLAYOFFS – AND WINNING THE WHOLE DAMN THING!
Despite CZAR IGOR’s perennial struggles and ups-and-downs during the regular season, but come the postseason, then he’s always been the team’s best player.
If it took an extra $3M to make your best playoff performer happy, then, and again, with the cap going up big-time, then I’m okay with it.
That said, and like all of these big contracts with NMCs attached, then I won’t be surprised if CZAR IGOR doesn’t play all the way through his new deal either.
But win the damn Cup – and everything changes – and for the better.
So to recap:
Prior to tonight’s game against the Penguins, and the Rangers had a six-hour public process where at the end of it their captain was traded, CZAR IGOR (who could only receive an eight-year offer from the Rangers, and where had he not accepted this deal, then all he could receive were seven-year deals from the other 31-teams come the summer) was extended, and where both Mancini and Robertson were recalled.
And oh yeah, let’s not forget about this too:
The seven-foot pile of shit, M$GN’s Sieve Vagistat, has gone radio-silent ever since being exposed by the hockey media, both current and former players and the fans themselves, following his ridiculous remarks during the Rangers’ loss to the Devils.
If only he could go away forever!
Maybe Drury can trade Vagistat to the KHL?
Come 7:30PM?
The Rangers and Penguins did battle on national television, rather than on their own regional networks, ESPN – and where duh – Trouba was the center of their conversation – and where an interview featuring “The Great Eight” aired too.
HIGH DRAMA.
If there’s anything that I want to lead with when discussing Friday night’s triumph, then it’s this:
I’m not sure what was exactly learned.
On one hand, kudos to the team – as no joke – I thought they’d get blown out tonight.
After all, they are a very emotional group who tend to sink whenever things look bleak.
On the other hand, it was more of the same – the GAG LINE 2.0 does the bulk of the work, the power-play led by Zibanejad does nothing, while both the penalty kill and goaltender shine.
Due to the opponent, another team that hasn’t made the playoffs in a while, much less win a first-round series in years, the Penguins – and it’s not like the Rangers really beat anyone good tonight – and despite Pittsburgh entering this game on a four-game winning streak.
And don’t forget, this is the same black-and-yellow team that the Rangers annihilated during the Penguins’ home opener, back on 10/9, by a final score of 6-0.
Today, and while the score reads as 4-2, this was very much a one-goal game the whole way.
In other words, I do believe that the Rangers remain flawed – heavily at that – and as ESPN reported throughout the match – many more changes are required should the Blueshirts’ mission remain as winning the Stanley Cup in 2025.
What impressed me the most about the Rangers on Friday night was the fact that they didn’t go into the fetal position following the craziest day in franchise history ever since the dark month of May 2021.
Instead, they pretty much dominated the Penguins – especially at the circles – and where at one point, the Blueshirts were winning faceoffs at a 5:1 clip (25-5).
However, and despite the Rangers also largely controlling the puck (time of possession) too; it were the Penguins who struck first blood, as it was Blake Lizotte, at the 6:19 mark of the second stanza, who beat CZAR IGOR for the 1-0, bad guys goal.
Normally, a team who scores first, especially after a scoreless first frame, gets some momentum.
Not tonight.
Rather than that, and it was like this Lizotte goal was a major kick in the ass for the Rangers.
Just a shy over a minute later (7:28 mark), and Panarin knotted the game at one-all – and where even better than that – this was a PURE LINE GOAL for the GAG LINE 2.0.
The Rangers, who have abandoned their former war cry, “NO QUIT IN NY,” as they have now replaced those four words with “It Takes Everyone (Besides Jacob Trouba),” personified their old rallying verbiage when with just .5-seconds left in the middle period, Panarin raced towards Pens’ netminder, Alex Nedeljkovic, and beat him for the 2-1, GOOD GUYS, goal.
And I don’t think that I have to explain this to you either, so bear with me – such a late goal was the wind in the sagging sails that the Rangers needed.
But old problems still remain.
Come the 8:29 mark of the third, and at the time, the hopefully final period too; and Philip Tomasino, from the slot, ripped a puck past CZAR IGOR – and where K’Andre Miller successfully accomplished his goal of not blocking the puck.
Put it this way:
If John Tortorella was still behind the Blueshirts’ bench, then Miller would never play again – and perhaps Torts’ would have kicked #79 so hard, so hard that Miller would land up in Russia – alongside former teammate, Tony DeAngelo.
Hockey can be funny.
After being scratched last weekend, only to do nothing in his return (I even said that Reilly Smith looked like he didn’t care at all in the loss to the Devils); but whether it was Trouba’s removal or something else – but it was “Brendan’s Brother” who scored what would become the game-winning goal – and as the former Penguin-turned-Ranger did at the 9:53 mark.
No joke?
