Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. Two more losses games to go.
Off puck drop, then there’s a lot to get into tonight.
After all, I skipped out on doing GAME REVIEWS on both April 10th (9-2 win against the Islanders) and on April 12th (7-3 loss to the Hurricanes).
But as noted last time around (https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/4925/ ), which was the disgusting 8-5 loss to the Flyers – and I attended Thursday night’s game at IBS – while also “enjoying” the last Saturday of the Rangers’ season at my local watering hole’s watch party/Blueshirts’ Funeral.
Despite the 9-2 drubbing over the Islanders – and much like the 7-3 “see ya season” loss suffered against Carolina as well – and I just didn’t have much motivation in me to write – much less alter my own real-life plans in order to accommodate some keyboard time for myself – aka – commonplace activity this season – and feelings which first date back to December of 2024.
(And of course – having to work 17-hours on Friday on three-hours sleep after the win against the Islanders didn’t make things any easier on me either!)
Tonight, I’ll have some thoughts about the past two games for you (but no true play-by-play details – as after all – both games are now dated and today, it’s all about moving ahead), an addendum to my original “IBS Arena Review,” what happens next, Calvin de Haan being the latest player to blow-up on management, the endless and moronic decisions perpetrated by the head coach and everything else & in-between that’s currently going on in Rangerstown, USA.
I will then close this manifesto with information about this year’s Frank Boucher Trophy winner – which is the longest-running award in franchise history (73-years) – and then take a look at the next – and final – eventual two losses of this rotten 2024-25 season.
Get out your favorite beverage, perhaps bust out a meal too, as this will be a long one.
Let’s roll.
Since I did provide live updates from the past two games played on my Tweeter feed (https://x.com/NYCTheMiC ), then I’m not going to waste any more time on what’s now officially become two meaningless matches from a long lost season.
Instead of the x’s and o’s – then I just want to give you the stuff that you can’t get anywhere else – then add some light commentary afterwards.
Back in November of 2021, I attended the first ever Rangers vs. Islanders game at the Irritable Bowel Syndrome Arena – or as orange-and-blue fans officially know it as – “UBS Arena.”
Following that Thanksgiving Eve game, I soon posted a blog on this site with my review of the newest NHL barn – and a report that you can find here: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/112421/
The arena, now in its fourth season, has made some significant and positive upgrades inside – while all of the nightmares that plague the place outside still remain – if not, and if you can believe it, have actually worsened.
As someone who has visited over thirty NHL arenas, a total which includes arenas both past and present (all that I have left to check off from my bucket list are Utah, Minnesota, Winnipeg, Dallas and San Jose), and despite my intense Ranger fandom/extreme feelings of disdain for all things Islanders – and I must admit – “The Barn At Belmont” is my favorite – and where only the arena out in Vegas can challenge for such a distinction.
(But needless to say – and the Vegas nightlife blows away whatever “nightlife” that you’ll find outside IBS!)
The IBS arena remains spacious as ever, so much so, that you’ll never find yourself waiting in a line for whatever your little hockey heart desires.
Better yet, and something that a seasoned drinker on-the-go like myself requires, and a person that’s often prone to frequent bouts of urination afterwards too, has now been addressed at owner Jon Ledecky’s building – mounted shelving over each urinal – aka – a place to hold your beer as you handle your business!
(Who else will give you such inside information?!?!?)
During my latest trip at IBS, my fourth excursion at that (all for Rangers vs. Islanders games) and I never waited in line once for anything.
Bathroom, food and beer lines were non-existent – and that includes during intermission breaks.
And unlike M$G, which often closes concession stands as a way to save money (by not paying employees) – and every concession stand and kiosk in the arena were fully staffed during all four of my IBS visits.
I believe it was the noted super-Islander fan, Cord Lehman, who first told me that the IBS Arena features the most bathroom and concession areas in all of the league – and for someone who has spent countless hours, including at the start of an intermission into game time, by waiting on various lines at “The World’s Most Expensive Arena” aka M$G – and all of this was extremely noticeable – and appreciated by yours truly.
(I also enjoy the several outside areas that IBS provides – as sometimes – it’s nice to get fresh air.)
In other words, and despite where I pledge my allegiance in the Rangers vs Islanders War – and I don’t have one bad thing to say about the IBS Arena – outside of my own stupid moniker/nickname for it!
In fact, quite the opposite – as it still remains my favorite barn to watch a game at.
While what’s inside is perfect for a hockey fan – it’s everything outside of it that is not.
Despite nearly four-years in attempts to make things right – and getting in-and-out of IBS remains a nightmare.
It’s also a turn-off too – and as low Islander attendance figures would suggest.
And the fact that you have to pre-pay in order to park, where sometimes, parking fees can reach up to $50 – which is more money than what most tickets on the Islanders’ secondary market goes for these days – is ridiculous.
I should also add here that if you’re an old-school fuddy-duddy- then none of IBS is for you.
As you guys and gals all know, then more times than not, as in 99.9% of the time, then whenever I watch a game at my local bar, then my dear-old-dad, who lives two-minutes away from me, is also in-attendance with yours truly – and as was again the case this past Saturday – as our two gentile asses sat Shiva for the Rangers’ funeral:
I bring up my dad here in regards to the IBS Arena for one reason only:
He’s nearly 75-years-old – and has never had a credit card in his life – as he’s a cash only man.
(However, my mom does have the plastic – and thus pays their bills too!)
