NYR/NYI 4/13 Belated Review: “BEST IN THE WORLD BLUESHIRTS” Redeem Themselves; Make Franchise History (Again), Lavy Makes D-Day Decisions, Panarin Wins 2024 Boucher Trophy; Brooks on Breadman v. Turk, Filip Chytil Re-Enters the Picture, Arizona Buried in the Desert; Hello Mormons, Rangers Control Their Destiny But Must Finish Their Story, Beat The Sens & More

Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. Yes, I’m aware that I’m about 36-hours late with this GAME REVIEW blog.

But that should tell you that I had a hell of a good time on Saturday, where following the Rangers’ 3-2 shootout win over the Islanders, my merry crew, including regulars such as my dad and “TEN O’CLOCK TOMMY” (and we have a few others that are in-and-out) are now 8-0 this season (3-0 against the Islanders too) whenever watching a weekend game at our favorite local watering hole!

Off puck drop, I do apologize for the tardiness of this GAME REVIEW blog, but between working crazy overtime at the “real job,” a boozy Blueshirt Saturday, the UFC 300 PPV, and this horrendous dinosaur computer – a blog last night was just impossible.

No joke, it was actually the latter that prevented me from writing last night – as at around midnight, I tried to fire up this wretched machine, but unfortunately – the “computer gods” had other ideas.

Rather than fighting with this computer, instead I continued to watch the UFC PPV, where better fights other than man vs. machine were to be had. Then, and following the conclusion of the UFC show – I tried one more time – but this dinosaur computer wouldn’t budge – and not even after punching it!

Instead of getting frustrated (and my feet are still recovering after kicking this hunk of junk a few nights back) – I just decided to end my night by watching season one of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” – and man, oh man, do the earlier episodes from this amazing series still hold up – and where it was like watching them all again for the first time too!

(But it is always weird to me seeing television prior to the events from 9/11 – especially airport scenes. Needless to say, TV, and the world from 2000, is much different now than what it was 24-years-ago. After all, who still has a house/landline phone these days?)

Also holding up these days?

The New York Rangers, who following one of their worst periods of the season this past Tuesday night against the Islanders, and their worst game of the season just forty-hours prior against Philadelphia – redeemed themselves on Saturday afternoon – or at least they somewhat did.

Granted, a win’s a win and that’s all that matters; but some of the problems, both recent and recurring all-season, remained.

For whatever reason, these Rangers have now found themselves in an even-goal scoring drought – and where if Panarin hadn’t scored at the 15:43 mark of the third period – then it would’ve been three consecutive games without an even-strength tally for our beloved Blueshirts.

While one even-strength goal in your last 180+ minutes of action isn’t that hot either; but when you win – and you also remain as the top team in the league – then it is easy to gloss over that fact.

Not so easy to gloss over?

Missing Mika Zibanejad, and where this 2023-24 campaign will be considered as his worst and most disappointing ever since his 2016-17 arrival.

And with the season now one-game from completion – this is now a fact too:

Zibanejad’s horrific no-show from the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs carried over into this season – and then throughout.

Praise the hockey gods that the same didn’t apply to Panarin – and a Breadman who completely 180’d from his playoffs one-year ago.

Before continuing, and in case you missed it; on Sunday, and prior to publishing this blog, I posted two other blogs, including Artemi Panarin winning this year’s Frank Boucher Trophy.

To check them out, click the links below:

For the most part, the Blueshirts dominated little brother on Saturday – but as noted – couldn’t find ways to get on the board.

After racing out to a 6-0 shot on goals advantage, by the time that the scoreless first frame had ended, the Islanders evened things up a bit, now trailing in this statistic 13-11.

Come the start of the second stanza, and the Rangers had to kill off a remaining 3:29 double-minor, following a high-sticking penalty committed by Kaapo Kakko with just 31-seconds left in the first period.

The Rangers would do just that – but they also had to kill an abbreviated 5 x 3 Islander power-play, followed by another standard 5 x 4 penalty kill, after a boarding penalty assessed to Ryan Lindgren.

The Blueshirts’ PK, a major strength all season, stood tall here – if not at their tallest.

