Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. Bring on the second-round – and yep – bring on the Carolina Hurricanes too!
As if it were fate, the Blueshirts and Canes will meet again in the postseason for the second time in three-years – and if you count the 2020 Covid Cup Playoffs – then three times during the past five-years too.
And at this juncture – not only are the stakes and expectations greater than ever before – but so are both of these teams – the 1-2 of the Metro division – and where despite their respective finishes – it are the Hurricanes who enter this second-round rematch as -152 favorites, while the Rangers are pegged as +126 home underdogs by the powers-to-be in Las Vegas.
As we all know by now, and despite the lines bestowed upon us by the bookies in Sin City; THE BEST IN THE WORLD BLUESHIRTS won the Presidents’ Trophy this season – and in addition – set franchise records in the most wins and most points statistics too.
On the other side of the equation, and a squad looking to derail the Rangers’ hopes, are the Carolina Hurricanes, who finished second-overall in the division for the first time in three-years.
Prior to their runner-up finish to the Rangers during this 2023-24 campaign, the Canes had won the division title three-years in a row (2021, 2022 and 2023).
As I have repeatedly brought up on this site whenever talking about Rod Brind’Amour’s red-and-white attack; in a way, they remind me of the 2012-2015 Henrik Lundqvist Era of Rangers (and the Emile Francis Era of Blueshirts works as a frame of reference here as well) – and the pre-2020 Jon Cooper Tampa Bay Lightning too.
And in 2024, we’ll find out which road that the Canes will travel – and let’s hope it’s a rocky road!
Should it be the Lundqvist & Francis teams that the Canes ape, then this Raleigh core will have done everything but win like these two eras of Rangers’ history.
But should they mimic Coop’s Crew, then all of the previous heartbreak and deep playoff exits will have been all worth it.
And it’s up to Lavy’s Lot to make sure that the former scenario, and not the latter, plays out for their formidable foe.
It’s even more so the Rangers’ mission to have a parade this June too – but first things first – the Canes.
The god-awful and down-right embarrassing Islanders, who really could have won any of the four games that they lost in their five-game first-round ousting – and as facilitated by the Hurricanes – were finally shown the door on Tuesday night at M$G $outh – aka the PNC Arena located in Raleigh, North Carolina.
(Holy dashes Batman – and sorry for the Morse Code my dear Robin!)
(And while Ranger fans usually take over the PNC Arena in the regular season – I’d expect the red jerseys to outweigh the blue jerseys in the crowd during this series – but even so – there will be a loud and vocal Blueshirt presence in-attendance, as there are a lot of New York transplants in North Carolina, in addition to the fact that Ranger fans are always well-traveled.)
In the Isles’ do-or-die Game 5, Loser Lou’s team, one that snubbed their noses at the trade deadline, were doubled-up by a final score of 6-3.
What a shame – and what more of a shame that Patrick Roy couldn’t leave his digs behind the bench – and in favor of little brother’s net!
Most Ranger fans, myself included, and even if it pained them, entered Tuesday night hoping for a blue-and-orange win – and where had such a miracle had occurred – then it would’ve meant a Game 6, and then possibly a Game 7, for the Blueshirts’ second-round opponent.
Carolina, whose sole loss of this series against the tenants of the IBS Arena took place during an overtime defeat in Game 4 – and now as a result of their quick close-out of the crappy Isles – they, and just like the Rangers, will also get their fair share of rest prior to whenever Game 1 of this second-round match commences.
As of this writing, we still don’t know the schedule for Rangers/Canes just yet, as both teams await the results of the other first-round pairings – and in another wrinkle – the results of the Knicks/76ers series too:
Again, while we don’t know when the Rangers will continue their journey for Lord Stanley’s Cup; at the earliest, it seems like Sunday, May 5th, Cinco De Mayo, is a strong possibility.
To quote pro wrestling legend Konnan, “arriba la raza!”
And my apologies to Ranger fans who also support the Knicks – but I hope that James Dolan’s NBA squad is ousted from the playoffs asap.
Why?
Easy.
Should the Knicks go down, then for the Rangers, it means high-quality ice at M$G, rather than the washed-up slosh that they are playing on these days – and solely due to the never-ending arena conversions.
And as you may have ascertained, and long by now at that, I only want to see one thing during the remainder of my adult life (and that includes winning the lottery) – a Rangers’ Stanley Cup victory – and if that means that the Knicks have to go bye-bye in order for this vision to become a reality – then so be it!