In other words, then for my dad, and the people like him, who also subscribe to the age-old adage of “CASH IS KING” – then all of these men (and women too) will be ostracized at IBS – as the arena proudly and pridefully touts itself as “CASHLESS.”
Granted, while my dad and these people are now a minority in America these days, and where yes, and for as morbid as this is, are also dying off too; but either way – then if you don’t have a credit card, then you are not welcome at IBS.
You can’t buy anything in cash – not your ticket, not your parking space, not merchandise and nor food & drink either.
For people like my dad, then he needs someone like me, with a small piece of rectangular plastic in their wallet, in order to enjoy the fruits that IBS can provide.
I should also add that this PLASTIC OVER PAPER policy is becoming commonplace these days – and not only in the NHL – but in every stadium/arena across all of sports.
It’s also the way of life in several supermarkets too.
But for people like my dad and the others like him – long-time fans with over 70-years of devotion to one team – and I can’t say that I support this “changing of the times” business practice.
My suggestion?
Then at least have one-stop-shop place in each arena where only cash is accepted.
After all, his $20, which is what the cost of a beer is at the IBS, is just as good in paper as it is in plastic.
Previously on this site this season, and I had said that I wouldn’t pay any more money to watch the Rangers again throughout this 2024-25 campaign.
I stuck to my words on Thursday night – as I was offered a free ticket from my long-time friend, and a life-long Islander fan asshole as well, Billy W.!
(He’s a retired NYPD officer and once in a while, gets free tickets because of his service. It should also be noted that this was the first time when he received free tickets to a Rangers vs. Islanders game – which only speaks to how bad both of these teams have been this season.)
Since Billy lives about a half-hour away from me these days, then it was our plan to meet up at IBS – as it made no sense for either one of us to travel out of our way to meet each other in our respective towns.
Presently, I live about 15-20 minutes away from IBS.
It was my plan to take an Uber to the game, as at around noon, fares were going for $20.
Come 4:00PM and fares were now up to $40.
As I was contemplating on paying twice the price (it was my plan to imbibe at the game – as after all – that’s what the Rangers force you to do – drink – and I don’t drink-and-drive either), then I realized that I could take the LIRR to the game for $10 – and that’s what I did.
Unless you want to pay exorbitant prices at the random beer gardens and concession areas at IBS, then there really is no pregame activity outside the arena – nor any bars/restaurants to visit either.
Rather than get ripped-off at IBS; instead, I walked to my local watering hole and enjoyed a few pops and belts.
Then, and about an hour away from puck drop, I walked across the street to the LIRR and took the train to the game.
Following a 10-minute ride to Jamaica, followed by a five-minute ride to the Elmont-UBS stop – and boom – the IBS Arena was right in front of me.
However, it was also a fifteen-minute walk from train-to-building – as the stop doesn’t leave you right next to the arena.
While there were free shuttles to be had; there were also 20-30 minute wait times for these buses.
Rather than be lazy, instead, I decided to walk – and also because I wanted to experience this for both myself and for these here “blog purposes!”
The walk wasn’t bad at all – and while it was a bit cold outside (but never troublesome) – but I can also only imagine how frustrated that I would have been had it been a freezing night.
So between the insane parking prices and the train stop requiring a fifteen-minute walk afterwards – and there are still issues when trying to get to the arena.
In other words, there’s just no convenience to be had whatsoever.
As you know by now, the Rangers won a meaningless 9-2 game against their most hated rival.
However, I could never enjoy it.
As the Blueshirts provided their best scoring output in over four-years (they scored nine goals against the COVID Flyers in 2021), and against the Isles no less – and all of it felt bittersweet.
While it was great to see my favorite players of today all shine (CZAR IGOR, 44 saves; Rempe, 1 assist and Cuylle, 1 goal and an assist), while also seeing Brett Berard pick up his first two-goal game of his career – and this whole game felt like a battle of losers.
In a way, and I’m not trying to be funny or offend here – but this game felt like one of those old Howard Stern “Battle of the Retards” segments from the 1990s (often featuring Beetlejuice, Hank “The Angry Drunken Dwarf,” Crackhead Bob, and others of that “wackpack” ilk) – where come the end of it – and the winner was still mentally challenged anyway.
The winner also decreased their chances in this year’s upcoming draft lottery.
And as one of my Islander friends who also attended this game said to me, “this was like going to the bar and choosing between a girl with the clap or the girl with HIV.”
Heck, I felt like that I had a rash after watching this game myself – as I broke out with hives when thinking, “what could’ve been?”
But of course, the Islanders are also terrible, full of many minor-leaguers on this night – and right down to their AHL third-string goalie – and the ECHL goalie (Tristan Lennox) who later came in relief – then only to be pulled after giving up a goal himself.
Seriously.
And I can’t think of any other Rangers’ win that I’ve witnessed with my own two eyes, and against the Islanders no less, where I couldn’t enjoy any of it – and especially not after what I had seen the night before (the 8-5 loss against Philadelphia).
Put it this way: Nine Ranger goals were scored – and I didn’t celebrate and/or get-up and applaud for any of them.
That’s how much these Blueshirts have broken me.
But it was hockey, free hockey at that, so I wasn’t going to pass up on attending this match.
Plus, I’ve never seen Matt Rempe play before in-person (Bozo The Bench Boss made sure of that) – so this was also an opportunity to see him live – and as anyone else will tell you – he’s much more larger and impactful in the arena than when opposed to your own television screen.
The Rangers made a mockery of the Islanders on this night – as not only did Mika Zibanejad score the game’s opening goal – but a Vincent Trocheck power-play goal, a rarity these days – wound up becoming the game-winning goal too.
