
Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. Time flies.
Not only does time pass us by so fast that we’re already at the half-way mark of the season (okay, we’re now one game beyond it as I write these words – so I’m late – but I do work a full-time job – so give me a break!); but last year at this time and I opened up with the following:
I hate, hate, hate, and did I say hate, doing these report cards whenever the Rangers are on a losing streak.
Of course, and as you’re all well aware – and as I presently pound my keyboard too – the Blueshirts are currently experiencing their longest losing streak of the season (three games).
The reason why I despise this so much is because I know that most readers are furious whenever the team is in a state of peril – where as a result – they forget about everything else that’s taken place this season.
Fast-forward to one-year later from that passage above – and it’s a complete 180.
Not only have the Blueshirts been brutally bad this season – but in another reversal from a year ago – and the team is actually on a two-game winning streak – and their first of this sort since Veteran’s Day!
But similar to last year – and every other year that’s preceded it as well – and the message remains the same:
We can’t forget about everything that’s taken place throughout this campaign.
Such a sentence implies that the following grades encompasses everything that we’ve witnessed thus far – and not just a pair of wins, the two best victories of the season at that, from the past two games played.
And who knows?
Perhaps if these 2024-25 Blueshirts can pick up some steam during the final half of the season – then, and just like last year’s Final Report Card – there will be plenty of A’s and A-pluses to spread around come mid-April.
Alas, I do think that’s some wishful thinking (and I’m not high on the idea of scraping to the playoffs only to then get embarrassed in the first-round either) – but stranger things, including stranger things from a positive nature, have happened in this sport of hockey before.
However, you might not know about this.
After all, you’re a Rangers’ fan!

Since I am writing this very late into the night – or early Tuesday morning to specific – then there’s a chance that these words might not reach you until after the Blueshirts play later tonight (1/14) – and as they will when they play guest to the Colorado Avalanche.
In the risk of that event, then I just wanted to share some pregame news with you before getting into the Mid-Season Report Card – and I promise – I’ll make it quick.
Up first, here’s where we last left off – the Blueshirts’ best win of the season in Las Vegas:
NYR/VGK 1/11 Review: BLOCK MANIA! Black-and-Blue Bruised Blueshirts Shut Down The Strip in Best Win Yet – But Get No Help In The Standings Either, The Impossible Task of Figuring Out The Rangers, Larry Brooks’ “The Article” Now Blowing Up in His Face – Or Was It A “Motivational” Turning Point? No Kreider & Chytil = No Problem, CZAR IGOR 2-0 in Return; Matt Rempe Too, Berard Demoted For LA’s Failure, The Four Games That May Determine The Fate of “Lavy’s Lot,” Alumni Shine; Lundqvist Returns on M$G Ice & More

Following Saturday night’s win in Vegas, where the team had to be black-and-blue after blocking nearly every Knight shot imaginable, then the Blueshirts had Sunday off.
Come Monday, the crew then reconvened for practice in Denver ahead of their Tuesday night tilt against the Avs.
The big news from practice was in regard to returns – as both Chris Kreider and Filip Chytil participated.
For CK20, he is eligible to come off of the injured-reserve list for this match against his GM’s former club – and one that also won a Stanley Cup with Chris Drury there (2001).
For Chytil, no one knows when he will return – but he sounded like he was ready to go.
When it comes to Kreider, then we all know the deal – his back, his back, and did I mention his back?
Since back injuries are one of the trickiest and most confusing ailments to diagnose and cure – then you never know when Kreider’s spine will flare up.
As anyone who has suffered a back injury before can attest to – then one day you can wake up feeling like a million bucks, the next day feeling like a cripple.
In the case of “The Concussed Czech,” then Chytil wanted to dispel the latest speculation in regards to his own battles with brain trauma – but he wasn’t exactly that forthcoming with details either:
“It’s what I said before in November. We can sit in the future and [talk] about [my] whole career, what happened and all the things,” said #72 of the Rangers. “I know that, my close people know that and this team [knows too.] But right now, what happened [against] Dallas is what happened. Hopefully, I’ll be back tomorrow – but whenever I’ll be back – I’m ready to play.”