And isn’t it amazing Suzyn that two of these New York teams that wear the blue-and-orange could be eliminated in the first-round, while it was the Blueshirts who busted out the broom in their preliminary series?
Furthermore, and when moving on from the nomadic Islanders for tonight, I wanted to share a “true story” with you.
(“True Story” in quotes – because I’m making up the following paragraph!)
Following the Isles’ pathetic loss, I went over to Yelp.com to read a review of Borrelli’s Italian restaurant, which is located in East Meadow, NY. According to user name “1983LastCupYoullEvaSee,” the pasta bolognese is extremely salty, the thin crust pizza is extremely wet and soggy – and to compound all matters – the ambience at this shithole is cloudy and with a chance of meatballs!
And Stu Feiner is a fraud too!
Let’s now talk Canes and Rangers.
Over twenty-one years ago, and on December 16th, 2003 to be specific; the Hurricanes, now seven seasons removed from their Hartford, CT departure, fired their first head coach in their newly rebranded/former Whaler history, Paul Maurice.
(And should the 2024 Eastern Conference Final feature “Some People Call Me Maurice” and Laviolette on either side of the benches – then we’ll have another historical retrospective to get into too!)
Maurice, who brought the Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup Final in 2002, a five-game loss to one of the greatest teams of the modern era, the 2002 Detroit Red Wings, was 8-12-8-2 at the time of his firing.
Laviolette, come the end of the 2002-03 season, was fired by one of the worst general managers in league history, John Spano’s buddy, Mike Milbury.
For BIG PETE, he left the first coaching stint of his career, on Long Island, with an overall record of 77-62-19-6 – and with back-to-back first-round playoff losses to his name too.
As everyone should know by now, when Laviolette was hired mid-way through the 2003-04 season – the league was in a state of peril – and where such a perilous state soon became rock-bottom – aka the 2004-05 lockout season.
When the league finally resumed play for the 2005-06 season, and where the players came out of their bargaining agreement with the biggest loss in North American union history (the triple-hard salary cap), Laviolette still remained at the helm of the Hurricanes.
In a bizarre season because of the lockout and where it was the league’s focus to regain all of the good-will that had been lost too (and I won’t bring up the piss-poor TV/rights package deals tonight either); come the 2006 Stanley Cup Final, and the NHL featured two small market clubs, the Edmonton Oilers and the Carolina Hurricanes, competing for the holy grail of hockey.
(Needless to say, not having a big market team compete for the Cup hurt the league in their “comeback” season.)
Once up 3-1 in the series, the Hurricanes soon found themselves tied at three-games a piece – and with the finale, Game 7, to be hosted on home ice.
And come the final horn in the biggest game of the year – and Laviolette’s Hurricanes, via a 3-1 final, prevailed.
In turn, Laviolette guided the Canes in the way that he’s guiding the Rangers today – and where he, and like all of us – is hoping that he can do it again in 2024.
The lockout, and as it did for many aging players, including the Rangers’ Mark Messier, ended the careers of many hockey legends.
One of these players was Ron Francis, then the captain of the Hurricanes, and who was then later inducted into the Hall of Fame (2007).
Following a year of NHL idleness, and now coaching a team without a captain; Laviolette, and with the full support from his owner, general manager, and more importantly – his players too – hand-picked Rod Brind’Amour to succeed Francis as Canes’ team captain.
While Eric Staal (100-points), Justin Williams and Cory Stillman (76-points each) outscored Brind’Amour during the 2005-06 season (70-points); at the same time there was no debate about who the life-force and the leader of these Hurricanes were – Brind’Amour himself.
And come the playoffs, Brind’Amour’s twelve goals paced the team – and where following the hoisting of the Cup – the bond between Brind’Amour and Laviolette was never greater – and a relationship that continues to this very day.
The 2006 championship was the pinnacle of the Brind’Amour and Laviolette partnership, as following a Stanley Cup win that many thought deserved an asterisk next to it – and only due to it being the first season post-lockout (but not a thought that I’d concur with) – the Hurricanes then missed the playoffs in 2007 and 2008.
Ironically, and as it were five-years prior; mid-way through the 2008-09 season and Laviolette received his walking papers.
Why ironically?
Replacing Laviolette in Carolina on December 3rd, 2008 was none other than the man that he formerly replaced – Paul Maurice.