Go figure.
And yep – all of this felt like salt in the wound – as where was this all-season?
(But again – consider the competition.)
Following two periods of play and the Blueshirts were up 5-1 – as only a Tsyplakov power-play goal, which was scored with only 54-seconds remaining in the second stanza, had marred what was otherwise a flawless performance out of CZAR IGOR in net.
But it wasn’t like the Rangers’ PK getting beat again made much of a difference either – and as about 75% of the crowd in-attendance displayed – as only 25% of the 15,000 or so spectators remained in their seats for the third and final period.
The Rangers, and despite everything else, finished their four-game single-season series sweep over the Islanders.
Previously, the Blueshirts had bested the Isles 5-2 (11/3/24), 5-1 (2/25/25) and 4-0 (3/3/25).
They won this game 9-2, which in turn, brought the aggregate to 23-5.
When Berard scored the 6-1 goal at the 7:54 mark, and this is when Billy, and about 3,000 other Islander fans, finally threw in the towel – and as they did by hitting the exits.
This was also when I checked what an Uber would cost me to get back home – and where the fare was about $37.
At the 15:54 mark, which is when Lafreniere put the game at 8-2, my Uber fare had dropped to $28.
Knowing that I was going to stay to the end, then when Panarin capped the scoring with his 9-2 goal with only 69-seconds remaining (nice), my Uber was now sitting at $21.
Since a car ride would be faster than a train ride – that’s the route I went down.
Rather than walking 15-minutes out of my way to the LIRR stop (and where I’d have to wait more time for a train back home too); instead, I walked towards the Elmont/Franklin Square borderline – and where much to my surprise – I found one of the greatest fast-food places in-town too:
After devouring some fried chicken, poultry required to absorb the multiple $20 beers I had consumed at the game; my Uber fare wound up being $15 – or $5 less than the cost of a beer sold at IBS!
(Fun Fact: One of my friends works for the IBS beer vendor. The cost that IBS pays for a can of Heineken beer that they sell for $20? $1.67 a pop. Holy Mark-Up Batman!)
All in all, I enjoyed my time inside of the IBS Arena – but really – not so much outside of it.
Perhaps when the Belmont horse track is done being repaired/renovated, then things will get better – but the parking and inability to solve all of the traffic issues will probably still remain.
So that was Thursday night.
However, and before pressing on (and I haven’t even mentioned the two significant line-up changes yet either), then here are the rest of the pictures that I took from my night out:
As we move our way into Saturday – the 7-3 loss in Raleigh – then it must be mentioned that despite the season still hanging on by a thread at the time – but where we all knew the eventual result anyway – and both Brennan Othmann and Gabe Perreault were made healthy scratches against both the Islanders and Hurricanes.
To me, this was a fireable offense on behalf of Bozo The Bench Boss.
The season is kaput – and rather than getting looks at the future – instead and Lavy went with the same old shit – and shit that has doomed him all-season.
Textbook definition of the word “insanity” if I say so myself!
I just don’t get it.
I’d also like to know what Perreault learned in the press box on Wednesday night against the Flyers – and what both he and Othmann learned as the Rangers were getting their dicks kicked in on Saturday too.
Perhaps they learned to get the hell away from this organization!
And as opined when it first happened – then you have to wonder why is Chris Drury burning a year of Perreault’s ELC – and now in addition – by having him sit for three straight games upstairs.
Moron.
Laviolette, in his explanation (some would use the word “defense”), said that he wanted to get a center for Kreider and Lafreniere, which in this case – meant Juuse Parssinen.
Omitted from the head coach?
How his formerly alleged #1 center, the man stealing $8.5M annually from the organization today, Missing Mika, is now a second-line right-winger – and a flank that perhaps like Kreider – should have been scratched in order to accommodate two hopeful prospects – and at the expense of future “Rangers’ Past.”
Let’s get the regular segments out of the way now, then jump into the Rangers’ latest debacle in Raleigh.
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:
“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, eighty down, two 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?
Magic Eight Ball is saying, “It’s over.”
In case you missed it, then here’s where I last left off – the Rangers embarrassing themselves in front of John Davidson:
NYR/PHI 4/9 Review: TNT’s Reunion of Sam Rosen & John Davidson A Smashing Success; “Find A New Way To Lose” Rangers Do It Again, Get a Cardiologist – Blueshirts Have No Heart, Four Assists = Mika Minus One, Bozo The Bench Boss Scratches Perreault, Standings Watch Over; One More Week To Go, Wake Up James Dolan, Isles Up Next & More
Here was Laviolette’s line-up for Games 79 and 80 of this wretched 2024-25 season:
FIRST LINE: Panarin/Trocheck/Brodzinski
SECOND LINE: Cuylle/Miller/Mika
THIRD LINE: Kreider/Parssinen/Lafreniere
FOURTH LINE: Berard/Carrick/Rempe
FIRST PAIR: Soucy/Fox
SECOND PAIR: Borgen/Jones
THIRD PAIR: Vaakanainen/Schneider
STARTING GOALIE: CZAR IGOR
BACK UP GOALIE: Quick
LTIR: Adam Edstrom
DONE FOR THE SEASON: Arthur Kaliyev
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: Calvin de Haan, Nicolas Aube-Kubel, Brennan Othmann and Gabe Perreault.
As the Rangers did to the Islanders on Thursday, the Canes did to the Blueshirts on Saturday – and as they did by sweeping an inferior team in a four-game single-season series.