(Then again, they’ve also had two different 5:00 major penalty kills this season.)

Even better?

Braden Schneider kicked off the scoring with a short-handed strike at the 4:33 mark.

1-0, GOOD GUYS, and again – full marks all-around for each member of the penalty kill units – including the goaltender, CZAR IGOR.

But before Schneider’s goal could even be read off to the live crowd, the Islanders tied the game, following a Pierre Engvall one-timer – or so the Islanders had thought.

(And in real-time, I was screaming at the TV in the bar about the blatant offside – and thankfully I got it right – or I would have looked more idiotic than usual!)

Upon replay, it was clearly obvious, and without debate, that the Isles were offside, and as a result – CZAR IGOR’s NYET NYET was protected.

But not for long.

The Islanders soon scored two goals, both by Brock Nelson, as the long-time orange-and-bluer first scored after a puck had deflected off of Fox at the 11:42 mark.

There was no reviewing this one.

1-1.

As noted a few times in recent weeks, the Rangers have had some issues with closing out periods without taking damage – and whether it’s by taking ill-timed penalties or allowing opposing goals.

Following Kakko’s boneheaded penalty at the end of the first, Nelson scored a wrap-around goal, his second, with just 28-seconds remaining in this second period.

2-1, bad guys – and where the Rangers’ even-strength goal drought was extended too.

The Blueshirts, who out-shot the Isles 10-9 in the second period, went on to out-shoot “baby brother” 20-12 in the final frame – and with no shot bigger than Panarin’s strike following a Vincent Trocheck o-zone face-off win.

2-2.

With both teams desperately needing a point, and following another penalty shot save made by CZAR IGOR, and as he successfully did against Adam Pelech – the Rangers, and CZAR IGOR too, got a big break with just 90-seconds remaining – as Casey Cizikas rang a puck off of the crossbar.

And had that puck went in – then the tone in Rangerstown, USA would be very different right now.

Come the end of the regulation, and with the score still tied at two-all, the Rangers were now out-shooting the Belmont Bozos by a tally of 43-32.

By the end of the five-minute overtime, and where CZAR IGOR absolutely robbed Mat Barzal at the end of it?

The Islanders added four more SOG to their record – while CZAR IGOR’s BFF, Ilya Sorokin, didn’t have to make one save.

Perhaps these five-minutes of idleness threw off Sorokin during the shootout, who otherwise was fantastic.

To open the shootout, who else but Panarin to kick things off – and score a goal too.

Come the bottom of the first, and Palmieri hit another post for the Isles.

With a chance to extend the gimmick contest lead, Zibanejad, who has had success with his Forsberg move in the past, opted for a simple wrist shot – which ultimately became Sorokin’s only save of the shootout.

The Isles, with minimal breathing room, then saw Nelson denied by #31 in Rangers’ blue.

Now entering the top of the third and with the game on his stick – NONNA TROCHECK’S BAMBINO said “lights out” when snapping a puck past Sorokin.

2-0, GOOD GUYS, in the shootout, 3-2, GOOD GUYS, your final.

As a result, and following all games played from Saturday, 4/13, the updated standings looked like this:

If it weren’t for the last two games played, then I think it would be very easy to ignore some of the negativity from Saturday, and in turn, just chalk this one up as “not every game is a Picasso.”

That said, the Rangers, who just completed a four-game regular season sweep over the Devils, also won their regular-season series against their most hated nemesis, the Islanders, too:

The Blueshirts, with a win on Monday night, can secure home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs, are also aware that my season-long daily disclaimer remains true – you know – this 25-word recital:

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

This is my way of saying that even had the Rangers lost on Saturday, and heck, even if they lose on Monday too – then it doesn’t matter.

But I think that I’ve beaten this point like a dead horse all season – but it is the only thing that matters for this team – and where had all of the events from this 2023-24 campaign had taken place after the 2021 firing of David Quinn – and as it pretty much was for Gerard Gallant and Company in the 2021-22 season – then I don’t think that you’d have all of the nerves and anxiety right now.

Instead, there would be a whole lot more of the pomp and circumstance act.