Small world Suzyn!
Brind’Amour, who prior to his days in the south, was a long-time tormentor of the Rangers with the Flyers during the decade of the 1990s, completed what should be a future Hall of Fame career following the events of the 2009-10 season.
“Rod The Bod,” in twenty NHL seasons, wrapped-up his excellent career with 452 goals, 732 assists and 1,184 points in 1,484 games played.
And when Brind’Amour retired following the end of the 2009-10 regular season and with no playoff games to be had either?
Then from home, he watched his former mentor, Laviolette, compete for another Cup – a six-game series loss sustained by the hands of the Chicago Blackhawks – and the less said about the 2010 Hawks (and I’m not talking about this franchise becoming the first team in league history to expose the LTIR cap loophole either), the better!
Brind’Amour, now retired, and with Laviolette still in Philadelphia, accepted a front-office job with the Hurricanes for the 2010-11 season.
On February 18th, 2011, Brind’Amour’s #17 was retired by the Hurricanes – and during a pregame ceremony prior to a match against Laviolette’s Flyers – as the Canes wanted Rod’s mentor in the building for this accolade.
These two hockey savants always had 2006 between them – and the bond, once as teacher and pupil, was now on an even-keel peer relationship – and one full of both love and respect.
Brind’Amour, who was always groomed from day one of his retirement to become a head coach, then spent nearly seven-years with the the Hurricanes as an assistant, a development director and as a community liaison for the club.
While Laviolette’s tenure in Philly eventually came to an end, and where he then moved onto Nashville for the start of the 2014-15 season; Brind’Amour’s post-playing days progression continued – and he thrived too during this time.
Laviolette’s Predators reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2017 and where the head coach was looking to improve his championship round record to 2-1.
However, Sidney Crosby had a different say in the matter, and ultimately, the Preds dropped a six-game set to the Penguins.
Despite the two Stanley Cup Final losses sustained by Laviolette – things had been going pretty well for him ever since getting the ax in Carolina – and where like Brind’Amour – both men deserve their day in Toronto, the Hall of Fame, some day in the future.
While Laviolette continued to have success – the Canes did not.
From 2010 through 2018, and with three coaches since Laviolette’s departure (Maurice, Kirk Muller and Bill Peters) – and the Hurricanes never qualified for the playoffs once during these years.
It was time for a change.
And it was also at this time when Brind’Amour was finally deemed ready.
On May 8th, 2018, and prior to the first puck drop of the 2018-19 season, Brind’Amour was installed as the fifth unique coach in Canes’ franchise history.
Since such an introduction?
Brind’Amour’s Canes have never missed the playoffs since.
In Brind’Amour’s 2018-19 rookie head coach season, the Canes went all the way to the Eastern Conference Final – where they were then swept by the Bruins.
During the 2020 Covid Cup playoffs, the Canes swept the Rangers, 3-0, in the qualifying round, but were then eliminated in the first-round by the bad boys from Boston, 4-1.
Following the events of the truncated 2020-21 pandemic-plagued regular season and the Canes reached the second-round, only to be eliminated by that year’s eventual champions, the Tampa Bay Lightning, and in another five-game set.
In 2022 (and much more about these playoffs below), “Brind’Amour’s Bunch” finally got the Boston monkey off of their backs and soon eliminated the B’s in seven-games during the first-round.
The Canes would then lose a second-round seven-game set to the Blueshirts – and again – more about this series below.
Last year, during the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Canes, who have had a lot of familiarity with the Tampa Bay Lightning of old, made short-work of the Islanders in the first-round (six games) and then even shorter work of the team that had vanquished the Rangers that year, the Devils (five games).
But once returned to the Eastern Conference for the first time since Brind’Amour’s first year – and the Canes were then soon swept by the Florida Panthers.
While the Canes continued to knock but never enter during Brind’Amour’s last three-years in Carolina; over in Washington, Laviolette, who was installed as their head coach back on September 15th, 2020, had the worst tenure of his coaching career with an aging Capitals’ core – and one that he just got revenge on too (https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/42824/ ).
Following first-round exits in 2021 (five-games to Boston) and 2022 (six-games to Florida), and Laviolette, after missing the playoffs in 2023, was asked not to return for a fourth season in D.C.