Carolina had previously beaten New York on 11/27 (4-3), 12/22 (3-1) and 4-0 (1/28) prior to their 7-3 molly-whopping of a job on 4/12.
The Rangers, who entered Saturday with a .0000001 chance of making the playoffs following Montreal’s 5-2 loss in Ottawa on Friday night, took advantage of this hockey-god-gift-wrapped of an opportunity by taking another listless loss.
And while who knows how the events would have played out had the Blueshirts actually won on Saturday (I’ll give you a minute to stop laughing now) – and the Canadiens, now with their playoff spot all but sewn up (Columbus still has a minimal chance of catching them) – lost a 1-0 overtime decision to the Toronto Maple Leafs late Saturday night.
Jalen Chatfield, from an inch away from the blue line, beat an uncontested CZAR IGOR for Carolina’s 1-0 goal at just the 9:02 mark.
This was a shot that CZAR IGOR should have stopped.
While CZAR IGOR did battle when trying to limit the bleeding; another example of porous Blueshirts’ defense reared in its ugly head with just 2:14 remaining in the first period, as Seth Jarvis, all alone in the slot, made it 2-0.
For the Rangers, this goal allowed pretty much sealed the deal.
After all, not only haven’t they won three games in a row since Veteran’s Day (and that fact will now hold true for this season, as there are only two games remaining) – but they were also the only team in the NHL to have not erased a multi-goal deficit throughout this 2024-25 campaign.
Saturday night wasn’t going to be any different.
Following an ESPN segment where Mark Messier gave us his five ways to quick fix the Rangers (name a captain, promote youth, have better body language, create an identity and find a new core to rely on), and where of course, all of this stuff will return the “MESSIER FOR GM AND/OR HC” talk too (and stuff that I’m not against either – as after all – he can’t do any worse than what we’ve seen during the past 31-years); then it took Jackson Blake all of 2:02 into the second period to increase Carolina’s lead to three – and as he did following another failed Rangers’ clearing attempt.
For the rotten cherry on top, Artemi Panarin, when trying to give this team a chance, hit the post while shooting at a wide-open net. Seconds later, and at the 12:59 mark to be exact, and Mark Jankowski made it 4-0 after a Hurricanes’ odd-man rush afforded.
A Will Cuylle goal, his 20th of the season, was scored with only 17-seconds remaining in the second period to make it 4-1 – and in favor of the home team.
The Rangers, who looked like they were just resigned to losing (and as ESPN reporter, granddaughter of a Rangers’ legend, Leah Hextall, reported at the time), saw Jordan Staal make it 5-1 at the 3:45 mark of the final frame.
The Blueshirts had one last heartbreak to deliver to their fans.
Following another rarity this season – a power-play goal – and as scored by J.T. Miller at the 6:07 mark, and some three-minutes later – and Adam Fox scored a backhander for a 5-3 score with only 10:58 remaining.
The goal was challenged by Canes’ bench boss Rod Brind’Amour – which was questionable – as while the Rangers’ power-play stinks – there was nothing to suggest goaltender interference on this Fox Trot either.
The end result?
A 5-3 score – and with the Rangers on the power-play.
Could this be the game where the Blueshirts finally made a comeback?
Ha!
Instead of that, and the Blueshirts didn’t put a SOG during these two-minutes at all – and Canes’ keeper, Pyotr Kochetkov, didn’t have to do a thing either.
Two empty net goals, the first from Jordan Martinook, the second from Logan Stankoven, made it 7-3 – and as a result – the long awaited and inevitable fate had been confirmed – no playoffs for the Rangers this season.
And it wasn’t like they deserved it anyway – but admittedly – they had been in the race as recent as of two weeks ago – as just like them, and the other contenders vying for the final and second wild card berth – the Blue Jackets, Canadiens, Red Wings and Islanders – had all taken a tumble.
Then the Habs, and like the Senators before them, got hot and that was it.
Laviolette and his men did their same-and-tired crying act after the game – and empty words that we didn’t want to hear all-season – much less once more here.
But of course – and for a team full of drama all-season – and Saturday’s loss didn’t end any of it either.
Now with the knowledge that there was nothing left to play for this season, that is, unless you consider Trocheck saying “pride” was actually something real for these bums; then on Sunday morning and the Rangers were now in Sunrise, FL, ahead of getting their asses kicked on Monday night against the team that first started this Blueshirts’ downward spiral almost one-year ago to the date – the Florida Panthers.
As usual, and the coach that doesn’t have the word “accountability” in his vocabulary allowed his FAT CATS and players to have another “optional practice.”
Attending the non-mandatory skate were Cuylle, Quick, Rempe, Othmann, Berard, Perreault, de Haan, Parssinen, Jones, Aube-Kubel, Soucy, Robertson, Vaakanainen and Shesterkin.
In other words – no Mika, no Kreider, no Panarin and no Fox – you know – the four players who wear letters on their jerseys, as alternates, for this putrid bunch.
And after talking about “pride” during his post-game loss interview the day before?
Then no Trocheck either, much less his BFF, J.T. Miller, either.
And yep – this is the stuff that Messier was alluding to on Saturday – and stuff that I’ve been saying all-season long too.
Prior to the practice and the Rangers’ announced the following:
UPDATE: Matthew Robertson has been recalled from the Hartford Wolf Pack.
— NY Rangers PR (@NYR_PR) April 13, 2025
It was later announced by the Rangers that Braden Schneider has a nagging upper-body injury – one that he could have played with had the team had any chance at the playoffs (or had reached the post-season); but since that’s not the case, then there was no reason to further worsen his physical condition.