And we’ll talk more about “The Turk” at the end of this – as for whatever reason – Larry Brooks, of The New York Post, on Sunday, decided to invoke the name of last year’s fired bench boss in what was essentially poor reporting/shoddy journalism/rumor-mongering.

However, and at this time, there’s a lot of pregame news and notes to get into, all belated information at that, so let’s breeze through this as fast as possible!

After his team had embarrassed themselves on Thursday night (https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/41124/ ), the Rangers were right back to work at their training facility in Tarrytown, NY on Friday morning.

While Laviolette did tinker with his line-up, and as we’ll soon get into; the big talk of the day was the return of Filip Chytil – where if you recall  – the organization announced that they’d be shutting down the concussed Czech for the remainder of the season back on January 28th:

Chytil, cleared for contact at practice, was all smiles according to every media report.

But since he’s still on the LTIR – he didn’t speak publicly following his workout.

Furthermore, and even if Chytil was 100% healthy – he still wouldn’t have been available for the final two-games of the regular season – as the Blueshirts couldn’t afford his cap hit.

But, and as teams like Vegas, Tampa and Chicago have demonstrated in the past – if getting him back on the ice for the playoffs is the goal, then there are no cap-issues to worry about during the postseason.

I gotta admit – I was shocked that Chytil was back at practice – and where it’s since been confirmed by the head coach that if #72 receives clearance to play – then he won’t be ruled out for the playoffs – and as the team had just publicly stated some three-months ago.

Obviously, I’m not a doctor, don’t know what Chytil is going through, or anything else related to his health issues, but as an outsider-looking-in – my eyebrows are raised with this news.

Should Chytil be a real option come April 20th, where I’m to assume will be the Rangers’ first game of the playoffs – then even so – I do wonder if returning him to the line-up for the first-round is the best thing for him.

As noted repeatedly on this site over the years – the first-round of the playoffs are the hardest-hitting of the four-rounds – and for a guy who potentially can be one hit away from becoming a vegetable – then I’m not so sure if the first-round is what’s best for his health.

Furthermore, while he’ll be able to participate in every practice leading up to the playoffs – working off rust in the most important games of the season isn’t exactly ideal either.

In my eyes, and again, without knowing all of the details of his health, then I’d think he’d be better off served making his comeback in Hartford while under a conditioning/rehab stint.

And for Chytil, just imagine if the Rangers draw Tom Wilson’s Capitals in the first-round.

In the event that Chytil does return, then the odds are on #72 filling the right-wing slot on the BFF line, as currently there’s no center position available for him – that is – unless you’re going to scratch Zibanejad!

In other words, Jack Roslovic hasn’t exactly done much to impress – but where to be fair – perhaps he wasn’t really a top-sixer in the first place – and where let’s face it – outside of Frank Vatrano – no one seems to be able to stick with the BFF anyway.

We’ll see where this all goes – but I can guarantee you this:

The word “concussion” won’t be used by the Rangers – nor by Chytil either.

Since the Rangers needed a cult hero to get them out of their funk, Laviolette returned Rempe to his line-up at Friday’s practice.

And yep – perhaps the Rangers wouldn’t have hit this most recent schneid had Rempe remained in the Rangers’ line-up in the first place – but I’ve made my thoughts known on this topic many times before! (Check the archives!)

With Chytil now a possible playoff option and with Rempe returned too, Laviolette had his own sort of “D-Day,” where in this scenario, the letter “d” can stand for “desperate,” “doom,” and/or “determined.”

Whether Jacob Trouba is fully healthy or not, I do not know, but whatever the case – Laviolette, and after watching his second-pair struggle ever since the captain’s return – not only broke up the Miller/Trouba pairing – but also relegated “The Great Eight” to the team’s third pair.

Miller and Schneider, who proved successful earlier this season during Trouba’s time off with injury, were returned, while “The Gus Bus” got first dibs with the “Trouba Train” – and at the expense of a back-in-the-press-box Zac Jones.

To fast-forward a bit, come the end of Saturday’s game, and Trouba, usually one of the team’s leaders in this department, played a d-man even-strength team-low of 15:01.

Every other Ranger rearguard played at least 16:14 of even-strength puck.