And as you all know by now – on June 13th, 2023 (my 41st birthday – perhaps a prophecy – or so I hope!) – and Laviolette was installed as the 37th head coach in Rangers’ history – and one of many Blueshirt bench bosses to have previously played for the club too.
Depending on how you view Lester Patrick’s one emergency game played from 1928, and Laviolette can soon join Frank Boucher (1940) as one of the alumni to have played for the club – and then coached them to a Stanley Cup victory too.
(But unlike Boucher, who won the Stanley Cup as a player in 1928 and 1933 – Laviolette never won a championship as a player.)
Going into the 2023-24 season, and there was a lot of doubt about the Rangers – as after all – even if they reached the playoffs as many suspected they would – then what was to suggest that anything would change, especially after the 2023 playoff no-shows from the team’s top two stars, Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad – and a seven-game series loss that cost the 36th head coach in franchise history, Gerard Gallant, one of the most successful regular season coaches in franchise history to boot, his job?
(Holy run-on sentence Batman! But give me a pass Robin – I’m on no sleep!)
(And for more on all of this – then just check out the archives of this site – as I don’t want to rehash all of those painful memories again!)
While many projected the Rangers to finish either third- or fourth-overall in the division, but with a playoff bid too; everyone and their mothers also debated about who would finish first- and second-overall in the Metro too – Brind’Amour’s Canes, and the team that led to change in New York, the Devils.
And as we all know – following some 82-games later – and the Rangers not only won the Metro – but they finished as the best damn team in the league too – and only backed up such status following their four-game sweep of the Capitals.
The second-in-the-division Canes?
They finished with 111-points – three-points shy of the Rangers’ franchise record set this season (114).
As you can tell, and outside of the Rangers trying to FINISH THE STORY – the biggest storyline heading into this second-round is the Laviolette and Brind’Amour relationship.
But only one man can move on and into the Eastern Conference Final.
And while on a level playing field as peers today – for these two head coaches – it all boils down to student vs teacher.
While I’ll flesh out this point below – the stakes have never been greater for these two bench bosses.
On one side, you have Brind’Amour, who has done everything but win it all as bench boss of the Canes.
While I don’t think that Brind’Amour’s job is in any serious jeopardy should the Canes lose; at the same time, there is some of that chatter out there – as akin to the Rangers – Carolina is also in a “CUP OR BUST” situation.
And for the Canes, and despite Rod’s long-earned “legend emeritus” status in Raleigh – not many men last forever with one team – and you can ask Laviolette all about this – who ironically, perhaps one of his mentors, Al Arbour, and following his short stay in St. Louis prior to his Long Island arrival – is one of the few and rare exceptions.
And while Arbour, and other coaches who predated the four-time Cup champ too, mainly stayed with one team during a bygone era – there are no coaches today in the modern era, the salary cap era, where players have guaranteed long-term contracts but head coaches don’t, that stay in one spot forever either.
(Really, only Jon Cooper is the exception in this era – but I don’t see him staying in Tampa forever either.)
Laviolette’s job, which is not in jeopardy regardless of this pending series result, is in the predicament that I’ve reminded you of many times this season – the “LATERALETTE” moniker.
After all, and no matter how you feel about the previous head coach, “THE TURK” (and I don’t think that I have to tell you that I was a huge fan of his) – Gallant did take the Rangers to the ECF in his first season.
A series loss to Carolina for the CUP OR BUST Blueshirts?
Then it’s “the same old shit” for this 98-year-old franchise – and where such a loss would 100% erase all of the amazing accomplishments from one of the best regular seasons in club history too.
There is so much on the line for not only the coaches – but for all of the players as well.
Similar to this Rangers’ core that talks the talk but hasn’t walked the walk yet – the Canes are in the same boat.
But unlike two-years ago – both of these teams are far superior than their previous incarnations – and improved vastly they have.
What shapes up next is arguably the most important playoff series yet – and where the ramifications are greater here than in the other three series left remaining.
