Jim Ramsay Joins Jeff Gorton in Montreal; Roving Ricky O’s Scoop on Rammer’s Firing, Rangers Release 2023-24 Schedule; Lots of Saturday Games for Road-Trippers & More

Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. The busy week continues.

In case you missed it, last night, I posted a blog covering the 2023 NHL Awards show and all of the latest in the land of Rangerstown, USA. You can find that blog here:

NHL Award Voters/Media Make Fools Out of Themselves Again: Karlsson (-26) Wins Norris Trophy over Fox; Stamkos Blasts The Rainbow Media Mob Too, The One Award McDavid Lost, The Best 2023 NHL Awards Show Recap Around; SNL’s Chris Farley Honored, “Draft, Trades, Free Agency, Oh My” Ahead & More

As mentioned last night, since the news this week is expected to hit harder than a hit from the “TROO TROO TRAIN,” Rangers’ captain, Jacob Trouba; I’m just going to post some short news updates as the news trickles in.

Up first, the status of former Rangers’ trainer Jim Ramsay, who Chris “ZOOM ZOOM” Drury fired after 29-years of service – and without an explanation – nor an explanation that the poor crop of Blueshirt beat reporters cared to find out about either. (But if you want to know about the vegan options on the M$G menu – then they are your go-to people!)

At 10AM, Tuesday, June 27th, the Montreal Canadiens announced that they have hired the man known as “Rammer.” Here’s how they tweeted out/broke the story, as not one reporter had the jump on this scoop:

The Canadiens add Jim Ramsay and Maxime Gauthier to their sports medicine department.#GoHabsGohttps://t.co/ElTtnSZ1NK

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) June 27, 2023

On their website (https://www.nhl.com/canadiens/news/two-new-hires-in-the-canadiens-sports-medicine-department/c-345019780 ), the Habs said:

Since the Canadiens’ announcement – there has been no word about what led to Ramsay’s firing in New York.

While we’ve previously covered the speculation on this site (was or wasn’t he Elliotte Friedman’s leak, the Kane & Lindgren injuries, etc); I still don’t buy any of that.

Hopefully a French-Canadian-Canadien reporter will finally provide us with the full 411 of what had happened, because you know that the Rangers’ transcribers, who call themselves reporters, won’t, or are just unable to, since they are bad at their jobs.

Friend of the site, Ricky Otazu (someone who I’ve been friends with for 25 years now), formerly of New Jersey but now living outside of Nashville, is currently covering the 2023 NHL Entry Draft and all of the other NHL events in town this week.

Without giving you his entire biography; in short, Ricky does have sources (and “SAUCES” too) and has broken several Ranger-related stories over the years, including the 2013 firing of then Rangers’ head coach, John Tortorella.

Here’s what Ricky’s hearing about the Ramsay firing:

@NYCTheMiC @JAGD94 @njraider93 @NYP_Brooksie @JimBiringer @RangerCrisis pic.twitter.com/k0f7dmttRt

— Ricky otazu (@RickyOtazu16) June 27, 2023

While Ricky’s people are telling him that Drury wants to clean house and have his own people; at the same time, and to play Devils’ Advocate, then why is Glen Sather still here?

But of course, your answer – Sather is the one employee of James Dolan that is untouchable.

After all, Sather could be caught butt-naked at one of these daily “PRIDE PARADES” groping a police horse and Dolan’s reaction would be to give him a raise.

Should Ricky’s story prove true, then I guess that “The Goalie Whisperer,” Rangers’ goaltending coach Benoit Allaire, and like Sather, is also an exception to Drury’s edict – an edict that we have seen already play out, in regards to both his scouting team and coaching staff.

While I do wonder how much Ramsay can actually and legally say (I’m sure that due to his profession, he’s signed NDA’s and has to abide by the Hippocratic Oath too); it would be nice to hear from the horse’s mouth (not Sather’s horse) and at least get some closure on this story.

And yep – Ramsay joins a staff that he’s very familiar with, as former Rangers’ GM, Jeff Gorton, runs the show at the Poutine Palace, while former Blueshirt, Martin St. Louis, serves the franchise as their head coach.

In other news, the Rangers also announced their 2023-24 schedule on Tuesday.

The following comes from NYRangers.com:

As someone who loves my road-trips – this upcoming schedule isn’t very beneficial for me – but that’s not something that anyone, including you, will care about!

I only have a few remaining NHL cities left to hit on my bucket-list (San Jose, Dallas, Winnipeg, Vancouver and Columbus) and as I always try to do – I was hoping to hit two arenas on one trip – especially since outside of Columbus, the other four cities I have yet to tour require a long flight.

When it comes to San Jose, I’m waiting for a schedule where the Rangers play Vegas and San Jose in consecutive games. I’ve been to Los Angeles and Anaheim – and have no desire to ever go back. And while I’ve been to Vegas three times – there’s never a bad time in Vegas!

When it comes to Dallas, and like San Jose, I don’t want to sit on a long flight for just one game. I was hoping that perhaps I could catch a Cowboys game at their state-of-the-art facility; but alas, the “stars” don’t align (pun intended).