And if it wasn’t for all of the penalties taken, then Trouba’s overall TOI total of 21:28 would have been significantly lower too.

We’ll see where this all goes, but similar to my points on Chytil – I think that you’d want Trouba’s physical presence as much as possible for the first-round.

Here’s the “LAVY’S LOUNGE” from Friday:

Here’s the pregame “LAVY’S LOUNGE” from Saturday morning, where all the head coach said that his team wouldn’t be looking for any sort of retribution (outside of a win) against the Noah Dobsonless (out with injury) Isles:

Here was Laviolette’s line-up for the eighty-first game of this 2023-24 season:

BOX SCORE time.

The following graphics and information come from ESPN.com:

SCORING:

PENALTIES:

TEAM STATS:

GOALIES:

As noted earlier, and as you can tell by the time when this blog was posted – everything I’m saying is belated – and you already know by now what happened anyway.

In other words, I’m going to keep this GAME REVIEW short – and where I think the real story is what lies ahead for these Rangers come the playoffs anyway.

In turn, I’ll be sharing more thoughts than play-by-play – and since I was at the bar on Saturday – I wasn’t exactly taking copious notes like I usually do from home!

However, I do want to say a few words about the ESPN broadcast, as I thought that they did a great job on Saturday afternoon – a rarity for the world-wide leader!

Bob Wischusen, the play-by-play man for this tilt, called an even game – and then when the Rangers (mainly Panarin) scored – well he sounded more excited about a Blueshirts’ goal than Sam Rosen has ever sounded this season!

Ryan Callahan, who for the life of me, I don’t know why the M$GN didn’t hire him after his two-game audition last season, was the color analyst.

While he somewhat has every right to sound as jilted as another member of the alumni, Ray Ferraro, usually does whenever working these Ranger games on ESPN/ABC, there was none of that from Captain Cally.

And if you didn’t know any better, then you would have thought that Cally and Wischusen have been working together for years – and not once did you hear “Pardon me Cally” nor “Sorry Bobby” either.

Leah Hextall, granddaughter of a man whose name and #12 jersey belongs in the rafters of M$G, Bryan Hextall, handled the in-between bench duties.

I know it’s probably tiresome to non-Ranger fans, but I always enjoy whenever ESPN shares a clip of her talking about her grandfather while the camera pans to the 1940 banner.

Perhaps someday, with a real Team President and owner, that #12 banner will join the other pieces of fabric adorned from the iconic ceiling.

As far as anything else, Mark Messier was joined in-studio by ESPN’s resident idiot, P.K. Slewban – and where in the ultimate troll move and with the Stanley Cup in front of them – Messier had a field day when antagonizing the man who never apologized to Sammy Blais!

Talk about a nice cherry on top during a Rangers’ win – and against the Isles no less!

FIRST PERIOD

Go figure, Mika Zibanejad, who can’t buy a goal these days, led all shooters in this game with eight shots on goal. He also recorded the first SOG – and Sorokin’s first save made too.

And while I thought that in a vacuum that #93 played well (he also assisted on Schneider’s shorty) – for $8.5M – he needs to score goals.

Duh.

But I have already outlined the “BEAT THE BLUESHIRTS’ BLUEPRINT” many times before on this site this year, and as recently as of this past Thursday night – so no need to rehash all of that again here.

I thought Kaapo Kakko, who stalls more than he starts, looked timid. There were many times throughout this game when he was right back to his “Wallflower” and humping-the-boards act – as he refused to go to the net.

Fancy stick-handling over shooting the puck, Kakko opted not to shoot a puck when all alone with Sorokin early.

Maddening.

My favorite cult hero and yours, Matt Rempe, heard large ovations all-game – and especially when he swung his legs over the boards for his first shift.

I can’t think of any other player in Rangers’ history that has garnered the love of the fan base as quickly as Rempe has – that is – except for those fellows named Mark Messier and Wayne Gretzky.

Again – why Rempe wasn’t playing in at least every other game, if not all in of them, ever since his return from suspension, is beyond me.

Rempe’s first shift?

He won a faceoff after Goodrow was punted out of the circle – and then spent the entirety of his shift attacking in the Isles’ zone.

But he’s just a fighter – am I right?