Then without debate, this marked Smith’s best game as a Ranger – and it’s not just because he scored the GWG.
Smith, who played well on both sides of the puck, led all shooters with a game-high six SOG.
Similar to Panarin – and Smith very easily could have had a hat trick tonight.
A late goal, scored with only 1:38 remaining by Trocheck, sealed the deal.
4-2, GOOD GUYS – but still a lot of cause for concern.
After all, while Minus Miller continues to flounder (saved tonight by the GAG LINE 2.0 – as he actually finished as +2 – and where plus/minus critics, as a result, got a whole lot of material to work with after this match); more concerning was the team’s 0-3 power-play – and where for the life of me – I don’t know what else Peter Laviolette needs to see before changing things up.
(LAF FOR MIKA – NO SHIT! Hell, give me Will Cuylle, Matt Rempe, Jonathan Quick, Sam Rosen, ANYONE, instead of watching Zibanejad’s daily failures!)
It should also not be forgotten that the Penguins hit iron several times over – and where despite the Rangers’ dominance in both the faceoff and TOP stats – and this game was tied for the majority of it.
Needless to say, this wasn’t another touchdown encore, a repeat of the season-opener, against this very same team.
But for a Rangers’ group that needed a win in the very worst of ways – then style points weren’t required.
That said, I don’t think that you can KING KONG your chest over this win – and where it should also be reminded that “Lavy’s Lot” is 0-7 in “litmus test games” this season too.
Final closing thought before getting into all of our usual segments – and concluding this abnormally long pregame segment?
After a day like Friday – and this team needed two-points – and it didn’t matter how they got them.
As a result, the Rangers will press on – but where Drury can’t turn off his phone either.
There’s still a lot more work to do – and the faster Zibanejad is sent packing, the better.
It’s just a shame that the Rangers didn’t receive Ryan Strome in return for Trouba on Friday – as that would’ve given the Blueshirts help at their weakest position – center.
At this time, let’s get the disclaimer segment out of the way before hitting word 50,000!
Here is our 82-game mantra, which is also known as my 33-word daily disclaimer, that I post on this site after every game played – and one that I even need to read a few times over in order to calm myself down:
“WHATEVER THE RANGERS DO FROM NOW UNTIL THE TRADE DEADLINE DOESN’T MATTER. THEY CAN ONLY BE JUDGED BY WHATEVER THEY DO FOLLOWING THE DEADLINE AND BY WHAT THEY DO IN THE 2025 PLAYOFFS!”
In other words, twenty-five down, fifty-seven to go, and then the real hockey, the only games that matter, begin.
But at this rate – will the Rangers even be there for the real hockey?
In case you missed it, then here’s where I last left off – the Devils’ massacre of the Blueshirts:
After watching his team get pummeled on the scoreboard by a 5-1 final on Monday night (Devils), come Tuesday morning, and the first reaction from general manager Chris Drury was to re-assign Chad Ruhwedel back to the Hartford Wolfpack.
At the time, this transaction felt like one of the “paper trail” variety, as with three-days off, this allowed the club to accrue some cap space.
Things would change, and change big-time, come Friday morning, but we’re getting there!
The Rangers, who of course, were rumored to do something big after being smashed by the Devils, which as a result, made the Blueshirts losers in their last six of seven games played, were seemingly content to double-down on “the same old shit” during their Tuesday and Wednesday practices.
Rather than shaking up his line-up once more; instead, head coach Peter Laviolette basically went back to the same lines and d-pairs that he opened the season with – or at least the line-up that he wanted to use prior to injuries sustained (Lindgren and Vesey).
But following the pair of practices – and an idle off-day on Thursday too – then Friday morning happened.
However, and prior to Friday’s fireworks, and it was announced on Thursday that Chris Kreider and Vincent Trocheck were selected by Team USA for this February’s “Four Nations Tournament.” As a result, they joined the previously announced American-Made Adam Fox.
Mika Zibanejad (Sweden), who like Fox, was also announced over the summer for the tournament, then saw Kaapo Kakko added to the Finnish team too.
As far as “snubs” go, and if you’re not considering that Russia has been excluded from the tourney because of politics, then many thought that Alexis Lafreniere got the short-end of stick (Canada). But when you look at the Maple Leaf roster – then to consider Lafreniere a true snub was a stretch.
I’ll talk more about the tournament once we get there; but while I’m mildly interested, I can’t say that I’m even close to being invested either.
After all, with no Russia, and with other European countries being omitted too (Czechia and Slovakia are two big ones), then why even do this tournament at all?
Heck, rather than including the Scandinavian clubs, then instead, the NHL, the host of this money-grabbing farce, may as well have just booked a Best of Seven U.S.A vs Canada series.