Before getting into both the present and the future, at this time, let’s take a look at the last time when these two teams hooked up in the playoffs – the second-round of 2022 – and I’ll explain why I’m sharing this “blast from the past” on the other side of this:
NYR/CAR R2G1 5/18 Review: Rangers’ “Young Guns” Come To Play; “Fat Cats” MIA, Blueshirts Give Away a Gift-Wrapped Win; Raanta Wins Battle of Finns, Heartbreaking Defeat; Must Get Split, Blais, Gallant, ESPN/M$GN & More
NYR/CAR R2G2 5/20 Review: Déjà Poo! Faceoffs, Special Teams & Nothing From Top Six Doom Blueshirts; One Goal in Six Periods Won’t Cut It Either, Motte Best Skater, Brendan “Bobby Orr” Smith, Gallant, Keeping the Faith & More
And for the sake of posterity – here are my three game reviews from the trio of matches these two teams played during the 2023-24 season too:
Aside from shameless self-promotion, and sharing ten previous horrible photoshops made by yours truly too – I plugged my 2022 blogs for one real reason only – just to show you all of the turnover from 2022 – and how the vibes and mission have changed.
The latter is easy to speak to, as simply put, two-years ago, and the Rangers were on a Cinderella run, somewhat akin to the 2014 Blueshirts – and long-story short – they exceeded all expectations.
Today, and a loss will fail to live up to all expectations – and just as it was in 2015.
While a lot of the core players from both of these teams remain somewhat identical; from a Rangers’ perspective, just take a look at the roster turnover in a short time-span of two-years – and where let’s not also forget the change at the head coach position too.
Gone are alumni such as Ryan Strome, Andrew Copp, Ryan Reaves, Frank Vatrano, Justin Braun, Tyler Motte, Kevin Rooney, Dryden Hunt, Alexandar Georgiev and Patrik Nemeth.
And your wild card here is Filip Chytil – who may return to the club following his concussion sustained earlier this season – and against these same Hurricanes to boot.
In are a cavalry of players, including Vincent Trocheck, who was on the side of this rivalry two-years ago – and perhaps the biggest positive influence this season too – and of course – I’m talking about Matt Rempe.
Also new to the Blueshirts for this rematch are Erik Gustafsson, Jack Roslovic, Alex Wennberg, Jonathan Quick, Jimmy Vesey (now a two-time Ranger, who first returned last season), Chad Ruhwedel, Adam Edstrom, Louis Domingue and Will Cuylle.
Nothing against the 2021-22 club, but the numbers – and success too – doesn’t lie either.
Trocheck is better than both Strome and Copp, Quick is better than Georgiev, Gustafsson is better than Nemeth and Braun, Cuylle is better than the fringe veterans – and there isn’t a player in the Rangers’ near 100-year history that is an equivalent to REMPEMANIA.
In addition, even Zac Jones, who hasn’t skated in these 2024 playoffs, has grown leaps-and-bounds in two-years time.
Ditto other young guns such as Alexis Lafreniere, K’Andre Miller and Braden Schneider.
But of course, the best story of them all – Artemi Panarin – who not only finished as the Rangers’ MVP this season – but who should receive Hart Trophy candidate consideration too.
At this time, let’s take a look at the other storylines going into this series – and in an order of no significance.
Tony DeAngelo, who ever since his January of 2021 exile from New York, has always allowed Ranger fans to get into his head whenever skating against his former club.
Presently, TDA, the seventh d-man in Carolina, is regularly playing for the Canes this post-season – but only because of a lower-body injury sustained by Canes’ rearguard Brett Pesce.
While it remains to be seen if “OH JOE, JOE PESCI JOE!” returns for this series or not (most are assuming that he won’t be available), then DeAngelo, and as it was in 2022, and following a one-and-done 2022-23 “phailed” season in Philly, will be in Brind’Amour’s line-up for this rematch.
And time-and-time again, and whenever playing the Rangers – and DeAngelo, sans one game played against his nemesis Alexandar Georgiev – he has always let the cat-calling and Garden jeering to get to him.
Hell, during a 2022-23 game played in Philly, and one that I attended to boot, and right after his grandmother died no less – and Ranger fans, who took over the Wells Fargo Arena – booed TDA to kingdom come – and where come the end of the match – #77 finished as a minus-six!
DeAngelo was, in a word, HORRIBLE, during the 2022 series between these two clubs – and where this time around – he’s not even a regular for Carolina anymore – as that’s how much he’s fallen under Brind’Amour – and a head coach that TDA has previously said has been the best bench boss that he’s ever played under.
Should DeAngelo suit up for Carolina, then expect Ranger fans to get all over him – and as they should – as it works – and where I can’t expect the former Blueshirt to positively impact his team’s chances of winning.
And I say all of this as a fan of DeAngelo – as unlike others – I don’t have an ill-word to say about him – nor care about who he votes for either.