In other words – he’ll be fine for next season – and where for that matter – I don’t see him going anywhere either.
Speaking of defensemen, and where Lateralette (more on him below) later confirmed that Robertson, after about a dozen call-ups these past two-seasons, will finally make his NHL debut on Monday night; and Calvin de Haan wasn’t too happy with this news – but to be clear – this had nothing to do with Robertson himself.
At this time, the latest Blueshirts’ bombshell.
With not many of the birdbrain Blueshirt beat reporters at the practice, as several of them were still catching flights from North Carolina to Florida; and leave it to good old Mollie Walker, who possesses a cackle that even Kamala Harris finds “finger-nails-on-chalkboard-worthy,” to report the following:
Calvin de Haan walked past us as he was about to get on the ice and commented on how it’s all finally over.
He said something to the effect of, ‘How about the way I’ve been treated here? It’s fucked.’
We asked if he wanted to talk, he said yes and that he would be “very transparent.”
Minutes later, and Walker reported that a member of the Rangers’ P.R. department had intercepted de Haan before he could hold a scrum with her and the other few scribes at the rink.
Previously incensed, and a now more calm de Haan relayed to Walker & Company that he will wait until later this week, when the season officially concludes, to speak to the beat reporters.
But it doesn’t end here.
As part-time beat reporter, Jonny Lazarus, made a defense of de Haan on Twitter/X – and de Haan replied to his posting with the following:
Going to get ahead of this now…
I was hoping that I would have been able to express in a scrum setting versus a quote as I was going onto the ice and having it on the Internet 30 seconds later. I said what I said because I am frustrated , and any competitor who says that they…
— Calvin de Haan (@cal_dehaan) April 13, 2025
In case the full text of what de Haan tweeted out doesn’t show up for you, then here’s the full black-and-white of it:
Going to get ahead of this now…
I was hoping that I would have been able to express in a scrum setting versus a quote as I was going onto the ice and having it on the Internet 30 seconds later. I said what I said because I am frustrated , and any competitor who says that they would be happy in this position would be lying to you. After playing 3 games for the team and going 2-0-1 , I thought I maybe would have got an opportunity to jump into the lineup and help win some games
Did I help win those games I played, maybe? Maybe not? But we still won and collected some crucial points to climb the standings. I understand the youth movement in the nhl, and I’m getting older in hockey years and I may not play every single night. I feel like I can still contribute and help teams win. I know I’m not going to play 20 minutes a night in the role I’ve been in the past few years , but again I feel like I can still keep up and help a team in certain facets of the game.
I’m not trying to be the villain or gain attention or throw shade on the organization , I would have preferred a scrum setting to chat about how my time with the rangers has gone. As a player you have to respect the lineup decisions whether you like them or not, it’s just been frustrating not being able to compete and do what I love to do. I hope everyone understands.
I’m not going to get into the whole stupid trade of Ryan Lindgren again on this site – as after all – you can read the archives of this site for all of that.
But needless to say, and neither Parssinen, nor de Haan in this case either, were ever the “prize returns” when GM Chris Drury foolishly decided to trade away Lindgren.
Instead, and it was a pair of second-round picks in a weak draft class that were considered as the top returns for the now former double nickel of the Big Apple (and where Jimmy Vesey went the other way too).
In other words?
The Rangers never acquired de Haan to be Lindgren’s replacement – and where as even noted at the time – the former Islander was always the “throw-in” component of this trade – and a way to make the salary cap dollars make sense too.
de Haan, acquired a week prior to this year’s trade deadline, played in three straight games for the club, and where the Rangers went 2-0-1 in that time.
Once Drury acquired Carson Soucy just before the closing bell – and de Haan, and during the past 19-games, hasn’t played since – and where it’s now expected that he won’t play ever again for the team either.
As de Haan said himself – and I don’t think that you can fully credit him with the team going 2-0-1 in his three-games played.
Furthermore, and I don’t think that he would have made a difference during these past 19-games either.
After all, and as the “Lateralette” nickname implies – it’s all about the core – and everything else is periphery.
I can’t say that I feel “bad” for de Haan or anything like that at all.
He’s a veteran of this league, which is to mean that he should also be aware that the Rangers never sought out his services; as rather, it was solely about dealing the soon-to-be UFA Lindgren – and getting some draft picks back in the deal too.
But it is telling that he’s now the fifth player this season to publicly call-out this team – and where we shouldn’t forget about Drury’s “Memo” that Chris Kreider responded to either. (However, Kreider was never disparaging about the team, as rather, he promoted all of his injuries incurred as a way to turnoff potential trade suitors.)
While we don’t know this with a 100% degree of certainty just yet; then perhaps that either Drury or Lavy, if not both of them, sold him a false bill of goods – and rather than to tell him what’s what.
I guess that we’ll soon find out in a week’s time – and where with the Easter holiday coming up this Sunday – then I wonder if the Rangers will rush all of their exit interviews on Friday & Saturday – or will they just wait until the week after – which is when the kids are done playing around with the Easter Bunny.
What a mess.
And with all of these disgruntled Rangers speaking out, then what’s next?
Nicolas Aube-Kubel telling us how Laviolette has been betting against the team all season?
After all, that would explain all of these optional practices and lack of accountability displayed throughout the entire campaign.
Prior to the de Haan story going public, and Laviolette, following his country-club practice, addressed the media – and where for the second-time this season – he was asked about his future.