I was also hoping that the Rangers would play the Stars and Coyotes on the same road-trip (and as they usually do), just so I could check out the Mullet Arena while it’s still a thing. (I’ve previously been to Glendale to see the Desert Dogs.)

For whatever reason, the Rangers will go on their international Western Canada “World Tour” during the third-week of the season. When it comes to Vancouver, I’m waiting for the new barn in Calgary to be built. (I’ve been to the Saddledome and the old Rexall Arena in Edmonton.)

Once the new arena in Alberta is built, then I’ll hit Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver – and there is no way that I’m ever going to return to the shithole known as Seattle!

For a Rangers’ squad featuring a new head coach, and a team that obviously has issues; the Blueshirts’ roughest stretch of the schedule takes place extremely early. Sandwiching the three Western Canadian teams is first a stop in Seattle, followed by a last stop in Winnipeg.

Usually, the Rangers visit Winnipeg during a three-game trip also featuring Minnesota and Columbus. As you can see, that has changed this year too.

My current road-trip plans as of now? 10/14 in Columbus, 12/9 in Washington D.C. and 2/24 in Philly.

But as they say, “card is subject to change!”

When it comes to my thoughts on this schedule that aren’t personally-related, here they are:

— The Rangers open in Buffalo on 10/12. As friend of the site Danny Mack, says, “Expect Devon Levi to go 3-0 against the Blueshirts on that day.”

— The Blueshirts’ home-opener is on Monday, 10/16, against Arizona. This is a very sly and cunning move.

Usually, the highest-priced regular season ticket of the year, sans a game against the Islanders, is the home-opener. The lowest-priced regular season ticket of the year? Whenever the Coyotes come into town – where more times than not – the Rangers host them on a weeknight. By opening up at MSG with the Coyotes, the Blueshirts made a wise and profitable decision.

— The long five-game road trip, starting in Seattle and ending in Winnipeg, may actually be a good thing.

As noted above, the Rangers are somewhat in a state of peril, and by spending ten-days on the road – perhaps it will help with their team bonding and chemistry. Of course, it could go to the other extreme too – but let’s root for the former.

— There are a lot of Saturday games this year – which is great for every fan – although you can expect these games to be expensive too.

— For most road-trippers, you don’t have to take a day off from work this season; while for stay-at-home fans, it’s easier to watch games on the weekend. In fact, the majority of the PST start time games are on Saturday nights – so fans can sleep-in on Sunday mornings, should they choose to!

— There are also a lot of back-to-back Friday & Saturday games too – where again – makes it easier for every fan to catch games.

— The February 18th game at Giants Stadium, where the Islanders will “host” the Rangers, is scheduled at 3PM. The Devils and Flyers will play the night before, so for fans of the New York teams, they will at least be sitting under the sun rather than sitting under the moon. Still, dress accordingly!

— Due to all of the early road games, the Rangers, come the playoff hunt in April, will close the season with six of their final eight games at home and where one of their road games isn’t really a road game anyway, as it takes place on April 9th at the IBS Arena at Belmont – the only time the Blueshirts will visit Long Island this season.

Unlike last year, at least the Rangers vs Islanders series won’t be over by Thanksgiving this time around.

I know that many people like to look at the schedule and try to predict wins and losses, but not me.

After all, it’s impossible! We don’t even know the rosters!

Plus, injuries are always a factor – where this year, and for the first time in 30-years – Ramsay won’t be there to attend to them.

I’ll return once more news comes down the pike, and most likely tomorrow, following the results of the first-round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.

As far as anything else, and in an update to last night’s blog – on Tuesday, Kevin Hayes was traded by the Flyers to the Blues – but not for the big package as previously speculated. Instead, Philadelphia received a sixth-round pick in return from St. Louis, as the orange-and-black told the hockey world that they just wanted Hayes off of their roster.

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

My first 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:

NHL Award Voters/Media Make Fools Out of Themselves Again: Karlsson (-26) Wins Norris Trophy over Fox; Stamkos Blasts The Rainbow Media Mob Too, The One Award McDavid Lost, The Best 2023 NHL Awards Show Recap Around; SNL’s Chris Farley Honored, “Draft, Trades, Free Agency, Oh My” Ahead & More

Henrik Lundqvist Headlines the HOF Class of ’23; List of Every NYR HOFer (and the TRUE BLUES), Crazy Omissions/Canadian Bias, Goalie Floodgates Have Opened; Case For Mike Richter Stronger Than Ever, “Two Conflicting Things Can Be True,” Laviolette’s Generals, Praise For One Beat Writer, Preseason Schedule Announced & More

The Bryan Trottier 2.0 Era Begins! Peter Lateralette Officially Installed as 37th Head Coach of the Rangers; “The Cult of Personality” Chris Drury Looks Miserable, NYR Birdbrain Beat Miss the Net Again; The Questions That Weren’t Asked, M$GN’s Short Broadcast, HOF Tomorrow & More from the Uninspiring Press Conference

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

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

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

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

Thanks for reading.

LET’S GO RANGERS!

Sean McCaffrey

BULLSMC@aol.com

@NYCTHEMIC on the Tweeter machine