Chytil continued to talk about his never-ending injuries – and where again – he would never say what happened to him this time – as rather – he just spoke about all of them as a collective unit:
“It’s just helping me to be better. Of course, it sucks that I got to miss the time. I’ve missed so much time in my career. Every time I’m back, I just work hard. I just focus to be better. That’s just my goal. It’s the fuel for me to be better. It’s not like starting from zero every time, but it’s always the hurdle in the way and I believe that in the future, it’s going to come back for me in a good way. I’m positive about all these things.
“It’s hard because you want to be out there every game. It’s very frustrating to watch my team play games.
“I learned so much last year, I went through a lot last year, which helps me mentally. Right now, when this hurdle happens, then I’m just stronger in my head.”
I guess that you have to take Chytil at face-value here – and that he didn’t sustain a concussion in his last game played against the Stars.
At the same time, then I wonder if his injury is “concussion-adjacent,” meaning something neck- or head-related, which as a result, would cause a concussion had he stayed in the game.
Either way, then it’s what I’ve been saying for years – and what I’ll echo in the report card too:
He’s good when he’s healthy, but he’s not reliable either, which in turn, diminishes the chances of the Rangers winning the Stanley Cup.
To win the silver, then you need your top players to stay healthy for sixteen-wins – and where in the case of Chytil – it feels like he can’t even stay healthy for six-game stretches.
And of course, another one of my usual talking points too:
Physicality picks-up in the postseason – ergo – doesn’t bode well for Half-Glass Fil.
As far as anything else to note from the practice, then the top-six remained the same, while the third trio featured Kreider/Chytil/Kaliyev – and the fourth line looking like Edstrom/Carrick/Rempe.
Should that be the case come Tuesday night, then that means that both Jimmy Vesey and Jonny Brodzinski will be the odd-men out against the Avalanche – but of course – only under the assumption that both CK20 and FC72 can go.
Report Card time!

Before doling out the grades, let me give you the usual criteria that I use whenever I do these report cards:
— Grades are given out based on production, playing to their role on the team and to the contract of a player.
For example, I expect less from a fourth line and six-figure salaried player, such as a Jimmy Vesey.
On the other hand, I expect a lot out of a first line player and/or a high-priced player like an Artemi Panarin.
After all, we are playing in a salary-cap world, where teams are constantly giving up quality players, even players they drafted, in order to compete.
— To ignore the salary-cap hit of a player would be foolish, which is why they are considered and factored into these grades.
Keep in mind, to me, a player’s salary-cap hit is a stat that belongs on the back of a hockey card.
When it comes to building NHL rosters, general managers look at cap hits first. They aren’t worried about Corsi’s or whatever other nerd stat that Sieve Vagistat has pulled out of his five-hole this week.
In addition, and more times than not during this present era, you don’t see as many pure “hockey trades” when compared to bygone eras. Instead, you see more “salary-cap dump trades” than anything else.
— Players who have played less than ten games with the team, players who have been traded, players who have been injured, and players who were sent down to Hartford, are all listed in the “Incomplete” section.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly above all else – these grades are just my opinions only.
In other words – don’t get bent out of shape over them!
This is just my way of assessing the current roster at this moment in the season.
And if any grade is truly egregious, then I’m sure that you will let me know!
Last but not least, the following:
— These grades take into account every game played thus far this season – and not just what happened since the 25% mark of the season.
— Just to compare, I have listed my quarter-pole report card grades with every player applicable.
— To read that quick report, then check out: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/12624-2/
At this time, here are my grades, and my explanations of them, at the half-way mark of the season!

FORWARDS
Brett Berard
QUARTER-POLE REPORT CARD GRADE: INC
MID-SEASON REPORT CARD GRADE: B-
Prior to the Rangers’ current three-game road-trip, which began in Las Vegas and will then conclude in Utah this Thursday night, then the rookie winger scored three goals and chipped in four assists during his nineteen games of work.