Here’s what Laviolette said about the rumors in regards to him being canned before a potential Year Three in NYC:
“I think everything gets looked at when a year is not good like this. I’m not blind to anything. I love being here with these guys and the New York Rangers. It’s a year where everything went right to a year where things didn’t go right. When things don’t go right, I’m sure everything gets looked at. I’m not naive. That being said, this is the place I want to be was New York City, the New York Rangers. It’s a great organization.
“It’s just tough right now, everybody’s faced with disappointment. Everybody I just mentioned is faced with disappointment today and I get that. There’s always things that are looked at.”
I remember Alain Vigneault saying something similar, when pleading for another year, following the end of the 2017-18 season – which is now forever known as “The Letter” campaign.
Speaking of seasons’ past, then go figure:
I always thought that the 2021 season would go down as the craziest and most turbulent season in all of franchise history – but we now have a new contender for that claim – and it only took four-years to get there.
Congratulations Drury!
If there is one thing that has emerged as obvious, then it’s the fact that both Drury and Laviolette need to go – as this franchise has become toxic, disengaged and cancerous.
And who could have predicted that such a thing would transpire?
Hmm….
Let’s take a walk down memory lane – and just take a look at the time-stamps on the tweets and blogs provided below:
The best news about this Lateralette hiring is that expectations are so low, that should they actually do something it will be a surprise. More likely? New GM & HC in two-years as Sather celebrates his 25th anniversary as a Dolan employee. #nyr pic.twitter.com/kRkGzRtJJo
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) June 13, 2023
Been saying it from day one – Laviolette, aka Lateralette, was always a lateral coaching hire. Gotta blow up the core and it starts with Stinka Zibanebad. #nyr pic.twitter.com/yCxtxZrSmt
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) December 15, 2024
I openly admit that I’m not excited about this upcoming season & mainly because I still believe last year’s loss to the Panthers will hold up as the peak of this core, but alas, here we are, the first game of the preseason. Let’s Go Rangers – and get me to deadline asap too! #NYR
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) September 22, 2024
Jeez – I must have said that the 2024 ECF loss to the Panthers would go down as the peak of this core – with nothing but downhill sledding afterwards – and about 79867679869867867869868 times since that ungodly defeat.
Ugh.
How about something positive to round-off tonight’s manifesto?
Then again – finding individual winners for team-specific awards has been a painstaking ordeal too.
Following Will Cuylle’s win for this year’s Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award, and Jonathan Quick’s win for this season’s Mr. Ranger Award – and Matt Rempe closes out award season by winning the 2025 Frank Boucher Trophy.
For those who are unfamiliar with the Frank Boucher Trophy, then I’m going to share an excerpt with you from my first book, “The New York Rangers Rink of Honor and the Rafters of Madison Square Garden,” at this time.
(If you haven’t picked up a copy yet, then you can buy it here: Amazon.com ).
Once explaining this prestigious trophy, I’ll then get into Rempe’s 2024-25 victory.
In 1952, the official fan club of the New York Rangers (when fan clubs had more power and influence than they do today), created the “Frank Boucher Fan Club Trophy,” which was a trophy that honored the most popular Ranger every year.
At the time, Frank Boucher, then the club’s general manager; “The Original Ranger” was also the longest-tenured employee of the franchise, having previously won two Stanley Cups (1928 and 1933) as a player, and another, his third, as the team’s head coach (1940).
The trophy would last until 2010, upon the dissolution of the fan club due to the age of the internet.
In 2020, I decided to bring back the Frank Boucher Fan Trophy, with permission from both Boucher’s granddaughter, Frankie Baird and one of the presidents from the former fan club.
To fill-in the missing years (2011-2020), I went back and analyzed each season in order to determine who would’ve won the trophy had the fan club still been around and/or had voting been available.
During the pandemic-plagued 2020-21 season, I came up with my own winner, Adam Fox.
Beginning with the 2021-22 season, and now an annual tradition on this site – I’ve opened voting for the trophy, where every site reader has a say – and the right thing to do.
After all, both the history and the spirit of the award/trophy is rooted with the fans, which means that every Blueshirt backer should have their voice heard – rather than one person’s voice speaking the loudest.
Keep in mind, this trophy is pretty much the Rangers’ equivalent of a high-school class presidency race – as it’s a pure popularity contest.
As I did when filling in the missing years, here’s the criteria that I use whenever I put my vote in -and criteria that I suggested to all readers/voters in 2024 too:
— Fan reaction
— Jersey sales
— Worth of a player’s autograph
— Community service/charity work
— Bond with fans
— The featured face of Rangers marketing/advertising
—- Player ability/amount of times featured as one of the “three stars of the game.”