In news first reported by Larry Brooks of the New York Post, which then was echoed by everyone else on both sides of the U.S./Canada border; come 9:16AM, on the morning of Friday, December 6th, and the team’s official conduit tweeted that team captain, Jacob Trouba, would not play against the Penguins – and solely for the purposes of roster management.
In other words, Trouba was going to be traded or waived prior to Friday night’s puck drop.
Brooks also accurately reported that in a corresponding move, that Victor Mancini would be recalled.
Some 45-minutes later after Brooks’ initial report, and indeed, Mancini, and not Ruhwedel, was recalled – while the fate of Trouba still remained up-in-the-air.
As all of this was going on, the Rangers were at their morning skate – and where yes – Mancini was there – which tells you that this news, both overdue and a summer late, was brewing during the past 72-hours without a game to be played.
There’s no reason to rehash everything about Trouba once more, as one, I’m pressed for time, and two, you can just check the archives of this site, the past summer months, for all of it.
But for the quick-and-dirty, then we all know that it was Drury’s intention to trade Trouba over the summer, mainly for cap relief, only for the captain to then exercise the parameters of his contract, as he didn’t want to leave town until his wife, Dr. Kelly Tyson-Trouba, had completed her NYC residency.
And where did these initial reports surface from, and reporting so shoddy that in a way, it made Mrs. Trouba look like the Yoko Ono of the Rangers?
You guessed it Larry Brooks!
And wouldn’t you know it?
Just last weekend, and Trouba, who did lose the fight, challenged Brooks’ favorite player, Josh Anderson, to a battle of fisticuffs during the Rangers’ lone win during their past seven-matches, when they survived a one-goal horror show against the last-place Montreal Canadiens.
Hmmm!
As the morning hours of December 6th turned into the afternoon hours (and while yours truly was pondering about calling out sick to work – just so I could follow all of the news in real-time!), then all we knew at the time was that Jacob Trouba had played his last game as a Ranger – and where he’d play next was anyone’s guess.
In my opinion, perhaps not a humble one anymore these days; then while I understood Drury’s intent to deal Trouba, it was also my belief that this whole situation was doomed from the start.
Since Drury initially failed to trade Trouba over the summer, and then saw the team implode two-weeks ago when he leaked that he still wanted to trade his captain (and the longest-tenured Ranger too, alternate captain Chris Kreider), then, and without debate, the Blueshirts’ general manager was dealing from a state of weakness.
In other words, and coupled-in with the fact that Trouba had some say in where he’d play next, then getting the best return possible for Drury seemed like a fool-hearted mission.
Plus, and as stated on this site about 79867868698678678679867986 times since July – Trouba’s contract isn’t the worst on the team.
Rather than that, Mika Zibanejad has the worst contract on the Rangers – if not in the entire league too ($8.5M annually until 2030).
And yep – I wish that this same “Trouba Treatment” was also applied to Zibanejad, who based on the reports out of Canada, is NOT on the trade block, nor has waived his crippling NMC either.
Throughout Friday and it was reported everywhere that Drury did talk to Trouba – and with the intent to give the soon-to-be former captain a say of where he goes next.
Obviously, this should have been handled in this fashion over the summer – rather than leaking stories to Larry Brooks.
And had an accord been reached then, around July 4th, rather than a little over two-weeks out from Christmas, then such fireworks today could have been prevented.
Furthermore, the Rangers could have entered this season with a captain too – and I only bring this up to remind you that only the 1972 Boston Bruins, who of course, downed the Rangers in that years’ Final, are the only team in league history, over 100-years worth of history to boot, to win a Stanley Cup without a team captain.
And I’m not breaking any news to you when I say this either:
Mika Zibanejad is no Phil Esposito. Adam Fox is no Bobby Orr.
And these days, and I’m not even sure if CZAR IGOR is a Gerry Cheevers type either!
As everyone wondered where Trouba would wind up next (I thought Philadelphia made sense, as it’s still somewhat local for his wife, Trouba plays the Flyers’ way – and I think he’d flourish under John Tortorella too), the Rangers still had business at hand on Friday.
Going into the game, a national one no less, which only upped the stakes, and I thought that the Rangers had no chance:
Penguins 5 – #NYR 1 tonight – this is a fragile group that will be emotional and sad after Trouba is a goner.
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) December 6, 2024
My feelings on this matter were confirmed following what was described as a “somber” morning skate, as Mika Zibanejad, on the pending future of his captain, said, “This is tough. I love him to death.”
Elsewhere, Kreider, who you would assume would be the team’s next captain if he wasn’t on the trade-block right now, said that he wanted to focus on the task at hand.
For the record, here’s what both Laviolette and his players said about the news, where as a reminder, then at the time, all we knew was that Trouba wasn’t going to play:
Away from the players all sounding down in the dumps, then I thought that Laviolette’s interview was most telling.
For starters, the head coach basically took the brunt of everything, and added that this Trouba news was his decision.