(And should it be reported that DeAngelo will be playing in this series, because as mentioned, there’s a chance that Pesce returns – then I’ll share with you my TDA chapter from my “Rangers Killers” book on this site for free. What a guy!)
Without meticulously explaining why DeAngelo is polarizing to many (but not to me), and especially since I believe that you know all of it by now – since he’s despised by so many (and mainly because of his political views) – then that’s why I believe that there will many be fans and observers clamoring for MATT FREAKIN’ REMPE to clean DeAngelo’s clock – and as they were with Tom Wilson in the first-round.
Speaking of, Mr. Rempe’s up next!
Similar to Pesce – no one knows what’s up with Filip Chytil yet – but I’ve made my opinions long known – I don’t want to see #72 back at all.
Not only is he terrible at faceoffs, rusty and perhaps one-hit away from becoming a vegetable too – but there is no EFFING WAY that I want to see Chytil back at the expense of Rempe sitting in the press box.
And why mess with a good thing, as not only are the Rangers fifteen games over .500 whenever #73 suits up – but when you look at the final two games of the regular season, and the sweep over Washington too, then the Blueshirts are presently on a six-game winning streak.
Simply stated – you don’t fix what’s not broken – and where arguably – Rempe, despite his unofficial rookie status – is the glue that’s mended this team together.
I mean really, there’s no other Ranger today, including Panarin and CZAR IGOR, that gets the Garden juiced in the way that Rempe does.
And I don’t care about his lack of ice time either – because there’s no one else on the team today that maximizes their TOI in the fashion that REMPESTEIN does.
As we have seen all season, and into the playoffs too – opponents FEAR REMPE.
While Carolina possesses more speed than most – they’ll also have their heads on a swivel whenever those tree trunk legs hops over the boards.
And for a team like the Canes, who have no problem getting dirty with the Rangers (two middle-fingers go out to Sebastion Aho) – then Rempe will keep them honest.
While I don’t see any reason for Rempe to risk a penalty and/or suspension with a dream-fight with DeAngelo on the other side of it (and as it was the case with both Tom Wilson and Dylan McIlrath) – I strongly believe THERE IS NO REASON WHATSOEVER for Rempe to be removed from any playoff game.
Sorry Jonny Brodzinski.
And sorry Filip Chytil too.
As Patrick Henry once said (or as I remember it!), “GIVE ME REMPE OR GIVE ME DEATH!”
On the final day of the March 8th NHL Trade Deadline and ironically – there were two Metro teams, the Rangers and the Canes, begging a fellow Metro division rival for the biggest prize of the deadline – Pittsburgh’s (rental) Jake Guentzel.
Injured at the time of his trade, and where many pundits wondered if the pending unrestricted free agent and 2017 Cup champ was solely a product of Crosby’s success – Guentzel, who Carolina mortgaged a lot of their future for, went on to score 8 goals and 17 assists (25-points) in his 17 regular season games played for the Canes.
He then picked up four points (one goal, three assists) in the Canes’ five-game ousting of the Isles.
Guentzel, who as mentioned, can return to Pittsburgh over the summer, as he still remains unsigned following his trade, was also a trade deadline target of Rangers’ general manager, Chris Drury.
(And isn’t it funny how things work out? Had Guentzel remained in Pittsburgh, then perhaps the Rangers would have had their hands full in the first-round – and another seven-game series too – with the Penguins – rather than what actually happened – their sweep over the burnt out and senior home washed-up Capitals.)
According to all reports, and prior to Guentzel’s move down south, the Rangers were the odds-on favorite to land the Penguin – as after all – when are the Rangers NOT involved with a sexy big name?
However, Pittsburgh general manager, Kyle Dubas, reportedly (and perhaps allegedly too) set a high asking price on behalf of the Rangers – because while the Canes are a fellow Metro opponent – the Penguins’ rivalry with the Blueshirts certainly runs much deeper.
Depending on who you ask, then Dubas wanted two of the Blueshirts’ best prospects (Brennan Othmann, Adam Sykora and/or Gabe Perreault), cap-relief and Kaapo Kakko as the kicker.
It was a price that Drury balked away from, and instead, “settled” for Roslovic, Wennberg, and funny enough, former Penguin Ruhwedel.
The Canes, who never ever, and I mean never ever, have ever sold the farm for a rental, finally did so for the first time when they gave up the package listed above in return for Guentzel.