Here are all of the winners of this prestigious trophy, including when the fan club used to determine the winner, “the missing years,” and how this site’s readership have voted too:
1951–52 Don Raleigh
1952–53 Wally Hergesheimer
1953–54 Johnny Bower
1954–55 Edgar Laprade
1955–56 Gump Worsley
1956–57 Andy Bathgate
1957–58 Andy Bathgate
1958–59 Andy Bathgate
1959–60 Dean Prentice
1960–61 Gump Worsley
1961–62 Andy Bathgate
1962–63 Gump Worsley
1963–64 Rod Gilbert
1964–65 Harry Howell
1965–66 Harry Howell
1966–67 Harry Howell
1967–68 Rod Gilbert
1968–69 Eddie Giacomin
1969–70 Walt Tkaczuk
1970–71 Dave Balon
1971–72 Jean Ratelle
1972–73 Jean Ratelle
1973–74 Brad Park
1974–75 Rod Gilbert
1975–76 Rod Gilbert
1976–77 Rod Gilbert
1977–78 Pat Hickey
1978–79 Phil Esposito
1979–80 Phil Esposito
1980–81 Ed Johnstone
1981–82 Nick Fotiu
1982–83 Mark Pavelich
1983–84 Barry Beck and Nick Fotiu
1984–85 Anders Hedberg and Mike Rogers
1985–86 John Vanbiesbrouck
1986–87 Walt Poddubny
1987–88 Walt Poddubny
1988–89 Guy Lafleur
1989–90 Brian Mullen
1990–91 Mike Richter
1991–92 Mark Messier
1992–93 Mike Gartner
1993–94 Adam Graves
1994–95 Mark Messier
1995–96 Mark Messier
1996–97 Mark Messier
1997–98 Wayne Gretzky
1998–99 Mike Richter
1999–00 Mike Richter
2000–01 Brian Leetch
2001–02 Mike Richter
2002–03 Mike Dunham
2003–04 Eric Lindros
2005–06 Jaromir Jagr
2006–07 Henrik Lundqvist
2007–08 Sean Avery
2008–09 Blair Betts
2009–10 Henrik Lundqvist
2010-11 Henrik Lundqvist
2011-12 Henrik Lundqvist
2012-13 Henrik Lundqvist
2012-13 Henrik Lundqvist
2013-14 Henrik Lundqvist
2014-15 Mats Zuccarello
2015-16 Mats Zuccarello
2016-17 Mats Zuccarello
2017-18 Mats Zuccarello & Henrik Lundqvist
2018-19 Mika Zibanejad
2019-20 Artemi Panarin (https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/4220/ )
2020-21 Adam Fox (https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/5421/ )
2021-22 Igor Shesterkin & Chris Kreider (https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/fb22/ )
2022-23 Igor Shesterkin (https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/fbt23/ )
2023-24 Artemi Panarin (https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/fb24/ )
As you can see, then there have been fourteen players to have won the Frank Boucher Trophy more than once, including Worsley, Bathgate, Gilbert, Howell, Ratelle, Esposito, Fotiu, Poddubny, Richter, Messier, Lundqvist, Zuccarello, Shesterkin and Panarin.
Lundqvist, with eight wins, has won this trophy more than anyone else. Gilbert has won the trophy five times, while Bathgate, Messier, Richter and Zuccarello have each won the hardware four times.
This year, I received only 304 votes for the 2025 Frank Boucher Trophy winner.
As always, votes were collected via email, Twitter, Facebook, blog comments and personal face-to-face interactions with fans.
These 304 votes were a far cry from the amount that I received last year, when I received 794 votes in total.
I was expecting a drop-off in voting this year – but I never imagined that it would drop by over 50%.
However, I guess that the paltry sum of 304 votes shouldn’t have shocked me whatsoever, as after all – many residents of Rangerstown, USA have moved out – as these people started to check out once the team did.
Needless to say, and with the team experiencing arguably their most disappointing season in franchise history – and the interest in the 2024-25 Rangers isn’t very high.
I can only speak for myself and a few podcasters that I know, and across the board, and traffic to all mediums has been down this year – and especially after last year’s Presidents’ Trophy winning season.
I only bring this up because while I didn’t think about this last year, but I’m thinking it now – I’m sure there were a few hundred “casual” fans who voted in the 2024 Frank Boucher Trophy race – and the same casual fans who have now moved onto something else with this team being beyond brutal this season.
In another comparison to last year, and in 2024, eleven different men received votes, including, and in order, winner Artemi Panarin, Matt Rempe, Igor Shesterkin, Jonathan Quick, Chris Kreider, Adam Fox, Vincent Trocheck, Alexis Lafreniere, Mika Zibanejad and Connor Mackey.
This year and I received votes for only five players – while also receiving votes for three non-players.
Here’s how the voting broke down (percentages rounded-up when applicable):
Matt Rempe – 98 (32.2%)
Will Cuylle – 83 (27.3%)
Artemi Panarin – 41 (13.4%)
Igor Shesterkin – 36 (11.8%)
Sam Rosen – 34 (11.1%)
The Fans – 8 (2.6%)
Dancin’ Larry – 3 (0.98%)
Chris Kreider – 1 (0.03%)
In the effort of full disclosure, then I was also one of the eight fans who voted for “The Fans” themselves.
After all, I truly feel for the season-ticket holders who are being raped in the wallet by this franchise.
When it comes to the other non-players, then Sam Rosen was a pick that I expected – as many have empathy and sympathy for the soon-to-be retiree, who in his last season, was rewarded with this garbage.
Derek (@dmg4011) on X, the lone person to vote for Kreider, explained his choice by saying, “I’m only voting for Kreider because of the enormous amount of hate that he receives from Ranger fans, former supporters of his that have now turned their backs on him.”
I don’t need to give you the entire book on Rempe here – as by now – you are all well-versed with it.
But if you’re still one of the ANALytical basement bums who still consider Rempe as a “goon” – then you can’t be helped.
Rempe has improved by leaps-and-bounds this season – and more often than not – exerted the most energy by any Ranger this season.
He never took games off at a time – which isn’t something that you can say about the FAT CATS.
For whatever reason and the moronic head coach, coupled-in with the ZOOM ZOOM GM, actually had Rempe down in Hartford for a long stretch at the beginning of the season.
Despite his success from last season – and the Rangers were re-signed to hold down Rempe.