After out-shooting the Isles early, 6-0; by the time that the half-way mark of the period hit and the SOG tally was now seven-up.

At the 13:11 mark, Mike Reilly, who just gave the Rangers headaches on Tuesday night, held Wennberg which then put the Blueshirts on the power-play for the first time.

This was a great power-play – but the desired result, a goal, never came to be.

But it wasn’t for a lack of trying.

With 3:13 remaining, the heralded and esteemed Rangers’ PK went to work for the first time following a Goodrow holding penalty on Barzal.

The Rangers didn’t allow a SOG on this – and where of note – Lindgren and Trouba were paired together here – and as they’d be during every kill that followed.

After doing nothing offensively, Kakko took an offensive penalty to look at, an o-zone one to boot, when he high-sticked and drew blood on Robert Bortuzzo for the four-minute double-header.

The Isles wouldn’t score on their power-play during these final 29-seconds of regulation – and for that matter – would never score on any one of their numerous man-up advantages.

Scoreless after twenty.

SECOND PERIOD

Prior to Schneider’s shorty, Zibanejad flubbed a three-vs-one odd-man rush, while Lindgren missed the net on a breakaway.

But the third time of these never-ending odd-man rushes while short-handed would prove to be a charm – and as Schneider displayed at the 4:33 mark:

A shorthanded goal for Braden Schneider!

(via @BR_OpenIce) pic.twitter.com/L7NG3fzyqF

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) April 13, 2024

Is that an in-his-prime Bobby Orr now wearing number four for the Rangers?

What. A. Goal!

1-0, GOOD GUYS.

Nearly as impressive?

Due to all of the penalty kills, the Rangers were without Panarin for nearly seven-minutes – and while the Blueshirts didn’t score – neither did the Islanders.

Right after that? The previously aforementioned Engvall disallowed goal.

Once returned to even-strength, and during Panarin’s second shift of the period, he was joined by Matt Rempe, as the top two vote-getters of this year’s Frank Boucher Trophy got some rare playing time together – but only because Vesey had changed first.

Even so – it was entertaining to see these two fan-favorites play together – and wouldn’t you know it, and with 9:30 remaining – these two spent their precious seconds together by attacking in the Isles’ zone.

But come 8:18 left to be ticked, this is when Nelson scored what was essentially a puck luck goal allowed by the Rangers – and a hard-working/offensively alert goal for his team.

1-1.

Following one hell of a Feckless Finn shift, which included another brutal o-zone turnover – Matt Freakin’ Rempe.

Rempe’s deployment here spoke volumes, as usually, Lavy won’t skate his giant in tied contests as the game progresses into its latter stages.

What did Rempe do?

He gave his coach every reason to keep him out there – as Rempe had a monstrous shift, hitting anything in sight, forechecking like an animal and eclipsing Sorokin throughout.

You sick of the following already?

Too bad:

REMPE HAS TO START IN THE PLAYOFFS – AND DESPITE WHAT ANYONE SAYS – I HAVE YET TO SEEN ANY EVIDENCE OF THIS ROOKIE DOING ANYTHING DETRIMENTAL.

Instead, he’s been nothing but a seven-foot fountain of positivity – and there’s a certain buzz, a juice if you will, in the air, and from both his teammates and the crowd, whenever he’s dressed.

Then, and with under 30-seconds remaining, Nelson scored his wrap-around goal, a deflating score allowed, but not one that was insurmountable to overcome either.

2-1, bad guys, after forty – and where once again, the best comeback team in the league were tasked to do just that.

THIRD PERIOD

You were just hoping for Laviolette to double-shift his best player with a lot on the line – and that’s exactly what happened.

But not before CZAR IGOR robbed Fasching – and then made a penalty shot save on Pelech too.

The Russian Blueshirts!

If only Phil Esposito was still alive to see this! (I kid, I kid!)

And of course, who else but the team’s best player and number one center to tie the game – and as Trocheck and Panarin did with just 4:17 remaining in regulation:

48TH GOAL OF THE YEAR FOR ARTEMI PANARIN 🔥

(via @BR_OpenIce) pic.twitter.com/Mqul3xBLYG

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) April 13, 2024

2-2 – and where come the final horn of regulation time – overtime was required.