Obviously, it’s Lavy’s boss, Drury, that wanted Trouba gone the most – and for some time now too.
Such words also told me that the head coach has the full support of his GM – and in a way – Drury is finally holding his players accountable, rather than trying to appease them with another head coach.
Lavy, and despite his team winning the Presidents’ Trophy last season, are in a whirlwind to despair. The head coach admitted as much and said that there needed to be change.
However, I did find it comical when Lavy praised Trouba, as after all, if Trouba is so great, then why did Lavy, and by his own admission, decide to throw him out like yesterday’s trash?
Among the verbatim quotes that stuck out the most from the bench boss, the following:
“I think everybody’s understanding of where we’ve been for the last month and how we’ve played. We can’t continue down that road or we’ll find ourselves out of the playoffs.
“There’s a human side to everything in life. He’s [Trouba] is a good person, a good player and a good leader. Taking time coming out of that game [Devils] and thinking about it, this is the decision that I made.
“We’re not playing well right now. When you’re not having the success you want on the ice, then there has to be direction that moves differently. Again, this is the decision that I made.
“Chris Drury and I are together [when fielding a roster].”
All of my thoughts, feelings and opinions on Trouba remain unchanged from when I first shared them over the summer.
Again, I understand the cap implications, but at the same time – I also feel like the Rangers will be looking for a player just like him come the playoffs.
But should Victor Mancini become that guy – then watch out – as the Rangers would have found Trouba’s successor – and for an eighth of the cost too.
As it once was with Henrik Lundqvist and others like him – then the salary cap is the worst thing about the NHL today.
If there no salary cap, then this Trouba news would be non-existent.
Heck, if Trouba only cost the Rangers half of what he’s getting paid, then it’s my belief that he’d still be the “C” today.
I also don’t think that moving Trouba is the band-aid that alleviates all Blueshirt problems either.
As noted, I believe that Mika has to go – and the same goes for K’Andre Miller – and a Miller who I fear will only continue to stunt “Baby Trouba,” Braden Schneider, too.
And the Rangers’ pregame news didn’t end here either.
As everyone was still waiting for the 2PM hour to strike (to see if Trouba would be waived rather than traded), then busy Brooks was at it again – this time suggesting that the Rangers were in the mix to acquire Ottawa’s Brady Tkachuk.
Nanoseconds later, and every member of the Canadian beat refuted such talk – paywall talk at that – and where it’s the new paywall that the Post provides where all of their rumor mongering is featured, no matter the sport.
In a way, and while DUH, I’d love to see Tkachuk in Rangers’ blue – I also felt that this story, that I thought was planted, was an intentional misdirect by the team’s conduit.
After all, no one was talking about how the Rangers still hadn’t fixed anything yet, and such Tkachuk talk had everyone salivating about a promising future instead.
However, it was Brooks’ last line, suggesting that Alexis Lafreniere be the key piece in such an idea, that had everyone up-in-arms.
After all, not only did Lafreniere sign a team-friendly extension a few weeks back, but after a slow start impacted by the Covid Era, it feels like he’s putting it all together.
But as they say, to get something, then you have to give up something.
And I don’t think that Ottawa wants a reunion with Zibanejad either, nor can I see Missing Mika waiving his NMC in order for such a return.
While we’ll have to wait to see what happens; more likely than Lafreniere as the signature piece in a blockbuster deal for the Sens’ captain, is Drury sending a bundle of prospects and picks – and maybe a player or two too – in order to make the salary cap work.
Once Trouba was traded to Anaheim (recapped above in the intro), the former captain of the Rangers held a closed call with the media – and one that ESPN later clipped during tonight’s game while presenting it as if it were live.
The full interview can be found here:
Jacob Trouba joined @AlexisDownie_ on Light the Lamp today and shared his excitement about joining the @AnaheimDucks organization!
Full episode below:
🍎 https://t.co/drpCUy3fCn
🎧 https://t.co/k2aK1AYuiY pic.twitter.com/ZTiFkg2OL0— Ducks Stream (@DucksStream) December 6, 2024
Three of the better video clips are included below:
Anaheim defenseman Jacob Trouba on his New York departure: “In my opinion, things could have been handled better.” He said he was open with the leadership group on the team that leading was harder this year.
Said it was an unfortunate ending to a lot of good times in New York. pic.twitter.com/2r9Nzk76zK
— Peter Baugh (@Peter_Baugh) December 6, 2024
“Things could have been handled better.”