Once Rempe returned to the club – he remained – sans a “Remputation” suspension sustained over nothing (a hit on Miro Heiskanen).
Rempe, after 17-games played last year (and where he finished first runner-up in last year’s voting too), has skated in 40 games this year.
He’s one of the few Rangers with a positive plus/minus rating (+5), which is nearly identical to his points scored (2-4-6).
Aside from his fights and big hits – and Rempe, as part of a fourth line, has been extremely active – and where more times than not – and whoever Rempe’s fourth line trio is on that particular night then spends the bulk of their shifts in the opponent’s zone.
You can’t say the same about the other three Ranger lines.
Of course, this trophy boils down to being a popularity contest – and outside of CZAR IGOR, who has struggled this season, then who hears their name belted out the most at M$G ever since his debut?
The amount of #73 jerseys being purchased by Blueshirt backers is also extremely evident – and quite often – the most adorned fabric by the fans at games too.
With his “aw shucks” attitude and Rempe remains as one of the few not to feel the wrath from Ranger fans this season.
His countless number of street meet-and-greets (meaning that he’s not paid to do them – and picture taking that often lasts up to two-hours), combined with the longest line ever at a sponsored Hartford Wolf Pack event this season, has also made the Big Friendly Giant a Big Friendly Giant of a fan-favorite too.
The fans will always love the bone-crushing physicality of Rempe.
They are now also appreciating his hard-work – as he never takes a shift for granted – and especially not with this dumbass head coach making these shift decisions!
When it comes to the other two winners of team-specific awards this season, Quick and Cullye – and neither compare with the adoration that Rempe receives from the fans.
After all, when was the last time that you heard “CUY-LLE” chants?
The next time that happens will be the first time – and admittedly – for a player who deserves it – hence his first runner-up finish to Rempe.
This 2024-25 campaign will now be known as Rempe’s official rookie season.
It’s been some ride already – and where we all hope to see the big man continue his progression – thus eliminating all “flash-in-the-pan” commentary/criticism directed towards him.
Congratulations to Matt Rempe, this year’s Frank Boucher Trophy winner.
Up Next For The Rangers: They will close out the season with their last road game of the campaign on Monday night against the Panthers, which will then be followed by the finale on Thursday night at M$G (against Tampa).
As of right now – both rivals of the Sunshine State need these wins – as home ice in a likely first-round match-up between these recent multiple-time Stanley Cup Finalists (and winners) will be decided in these games against the Rangers.
Lateralette, who confirmed that rookie Matthew Robertson will make his NHL debut on Monday, also confirmed that both Perreault and Othmann will return to his line-up too.
But I’m sure that’s bad news for the likes of Parssinen and Berard – and not Mika and Kreider.
Speaking of the longest-tenured Ranger, and where sadly, these two final games of this 2024-25 campaign will most likely be his last as a Blueshirt too; then for a man who is featured top-ten in all franchise scoring records – then he also hasn’t scored a power-play goal in over three-months.
Should he be able to get one more, which would be the 117th PPG of his Rangers’ career, then he’ll own the franchise record in this department – thus breaking his 116 tie with Camille “The Eel” Henry.
Elsewhere, and these final two games also mark the last pair of matches that Sam Rosen will ever call too – and where afterwards – we’ll never hear “OH JOE” again.
Enjoy it.
Up Next For Me: Working on this year’s Final Report Card – but where unlike in recent years – it won’t take up much of your time. After all, it’s all been said, and what’s the point in rehashing everything again?
Also?
Waiting for Friday – and where unlike Jesus Christ on Easter – let’s hope that the names of Chris Drury, Peter Laviolette and Mika Zibanejad are not resurrected for next season.
In short?
WAKE UP JAMES DOLAN!
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
Your dad is right. Cash is king. UBS’s no cash thing was a problem for me. MSG seems more squared away on that. If I’m not mistaken, Dolan has a piece of UBS. Went to a concert there and used my credit card all night to buy beers and whatnot. Check my account on line few days later to see numerous charges to a company HQed in Missouri without any mention of UBS(and did we drink that much at The Who concert? no way!) . I assumed the card had been compromised. Had no idea that was their concessions and had the fun of cancelling the credit card and the legion of auto pays.
Parking situation remains a total fiasco. It’s a nice building, but Nassau should have either let Charles Wang build the lighthouse or built UBS there.
Road tripping; Nashville and Vegas are great arenas and fun towns. Tamps is nice as well.
Kreider is toast, bur Meeka’s contract and NMC makes it impossible to move him. Lots of chatter how Miller made him useful player again. But hard to trust a guy who did dick until the games didn’t matter any more.
Report card should be easy enough! F’s for everyone earning over $1.3m. Why $1.3? Because Quick fits just under that. Maybe give a slightly better grade to Shesty.
Bottom liners carried this team and were the only ones to show effort every night. Nit sure if anyone deserves full marks. Rempe maybe? Cuylle should get a high score too. Notable contributions by Carrick and Brodzinski. The other rookies and new players haven’t had enough playing time to assess.
Should there be changes in the off-season, at least watching the kids develop should be fun next year.
Great blog per usual. I remember your blogs when they decided to hire PL, you said this has always been a lateral move and unfortunately you were right, again, haha. Sadly this coach like others for whatever reason do not play the up and coming kids, but continue to play the same crap every game. Is the development not there or just their mindset never changing. Yes, a pathetic horrific season for so many reasons, definitely changes need to be made from management to players. I do look forward to reading what the players have to say after the season is over, then we should get some insight of why these issues this season. Again look forward to your next blog.