However, to go along with his seven points was his minus-nine rating – third-worst overall on the team.
As noted at the top of this, then cap-hits do equate in my ratings, which is why I have Berard at a B- following his mid-November call-up through early January send-down.
As opposed to many Blueshirts featured in this report card, while omitting the past three-games played too (Dallas, New Jersey and Vegas), then Berard was one of the rare Rangers to exhibit both energy and effort in all of his games.
While he did provide a spark, it would also be impossible for any rookie to pick this team up when they were enduring a slump – a rapid decline to the bottom – and when they only won four games during a nineteen-game stretch.
Currently, Berard is back howlin’ with the Pack for both positional and cap-hit reasons – and where Laviolette, after Monday’s practice, didn’t seem so inclined to rush back #65 into the fold.
From what we saw, then Berard does have a promising future.
Furthermore, the Hartford critics/fans from last year seem to be right too – as it’s Berard, and not the highly-touted first-round pick, Brennan Othmann – that seems to have the most potential between the two forwards.
Jonny Brodzinski
QUARTER-POLE REPORT CARD GRADE: B-
MID-SEASON REPORT CARD GRADE: B
While maybe the long-time AHL veteran, and former captain of the Wolf Pack, was a “Jonny Come Lately;” but today, he’s now become “JONNY BROADWAY.”
No longer a minor-leaguer anymore – and you can see that the new double-deuces of the Blueshirts is looking to keep it that way.
Somewhat a “Swiss Army Knife” type, as Brodzinski can play all three-positions, on the power-play, on the penalty kill and on any line too – and the present big-time player of today has pretty much fell into the role as a defacto thirteenth forward in the show.
But hey, such a status beats an AHL payday – and the school bus travel up-and-down I-95 too!
Brodzinski, with three goals and three assists in twenty games played this year (and he can thank the always-injured Filip Chytil for the extra playing time), also has a plus-minus rating of +4 – good for fourth-best on the team.
That’s great for him, but such a rating is also an indictment on the team itself – and especially on behalf of the FAT CATS.
As he was under Gerard Gallant when needed – and Brodzinski has been reliable and serviceable for Peter Laviolette too.
Sam Carrick
QUARTER-POLE REPORT CARD GRADE: B
MID-SEASON REPORT CARD GRADE: A
The player that I like to refer to as “The Poor Man’s Barclay Goodrow” (a compliment – not a knock), then #39 has made it easy to forget about the former #21 of the Blueshirts.
Simply stated?
Carrick has more than delivered than what was advertised.
Primarily a fourth-line checking center, and the veteran, who doesn’t exactly average top minutes (11:01 per game) does it all, as he chips in goals (3), adds assists (6), hits the opponent (73) and blocks shots too (22).
For a man only making a million bucks a year – then it’s easy to see why this blue collar player will receive Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award votes this year – and especially if he continues to score walkoff winners in overtime!
More importantly?
Carrick has been the most consistent Ranger on the team.
While you could recap a laundry list of negative games for every single player on this roster – but you can only come up with one bad outing for him – and where DUH – nobody is perfect either.
But Carrick has come pretty close to perfect during his inaugural season in the Big Apple.
Filip Chytil
QUARTER-POLE REPORT CARD GRADE: B
MID-SEASON REPORT CARD GRADE: C+
You all know the deal by now – Chytil has been strong whenever 100% healthy – but when he’s going to be 100% healthy is anyone’s guess – and where in addition – that answer could be – maybe never.
Presently, Chytil is injured again – and after missing 72 games last season, he has missed parts of 12 games during this campaign – and 9 (and running) in total.
“The Concussed Czech” is averaging a little bit more than half-a-point per game with ten goals and seventeen assists in his thirty-three games played.
While he still remains as the club’s worst center at the dots (45.2%) – even that number could become a career-high for him.