In an overtime dominated by the Islanders – CZAR IGOR saved his best for last – literally:

NICE LITTLE WINDMILL THERE IGOR!

(via @BR_OpenIce) pic.twitter.com/PcbnYaCgtp

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) April 13, 2024

This odd-man rush save on Barzal, which took place with just seven-seconds remaining, not only prevented the Islanders from winning – but it gave the Rangers a chance to take the two points in the gimmick contest that everyone loves – the shootout!

As noted up top, CZAR IGOR was impregnable, while Panarin, followed by Trocheck, got through against Sorokin.

The best win of the season?

Not even top-five – heck it’s probably not even a top-ten candidate victory from this season either – but where to be fair – there are a whole slew of candidates for “best win of the season” – and where after this particular defeat of the Islanders – there are now a franchise-best fifty-four of which to choose form.

That number 54 for my numerologists out there?

You may be aware of the last Cup drought – but you should also be rooting for win #55 on Monday night too!

Here’s an extremely happy, if not relieved, Laviolette after the win:

There are few stories to get into before signing off tonight.

One, and in an update, the Hurricanes beat the Blackhawks, 4-2, on Sunday night.

As a result, the mission remains the same:

Just win on Monday against Ottawa and everything is clinched – the Presidents’ Trophy, the Conference, the Division, the world!

Should the Blueshirts not handle business against one of the league’s bottom feeders, then in order to win everything, they’ll need Carolina to lose on Tuesday night against the Blue Jackets – and for the Dallas Stars to lose on Wednesday night when they host the Blues.

But how about a win to close the season while forgetting about everyone else too!

Also on a related note – the Rangers had Sunday off and will return Monday morning for their team-sponsored “RISE AND SHINE” skate.

Two, the Larry Brooks created Panarin v. Gallant stuff.

Since many are aware of my “Lateralette” nickname, and my concerns about this core too; I was shared an article written by Larry Brooks (https://nypost.com/2024/04/13/sports/rangers-artemi-panarin-poised-to-redeem-himself-after-last-years-playoffs/amp/ ) several times over on Sunday, and where the key passage was the following:

When I first read the above – I couldn’t believe that a Hall of Fame scribe like Larry Brooks attached his name to this nonsense.

But then again, and as noted before – I do think that Mollie Walker is dumbing him down.

For starters, and if I’ve said it once, then I’ve said it a million times, as part of the tradeoff where Brooks is the only beat reporter that breaks news/gets scoops – the conduit must not write anything negative and/or squeamish about the team.

Need some recent examples?

Where’s Brooks’ article on the Jim Ramsay firing? Where’s Brooks’ article on the James Dolan sexual assault allegations? Where’s Brooks’ article on the NHL’s refusal to use the word “concussion”? Where’s Brooks’ article on the Ranger fan that was killed last year at M$G after being accidentally shoved off of a packed-and-mobbed post-game escalator?

Point made.

What really shocked me about this drivel, is that for a HOF writer like Brooks – his work can now be compared to mine – from the realm of a blogger that harbors no responsibility.

But unlike Adam Hermtrans, the team president won’t be calling out either one of us for lying!

As learnt in any Journalism 101 class across America – when reporting a story, it must be double-sourced – and you have to ask both sides about their involvement.

Granted, such means are not available to someone like me, who writes independently.

But sources and contacts are available to someone of the accredited beat – and especially a Hall of Famer like Brooks.

So what am I getting at?

At the very least, Brooks should have asked Gallant to go on the record and give the other side of it.

And if “The Turk” just wanted to say “no comment” – and to give Brooks a pass – if he had just said “Gallant was unavailable for comment” – then at least he would have tried.

Instead, what Brooks wrote was akin to a dirt-sheet writer who makes things up like wrestling’s Dave Meltzer.

And it still amazes me that not one member of the beat have reached out to Gallant at all in order to get his side of his firing – and that includes the league-wide podcast circuit too.

And while Gallant may say “no comment,” you’d think he’d try to defend himself from negative accusations – and as David Quinn formerly did a few weeks later when Gallant first replaced him.