Jacob Trouba spoke to the media after being traded to the Ducks. pic.twitter.com/aOETjmTlNE
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 7, 2024
Jacob Trouba was asked about the timeline of his trade talks:
“Yesterday morning it was accept this trade or we’re scratching you. I said okay. Then it was accept this trade or you’re going on waivers. I said okay. It’s a rite of passage to get fired from MSG” pic.twitter.com/NYCx6gFA47
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) December 7, 2024
Here’s a transcript of the most notable quotes:
[On how the deal went down] “I’ll be honest, I was put in a decision this summer to make a decision between my career and my family and I chose my family. I would choose my family 100 times over again. I don’t feel bad about that. I was happy about it. I don’t like that it was made public necessarily or how everything unfolded so publicly, but I guess that’s part of New York and what happens. It made it difficult to play kind of what that hanging over everything. The result is the result. I’m happy with moving forward, but I’m not overly thrilled with how it went down. In my opinion, things could’ve been handled better. I’m not blaming anybody or anything, just kind of how it happened I thought was kind of unfortunate.”
[On how the trade talk affected his play] “Yeah, I was pretty open with players on the team, with the leadership group. I mean, leading was a little bit harder for me in that situation, knowing things that were public. If they weren’t public and other guys didn’t know I think that would’ve been a little bit of an easier situation for me. Things unfolded how they did. It was tough at times, for sure.”
[On his Rangers’ career] “I mean, I loved it. Obviously, it’s a bit fresh, but taking some time to reflect, I think, obviously, captaincy is extremely special. The day I was named captain is something I’ll always remember. Two conference finals. Presidents’ Trophy. I think even more so I felt like I had no clue what New York City was when I got here. I feel like I’ve learned and grown so much as a person. Found a love for art, film, a lot of different people that I’ll be lifelong friends with. There will be a piece of my heart definitely in New York, some place I’ll definitely come back to a lot. It’s also five years and a bit is a long time. I’m very grateful for all those memories. Time to turn the page and start something new.”
[On Drury’s demand that he waive his NMC or be waived himself] “It was a threat.”
Final thoughts (for now) on Trouba?
Strong Ranger, his contract was always going to be the crux of his problems and yep, it’s a business.
However, I have no issues with a guy putting his family first (especially when in a round-about way, it’s included in his contract agreed upon) – and even if that wasn’t best for the Blueshirts.
I must also admit – I found it funny that he did wind up in liberal California – but I’ll leave it at that.
He’ll also get to play with his buddies, Ryan Strome and Frank Vatrano, again too.
And how about a Ducks’ blue line that features two of the hardest hitting mofos in the league, Trouba and Radko Gudas?
I’m rooting for Trouba to do well – but I also wonder how long he’ll last in Anaheim.
After all, he never committed to the Ducks past this season (he said that “we’ll figure things out over the summer”), but should Anaheim get a shot in the arm here, and maybe Verbeek is sick of his never-ending rebuild too, then perhaps Trouba will stay for the 2025-26 season.
But of course, Trouba, and his future, is no longer a concern for Ranger fans either.
Here was Laviolette’s line-up for the twenty-fifth game of this 2024-25 season:
FIRST LINE: Panarin/Trocheck/Lafreniere
SECOND LINE: Kreider/Zibanejad/Smith
THIRD LINE: Cuylle/Chytil/Kakko
FOURTH LINE: Edstrom/Carrick/Vesey
FIRST PAIR: Lindgren/Fox
SECOND PAIR: Miller/Schneider
THIRD PAIR: Jones/Mancini
STARTING GOALIE: CZAR IGOR
BACK UP GOALIE: Jonathan Quick
DAY-TO-DAY: Brett Berard
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: Jonny Brodzinski and Jacob Trouba
BOX SCORE time.
The following graphics and information come from ESPN.com:
SCORING:
PENALTIES:
TEAM STATS:
GOALIES:
|
PIT
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 32 | 4 | 28 | .875 | 22 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 58:29 | 0 |
|
NYR
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 22 | 2 | 20 | .909 | 12 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60:00 | 0 |
NOTE: I have to be up in two-hours, so I have to keep this GAME REVIEW as brief as possible.
However, if you want the complete play-by-play of the game, and my full thoughts from all sixty-minutes of it too, then check out my Twitter/X feed over at https://x.com/NYCTheMiC
For tonight, I’m just going to bullet-point the pertinent stuff – and let’s face it – this blog is already at 10,000 words as I write this sentence – so I think that I’ve given you enough (free) material for your one ad-free click!
And as always, thanks for reading too!
And with that out of the way, our abbreviated and abridged version of your favorite segment, THE GAME REVIEW!
FIRST PERIOD
It was extremely noticeable, and really until the third period when the game was finally won, that M$G was as quiet as a church funeral mass.
And not any regular funeral mass – but a mass of a young child that didn’t deserve such a tragic fate.
ESPN brought up the low decibel level throughout this match – and while speaking about ESPN – I thought that they did a great job when covering this game and all of the events – including, and begrudgingly, noted jilted Rangers’ ex-lover, Ray Ferraro.