Perhaps Chytil’s most noticeable strength this season is how well his flanks have performed with him, as the likes of Kakko, Cuylle and Berard have all had the best games of their respective careers whenever on a line featuring #72 in the middle.
But for a player making nearly $5M a season – he needs to be on the ice.
His usual “will he or won’t he be able to play” status also negatively affects his grade.
After all, whenever he comes back from his latest ailment and/or concussion, then it takes him a few games to pick up from where he last left off – and where he’s always prone to long stretches when he doesn’t register a point – much less a SOG either.
Will Cuylle
QUARTER-POLE REPORT CARD GRADE: A
MID-SEASON REPORT CARD GRADE: A
Perhaps the odds-on favorite to win the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award this season, and where really only Carrick and Quick can challenge him for this most distinguished award – and the second-year player hasn’t truly experienced a sophomore slump – or should I say – has truly yet to experience one.
Cuylle, who was the team’s best and most impactful player for a l-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-ng stretch there (albeit, during the worst stretch of the season), has ironically tailed-off a bit as everyone tries to catch up to him – and crazier than that – with the team finally winning games now too.
Perhaps he needed a break after carrying the offensive load for most of the season.
Currently, Cuylle has the best plus/minus rating on the team (+8) – and where such a “low” number tells you all that you need to know about the team itself too.
Included in Cuylle’s plus/minus rating are his 11 goals (fourth-best overall), 13 assists (fifth-best overall) and his grand total of 24-points (fifth-best overall).
Only the FAT CATS have better offensive numbers than #50 – where need I remind you – is still playing on an entry-level contract.
Furthermore, of the players who have racked up more points than Cuylle (Panarin, 45, -7; Fox, 31, +2; Trocheck 29, -4 and Zibanejad 27, -21), then of this quintet, then only Fox has a positive plus/minus rating – and while I know that the value of the plus/minus stat can be argued from both sides of the aisle – but in this case – IT DOES TELL THE STORY.
And oh yeah – then outside of Cuylle’s contract (which helps his grade), then he also averages less time on the ice than all of these players too.
There are many people currently clamoring for Trocheck to become the next captain of this franchise.
Should that day ever happen, than I couldn’t think of a better alternate, a general to serve, than CUYLLE HAND LUKE!
Adam Edstrom
QUARTER-POLE REPORT CARD GRADE: A-
MID-SEASON REPORT CARD GRADE: B+
Mr. Ed, now officially in his NHL rookie season after a handful of games played last year, has shown improvement.
However, for a guy who stands 6’7″ – then he’s always been out-shadowed by the other giant in town – the more charismatic, and present league-target of today, the 6’9″ Matt Rempe.
In a way, then such a circumstance perhaps allows Edstrom to fall underneath the radar a bit too – as he doesn’t have the pressure of a huge spotlight on him like Rempe does.
For the Swede, then I believe that he’s still experiencing a learning curve of the NHL game – and like most, if not all, rookies do.
With 3 goals, 3 assists and a -8 rating in 42 games played – and Edstrom hasn’t really rocked anyone’s world yet – but he’ll always have that game-winner against Vegas – and where at this point of the season – is the Blueshirts’ best win yet.
While some of his stats may not jump out at you; his 76 hits, third-best overall on the team, should.
He’s been reliable, and that’s really all that you can ask for from a first-year player.
But if this team was really in the Stanley Cup mix, then you’d also understand why if he was made a healthy scratch during the playoffs.
Chris Kreider
QUARTER-POLE REPORT CARD GRADE: B-
MID-SEASON REPORT CARD GRADE: C+
As talked about all-season on this site and everywhere else in Rangerstown, USA – then this has been a tough year for the longest-tenured Ranger – and mainly due to injuries.
Kreider has been battling back ailments throughout the campaign – and where not only has this pain negatively impacted his performance on the ice – he’s now missing games too.
Compounding matters was his name being leaked in “THE MEMO.”
Also not helping?
His head coach publicly embarrassing him by making him a healthy scratch against a rival (Devils).