To be clear, I’m not doubting the veracity of what Brooks heard – I’m just saying that he reported it in an irresponsible blog-like manner.

And not for nothing, and since Brooks just slung a rumor out there without fully explaining it too – can you blame Gallant, or any other coach like him (Torts comes to mind), for calling out his best player in front of the team?

Such a motivational move isn’t unprecedented – and this tactic also goes back to day one of this sport.

Just ask Conn Smythe. Or even better, just ask Jack Adams – two men who have year-end trophies/awards in their namesake today.

Furthermore, and if you recall, then you know that the Panarin we’re witnessing right now wasn’t the same guy that we saw last season – and as all of the never-ending and maddening cross-ice passes for turnovers would suggest.

But he was still the team’s best player – which just made that first-round loss even worse as he consistently struggled.

And a lot of Panarin’s turnaround this season was recognized in the summer by the player himself – and as his shaved head told us – as he said (and there could be a word or two lost in translation), “I wanted to exorcise the bad luck.”

We are all rooting for the Rangers to win the Stanley Cup this season – and should that miracle see the light of day – then this core will have disproved all allegations about them being unable to win.

But if they don’t?

Then it’s back to the rhetoric of the players bonding together to get the two previous coaches fired – and where I don’t see a third being fired under Drury’s watch either – because such a move would be another black mark on the general manager’s record.

One last thing before going home.

I’m going to assume that by now, you already know that the Coyotes are being sold to the NHL for one billion buckaroos – and then the NHL will sell/flip the team, in a prearranged deal, with Ryan Smith out of Utah for $1.3B.

In other words, this is a double-sale – and where everyone wins – sans the three fans of the Coyotes.

For the soon-to-be former owner of the Desert Dogs, whose team is being put to sleep, Alex Meruelo, he also comes out as a two-time winner.

Not only will he be paid $1B – but he’s also retaining the rights to all of Arizona’s intellectual property.

As Elliotte Friedman of SportsNet first reported, Meruelo, and with a series of benchmarks to hit during a five-year time-table, will also be allowed to revive the Coyotes – as the team’s status will be ruled as “inactive.”

(Anyone else remember what once happened to the Brooklyn Americans?

Then again, and unlike Red Dutton against the league’s powers-to-be after World War II – the league, most notably the commissioner, wants a team back in Arizona as quick as humanely possible.)

In essence, and as long as Meruelo does the work that Gary Bettman has doled out to him (finding a place to build a new arena being the biggest priority), he has the first right of refusal come the next time when the league expands – and they will expand again soon enough.

I’ve written so many words on how horrible these present-state Coyotes have been for the league, so I’m not going to do so again here, as you can check this site’s archives for all of that.

Plus, you already know how this franchise has been a money-loser for the league for some time now – and where the other 31 owners want this Bettman pet project, now calling a college rink home, put to bed.

And just imagine all of the playoff monies that would’ve been sacrificed had the Coyotes, you know, actually reached the postseason – rather than being the franchise where bad contracts go to die?

Bettman wants the NHL back in Arizona – but with Smith eager-and-able – he’s getting the best of both worlds here – a new rich billionaire to play with and another one trying to bring the Coyotes back ASAP.

Nothing official about the sale and move have been released by the league and Coyotes just yet – but many league insiders are projecting that the NHL and the Coyotes will be releasing a statement come the end of the season – and prior to the playoffs too – as they don’t want the news to break during the postseason – which would be a negative distraction.

Funny enough, just a year ago, and while speaking to Friedman on “32 Thoughts,” Smith, who also owns the Utah Jazz, said that he wanted an expansion team – a franchise that he could build from the ground up.

But this Coyotes’ sale speeds up the timeline – and where the Coyotes do have a ton of draft picks and young players in their pipeline.

And can you imagine a Quebec-to-Colorado 1996 scenario playing out in Utah?

At the end of the day, the Coyotes, through multiple owners and partnerships, have been mismanaged.

I mean, can you imagine an NFL, NBA or MLB team losing their own arena after multiple incidents of not paying the bills?

How Mickey Mouse.