It should also be noted that due to all of the Ranger drama, that all of the problems in Pittsburgh were virtually ignored – but you can’t blame the world-wide leader for that – as they correctly focused on the lede.
As I was expecting Crosby to prey on the Rangers like P. Diddy at a freak-off; then I was absolutely stunned that he wasn’t a factor at all.
While Crosby (-1, 4 SOG) did finish 10-9 (52.6%) at the dots; he didn’t win the bulk of his draws until the final ten-minutes, as previously, he was 1 of 8.
The Rangers opened up hot – and that’s the way they stayed for the duration of the game – but they also didn’t score many goals either.
And you can give Pens’ goalie, Mr. Ned, the credit for that.
While CZAR IGOR didn’t really have to do that much (only 20 saves on 22 shots – or half of his usual totals), he did get some help – and a lot of help at that – from his best friend – the iron.
The first instance of this is when “Rakell, Rakell, The Musical: A Journey from Milan to Minsk to Anaheim to Pittsburgh” hit the post just 3:15 in.
As the game progressed, and roving ESPN reporter, Chytil’s former flame, Emily Kaplan, reported that the Rangers weren’t done yet, and how Ryan Lindgren, Kaapo Kakko, Reilly Smith and even Chris Kreider were names that Drury has entertained trading.
It was also reported that Mika Zibanejad, who possesses the worst contract in the league, refused to waive his NMC too.
Perhaps if Drury offered to hug him more, then D.J. MIA would be more agreeable.
While the Rangers tested Ned early-and-often (and where Lindgren and Smith did most of the damage at this time), then the crowd remained silent.
In a way, and I even said this prior to the game, then I would’ve started Matt Rempe – just to give the crowd some juice.
And if this game was a beer – then based on the crowd noise – it would’ve been non-alcoholic.
Heck, it would’ve been tap water.
The Rangers continued their relentless attack as the game worn on (Panarin, Chytil and Edstrom all had magnificent chances), but Ned was equally as relentless.
The Penguins had the first power-play of the game, their first of four, at the 12:15 mark – and where on every Ranger PK – they created more scoring chances.
I couldn’t believe that a team led by Crosby, Letang and Malkin couldn’t sneak one by.
Hell – they barely were able to touch the puck.
Speaking of Malkin, then it was also noticeable as he rekindled his feud with Steel City native, Vincent Trocheck, that he kept going down as frequently as your local (and cheapest) prostitute.
Malkin was trying to draw calls here – but in each instance – he looked as soft as Zibanejad when trying to goad a hug out of someone.
We were scoreless after one period, but it was obvious that the Rangers weren’t going to fold either.
Here’s what I said at the time:
Scoreless after 20. 1P Thoughts:
— I can’t believe ESPN is about to interview Trouba right now.
— #NYR looked strong – but no goals against a bad team and a questionable goalie. Lots of blown opportunities.
— M$G sounds as dead as a fentanyl junkie – should’ve played Rempe…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) December 7, 2024
SECOND PERIOD
Following Trouba’s intermission interview where after it, I was left with the impression that if Trouba ever encounters Larry Brooks one-on-one, then it’s hands on sight; Smith, hellbent on having his best showing yet, hit the post just twenty-seconds in.
A minute later, and Trocheck high-sticked his personal rival, Malkin.
During another failed Pens’ PP/strong Rangers’ kill, and I was cracking up when Steve Levy, when still talking about Trouba, said, “Hey, there’s David Quinn behind the Penguins’ bench. He was fired too by the Rangers!”
Following off-setting penalties from Lafreniere and Lizotte, Panarin just missed on a breakaway while the Feckless Finn, Kaapo Kakko, when wide-open, missed an open net by a country mile.
And right after the foreplay expired, then this is when Lizotte, now out of the box, ripped the first Pens’ goal of two from the slot, for the 1-0, bad guys, goal.
And this is when Panarin quickly responded with the 1-1 goal too.
Down to six-minutes remaining, and not only where the Rangers out-shooting the Pens 22-10, but they were also dominating them at the dot to a tune of 25-5.
Panarin’s center, Trocheck, took the most draws, and amongst all qualified centers, finished with a game-high 11 of 17 (64.7%).
The Rangers later received a power-play this period, but when Mika remains on your PP1, then you know how that goes – 0-1.
The Rangers were also back on the PK with 3:52 remaining after a Sam Carrick infraction, and where for the first of two times – the BFF connection – Kreider and Mika – couldn’t connect.
But they did this while short-handed – but yeah – these two blew multiple opportunities too.
Come 1:20 remaining – and Rakell hit the iron again.
Right after that, and Owen Pickering hit the iron so hard that even Sam Rosen heard it in his senior’s home.
At the time, the Pens had hit iron four times – so take that for what you will.
And also take that for what you will was Panarin’s 2-1, GOOD GUYS goal, which was scored with .5-seconds remaining – and perhaps the biggest score yet of this young season.