(It’s also why this trade will influence whatever happens next for Brind’Amour too.)
In other words, should the Rangers prevail – then the Canes’ “ALL IN TRADE” will have backfired – and where Drury will come out smelling like a rose too.
But should the Canes win this rematch, and should Guentzel be a reason why Carolina advances to the ECF – then many will be questioning both the Rangers and their general manager for not going ALL IN on a season that’s been promoted as such since day one – and including during Laviolette’s introductory press conference too.
The Rangers, whose special teams have been a highlight of this 2023-24 regular season (both the power-play and penalty kill finished third-overall), but in the playoffs thus far too – must continue to fire on all cylinders – and against a Carolina Crew that finished with the league’s second-overall power-play (26.9% to the Rangers’ 26.4%) and the best penalty kill in the NHL too (86.4% to the Rangers’ 84.5%).
And much like the Blueshirts – Carolina’s special teams shined in their first-round series too – but if you’re looking for a silver lining – then the Islanders have sucked on special teams all-season – which perhaps only boosted the Canes’ special teams’ success totals in their five-game laughter.
It’s up to the Rangers’ 1-2 punch, Panarin and Mika, to not only set the tone at even-strength – but on special teams too.
While “The Breadman” doesn’t play on the PK, the two longest-tenured veterans on the team, Zibanejad and Kreider, do – and they must show up in every game.
The Blueshirts will also need Adam Fox (PK and PP), Lindgren (PK), Trocheck (PK and PP), Goodrow (PK), Trouba (PK and PP2) and even Lafreniere (PP2) to make a difference on special teams in this series.
Last but not least?
The goalies.
While you can argue that these teams are evenly-matched at five-vs-five, special teams and perhaps at the head coach gig too; one thing can’t be debated – the Rangers have the goaltending advantage on lock – and it’s not even a debate.
Somehow, and in someway, Canes’ backstop, Frederik Andersen – actually remained healthy throughout the first-round – which is just as likely as seeing Alex Wennberg scoring a hat trick!
But that said, if there’s ever been any Carolina kryptonite over the years, then it’s at the goalie position – and where Andersen, Antti Raanta and Pyotr Anatolevich Kochetkov (say that three times fast!) all spent time on the IR this season.
And while CZAR IGOR has also had his fair share of stints on the IR throughout his career – he’s always been healthy during the playoffs – and where his back-up, Jonathan Quick, had a much better season than any of the goalies on the Canes’ three-headed dragon of men in the barrel.
For CZAR IGOR, a former Vezina Trophy winner (2022) and looking to become the first Ranger goalie since Dave Kerr (1940) to win both the Vezina and the Stanley Cup, then he must remain in peak and pristine condition.
For the Blueshirt skaters – they must pepper Andersen like an Italian waiter (but not like one of those scrubs from Borrelli’s) – and where such peppering will force Andersen to crack – if not remove himself from this series too.
In what should be a tightly-contested series and where every weakness and strength could cancel each other out – then it’s up to CZAR IGOR – and as he’s largely done ever since his January 2020 Big Apple arrival, to put the Blueshirts over the top – and back into the Eastern Conference too – and where this time, the Tampa Bay Tormentors – won’t be an issue this time-around.
With that all said, and with a drum roll please too, I now finally present to you my series prediction:
RANGERS IN SIX!
And I’m not going heart over brain here – as I truly believe this 2023-24 team is a squad of destiny – and where “DESTINY” will be the title of my next book – assuming should the Rangers see such a fate this June!
As far as anything else from the news realm, the Blueshirts have been idle the past two days (Monday and Tuesday) since Sunday’s sweep.
They are expected to practice on Wednesday – and where I hope that we don’t see any changes to “LAVY’S LINE-UP” either.
As noted above (and if you can remember), we still don’t have a set date for the start of this series, but once we do, then I’ll give it to you here.
Selfishly?
I have my eldest niece’s communion this Saturday – so I’m hoping that the Knicks lose on Thursday – and then the Rangers play on Sunday!
And should that happen – then yes – the following:
One last time – bring on the Canes.
And LGR too!
And look at the time (I have to be up in several hours for my real-life gig), 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
Like always an informative and great blog. I did not know the relationship between the two coaches, that is so interesting. With all that said, let’s Go Rangers, one game at a time, we have the talent and drive, and why not us,
100% – WHY NOT US!!! LGR!