Furthermore, and while this statement applies ever since the Jets moved to Arizona in 1996, but most certainly more so today more than ever – the Coyotes never put out a product worth watching.

Not once did the Coyotes ever do what Vegas did. And while the Kraken had a down season this year – they had an incredible one last season – and one that created good-will and vibes throughout Seattle too.

Even other expansion (and relocated) teams from the past thirty-years or so have had success.

The Ducks, Stars, Hurricanes, Avalanche and Lightning all won Stanley Cups relatively early into their existence.

The Panthers, in their third season, went all the way to the Stanley Cup Final – and maybe they would’ve won it if they hadn’t ran into one of the best teams of the modern era, those same Avalanche of 1996.

Throughout their 25+ years, the Coyotes never reached a Stanley Cup Final and had missed the playoff cut-line during the past twelve-seasons – while trading for garbage-after-garbage contract.

And while hockey is picking up steam in Arizona – it’s not like they are a hockey haven like Buffalo – a Sabres franchise without a playoff berth since 2011 – and where despite the perennial losing – the franchise is still profitable.

While there are plenty of Mormon jokes to make when trying to figure out what Utah will call themselves – and go figure – owner Ryan Smith has the same surname as the Mormon founder, Joe Smith; I’m going to assume that the new franchise isn’t going to have a Mormon-related name – nor run a buy one ticket, and your five wives get in free promotion either!

From all reports, the 45-year-old Smith is savvy – and it wouldn’t shock me if he changed the culture for the now twice relocated franchise – and where I also wonder how many people in Winnipeg will be rooting for this team?

Yours truly?

Not only do I love this move for league/Rangers’ business purposes (it helps increase the salary cap – as Arizona was the team that hindered the cap the most) – but as someone a few cities shy of being able to check all of them off of my bucket list (I’m missing Dallas, San Jose, Winnipeg and Vancouver) – I’ve never been to Salt Lake City, Utah before!

And just like the Rangers’ first forays into Vegas and Seattle (and I guess Belmont too!) – I hope to be in-attendance for the first ever Blueshirt game in the Beehive State – and where I hope that the league eradicates those funky and strict anti-alcohol laws around the new team’s arena too!

Good luck to Smith – and I believe that he’s the anti-John Spano – good for the league!

Long-term prediction?

Within three-years, this will be a 34-team league, and in return cities to boot, Phoenix and Atlanta.

Sorry Canada!

See ya late night Monday, following Game 82.

That blog won’t be posted until sometime around 4AM, as I’m working overtime at the real gig.

After that and prior to the start of this weekend’s playoffs – the 2023-24 Final Report Card.

Gee, I wonder what grade the three members of the GAG LINE 2.0 will receive?

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/

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

Another Biscuit In The Bread Basket: “The Breadman” Artemi Panarin Wins the 2024 Frank Boucher Trophy! Full Voting Results, List of Every Winner Since The 1951-52 Season, Complete History of the Trophy & More

The Extraordinary Life of Alex “Shoo” Shibicky

NYR/PHI 4/11 Review: Lavy’s Lot Embarrassed in Absolute Worst Loss Yet; Still Remain as “BEST IN THE WORLD BLUESHIRTS,” Growing Concerns About Miller/Trouba, Beat Reporters & Bench Boss Refuse to Talk About Matt Rempe; REMPESTEIN Dominating NHL Merch Sales, S.O.S Missing Mika; Zibanejad Reaches New Lows, Fox Named “Mr. Ranger;” Panarin Continues JAGR WATCH, Chytil & Wheeler Return Updates, Everyone Needs Some Tullamore Dew; Sam & Joe Need a Seniors’ Home, Beat the Isles & More

NYR/NYI 4/9 Review: Rempe-Less Rangers Busted Up By Isles; Still Remain as “BEST IN THE WORLD BLUESHIRTS,” “Lavy’s Lot” Play One of Their Worst Periods of the Season; “Roy’s Ruffians” Play One Of Their Best, JAGR WATCH Update; One Shy From “CK40” Too, Laviolette Irately Incensed In Most Explosive Interview Yet; A Case of “Rempe Regret,” Frank Boucher Trophy Voting, “Ranger Killers,” M$GN & More

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