2-1, GOOD GUYS, after two periods.
Here’s what I said at the time:
2-1, good guys, after 40. 2P Thoughts:
— That Panarin goal at the end was YUGE – #NYR are dominating these guys in every which way but were tied at the 39:59 mark.
— Smith has done everything but score.
— Surprised that Crosby and Co. have been shut out on the scoreboard -…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) December 7, 2024
THIRD PERIOD
2:02 in and Chytil went 1 x 3 against the Pens – and almost scored – but Ned made the save.
While no goal was fruited here, this play was encouraging.
At the 4:39 mark, Shea put a puck over the glass for a DOG penalty – but again – when Mika is your featured player on your PP1 – then you have no freakin’ chance of scoring.
The Penguins soon drew a power-play of their own, when 21-seconds left on the Rangers’ PP, Jones tripped Rust.
The Rangers’ PK, tops in the league?
(Technically, they are ranked second-overall – but they have more PK goals than Nashville, who is ranked first-overall).
A flawless four of four (100%).
However, just seconds after their fourth-and-final kill, and new ice bird, Philip Tomasino, ripped a shot from the slot for the 2-2 equalizer.
This is where Miller did his best to avoid all contact – and I was disgusted as Tortorella would’ve been after seeing it.
But similar to the Pens’ first goal – and the Rangers soon responded.
At the 9:53 mark, and after a flurry of shots and rebounds afforded by Ned, there was Smith, who personified the word “DUE” in this game, who banged home the 3-2, GOOD GUYS goal.
Also worth mentioning?
With Kreider initially being stopped, Smith’s rebound gave CK20 his first assist of the season.
Holy CY YOUNG (10-1) stats Batman!
And Ranger fans don’t want to hear it either – but Smith, who steamrolled over a Penguin during the rush, may have gotten away with a charging and/or interference penalty here too.
The Rangers received one last power-play, their third-overall, with 9:24 remaining when Anthony Beauvillier caught Kakko up high-o with his stick-o.
Levy, who may be dumb, blind or retarded, then called Mika, “THE KING OF THE ONE TIMER!”
Then again, I guess this latest Mika moniker works if you don’t imply that scoring goals is the end result.
A better nickname for Mopey Mika?
“THE KING OF THE HUG!”
Following another failed power-play starring “THE KING OF THE ONE TIMER,” Trocheck, with 1:38 remaining and no extra Pen skater to be found, beat Ned for the 4-2, GOOD GUYS, goal.
And only a moronic head coach would break up this line in order to get one player going too.
Once play resumed following the two-goal Rangers’ lead, then Rakell, perhaps not expecting CZAR IGOR to play (or shoot) the puck, tripped #31 in the alternate Rangers’ third jersey.
This led to a line brawl – and my highest level of disgust and hatred with Mika Zibanefraud too.
As Adam Fox, Kreider, Smith and Lindgren went at it with every Penguin on ice, and where in addition, CZAR IGOR was looking for a piece of anyone wearing an opposing jersey too – and there was that useless sack of shit – the garbage in the #93 jersey – who got there last – and once there – just hugged someone.
DISGRACE!
And that’s how he pays homage to Trouba – by giving hugs and handjobs to a hated opponent who just attacked your goalie?
I’m telling you – Trouba isn’t/wasn’t the biggest problem
The loser with the contract that runs into the next decade is.
Even more stomach-turning?
When the Penguins pulled their goalie, and this is when Zibanejad went hard AF (you can figure out the abbreviation here), when trying to score his A-Rod empty net goal.
Please noted Rangers’ fan, President-Elect Donald Trump – DEPORT ZIBANEJAD TO SWEDEN – AND MAKE THEM PAY HIS CAP HIT TOO!
4-2, GOOD GUYS, your final – and what a crazy ending to an even crazier day.
Here’s some of the post-game stuff, where yes, and as you’d expect – everyone gave their “TROUBA TESTIMONIALS” too:
FINAL WORD
I hope you take the time out to watch the Trocheck interview – as he embodied everything I said over the summer when it was first rumored that Trouba was being shown the door – he should become the 29th captain in franchise history.
I know that many will clamor for Chris Kreider – but if CK20 didn’t want it when Trouba got the nod in 2022 – then what has changed now?
I also know that my buddy, “ROC,” from “The 2 Guys 1 Cup” podcast, doesn’t want to hear it either – but give TROCHECK THE C!
Not many play an all-around game better than #16 today – and he also doesn’t duck any challenge, nor the media either!
Up Next For The Rangers: A back-to-back home-set, Sunday at 1PM against the Kraken and a Monday night game against the new look/new head coach Chicago Blackhawks.
A regular full-feature GAME REVIEW will appear on Sunday night after the suspected smashing of Seattle.
And yes – these are two winnable games against two struggling organizations.
Up Next For Me: Two-hours of sleep!
I know that I promised an in-depth “Rangers’ Quarter Pole Report Card,” but at this point, is anyone really looking forward to it?
(And sorry that I couldn’t get it done in time – but alas, both my j-o-b and my real-life duties got in the way.)
And at this point, everything has changed so fast for this team!
But just for the hell of it, then here are your quick grades – and where contract/cap hits, and role on the team too, factor into my grading:
Brett Berard: INC
Jonny Brodzinski: B-
Sam Carrick: B
Filip Chytil: B (needs to stay healthy – he’s already missed nearly 33% of the season).
Will Cuylle: A
Adam Edstrom: A-
Kaapo Kakko: B
Chris Kreider: B-
Alexis Lafreniere: B- (would’ve been higher had that six of seven losing streak had not taken place.)
Artemi Panarin: A-
Matt Rempe: INC
Reilly Smith: C+
Vincent Trocheck: B-
Jimmy Vesey: B+
Mika Zibanejad: F—– or should it be Z-Minus?
Adam Fox: B-
Zac Jones: B+
Ryan Lindgren: C+
Victor Mancini: B+
K’Andre Miller: F
Chad Ruhwedel: INC
Braden Schneider: A-
Jacob Trouba: C
Jonathan Quick: A+++++++++
CZAR IGOR: B
Up Next For You:
Your favorite segment, which brings us to…
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
@NYCTHEMIC on the Tweeter machine
I am very much both sides’ing what happened with Jacob Trouba.
He was a solid useful player who was asked – or tried – to play a role beyond his strengths. However, I do think that his defensive play, decision-making and positioning were becoming more problematic over the last year or so. Certainly some of that was due to his defensive partners and to the forwards never looking up the hockey dictionary meaning of the term “backcheck”. But also some looked to me like a regression in skills.
Still – I cannot separate the Trouba situation and the way it was handled from the overarching damage done to the NHL by the salary cap. You certainly have written many times about that – how you cannot look at a player without considering the salary cap issues. In that context, I do not think that there was any way to handle the Trouba situation that would not be ugly.
I hope the cap goes up enough so that we can go back to looking at a player focusing on talent and not just salary – wishful thinking I know.
Sadly, and until something changes, then cap hits will be the top stat amongst all.
Don’t really care about the Canadian media thinks. Drury is baiting the Tkachuk hook. NYR were not in on his brother nor Eichel and both of the team that were raised a Cup. And any American with a Canadian team is looking at the freezing cold every day and his pay stub and thinking he’d be better off in the USA, even high tax NY. Problem is Sens are gonna want Laffy(on reasonable 2nd contract) or Cullye(on 1st contract) or Perrault, and then more. If they have scouts, Miller won’t be part; at a loss why every announcer love the black Willie Huber. And how do you get mopey Mika outta here with that contract?
Shocked Drury was able to dump Trouba and his contract.
NHLN had a talking head last night extolling Trouba as a player with a montage of Trouba making a mess defensively repeatedly leading to goals against in the background. Was good for a big hit now and then but mostly lots of out of position awfulness. Wish him no ill, but he was terrible the last few years. In last year’s ECF he was a total liability to the point Panthers looked to be jumping onto the ice every time he was on.
Funny how you brought up the Canadian media – now we got a potential tampering charge on our hands…
As to the cap and Bruce Shwartzman above; NHL still refuses to address that the disparity is increasingly less big market/small market and more high tax/low tax. It’s not a coincidence the low tax franchises-Stars, VGK, Florida teams, Preds, Canes(probably Utah going forward)-are attracting more free agent players to sign there. It’s a real disadvantage for the Canadian and big market teams like NYR, CBH, LAK. Bettman is so wedded to his bullshit cost certainty hard cap that he’s not addressing this. Would like to think the Canadian teams plus high tax market franchises might get togteher on this. But so far, nothing. And probably ebcause if you won the Winnipeg Jets or the CBJ or the Devils, it’s cool to own a pro sports team and you like being profitable with low player costs more than winning games.
I’ve said this a million times and you are 100% right.
One more thing about Trouba – his interview response to Drury’s use of the waiver hammer and the trade. How immature / naive can he be? He has chosen to play in a professional sport where a team’s evaluation and decision-making process must be made in the context of salary cap limitations. There is going to be a clash between what he would like and what the team thinks (rightly or wrongly) what it needs to do to win. That ain’t supposed to be pretty,
If you don’t like what the salary cap does – it is so damaging – then the player’s union needs to try to negotiate something different (with a group of neanderthal owners). Otherwise, those are the rules of the game – grow up and deal with it.
Rangers better move Mika before the NHL/Bettman amends the rules – and like they did to Sather after the Wade Redden/AHL loophole.