After all, Laviolette could have just said, “upper-body, day-to-day,” and no one would have been the wiser.
While the goals aren’t coming as fast nor as often as they have come for CK20 during the past three seasons; he does have thirteen tallies to his name (five on the power-play and a league-leading two while short-handed), which is good for third-best overall – and despite missing eight games too.
He also has a plus/minus rating of a -8 – fourth-worst on the team – but I think that’s more because of his center, his BFF, Missing Mika, rather than anything else.
Kreider, playing through the pain all season, has stayed consistent, if not elite, in one department – on the team’s penalty kill.
It’s no coincidence that this man-down unit, once ranked first-overall in the league, gave up a season-high three power-play goals in the one game (NJD) when he was made a healthy scratch.
For a team that’s under-performed, and at times, has been the worst in the league during various ten-game samples, then Kreider’s achy-breaky back has been one of the myriad of reasons for the team’s failures this season.

Alexis Lafreniere
QUARTER-POLE REPORT CARD GRADE: B-
MID-SEASON REPORT CARD GRADE: C-
Immediately picking up from where he left off last year, as the featured right-winger of the team’s best trio, THE GAG LINE 2.0 – then once the first-overall pick signed his seven-year contract worth $52.15M overall on October 26th – and he, and just like the team itself, sank rock-bottom.
As noted, then there have been many reasons why this team has been brutally terrible this season.
Lafreniere’s lack of production is one of the explanations – and including when he only scored one goal during a twenty-game clip.
The majority of his 11 goals and 13 assists, a grand total of 24 points in 42 games played, took place PRIOR to inking his new deal.
Worse than that?
His -12 rating ranks him second-worst overall – and where only the Mopey Eyed Loser in the #93 jersey is worse (-21).
Whether the money changed him or not, I do not know; but until he returns to the player that he was last season – then such speculation won’t die down.
Encouraging food for thought?
He has picked it up a bit during the past week.
Artemi Panarin
QUARTER-POLE REPORT CARD GRADE: A-
MID-SEASON REPORT CARD GRADE: B
The greatest free agent signing in franchise history remains the best skater on the team – but even “The Breadman” is prone to posting doughnuts in the box score – and including when he went without a goal in nine consecutive games.
And yep – that’s another reason why this team has been so tough to watch this season.
Panarin’s 17 goals and 45 points pace the team – but he’s also a -7 – and where like many of you – then I too can come up with at least seven occasions where #10’s recklessness and inability to care on defense has hurt the Rangers.
Lafreniere’s own slump hasn’t helped Panarin either.
Ditto whenever being paired with The Mika Virus as his center.
As the most featured player on the Blueshirts’ power-play, and a PP1 group that recently only scored one goal in thirty-two consecutive tries, then Panarin’s six PPGs are simply not enough.
And as the team’s highest-paid player, and despite being the Blueshirts’ best offensive producer – then his numbers need to increase – and big-time at that – that is – assuming that reaching the playoffs remains the goal in New York.
Reilly Smith
QUARTER-POLE REPORT CARD GRADE: C+
MID-SEASON REPORT CARD GRADE: B-
Just last week and I wrote about how we haven’t been talking a lot about Smith this season.
After all, it’s my opinion that of the 29 right-winger du jours that have skated with the BFF’s (CK20 & Mental Mika), then Smith is easily one of the top-three to have played with them.
Perhaps quietly (and where all positivity will be out-weighed by the alarming negativity swarming this squad), and Smith has totaled 20-points (8-12-20) in his 41 games played – as he’s just a hair shy of averaging a half-a-point.
Why hasn’t he played in all of the team’s 42-games?
Because he too, and just like everyone else not named Mika Zibanejad or K’Andre Miller, was held accountable for one game – and via the good old healthy scratch.
Of the regulars, then Smith, a +3, is only one of five Rangers to have a plus-mark next to his name – and where getting away from Zibanejad for a few games helped him out in this department.
The 33-year-old Stanley Cup Champion has lived up to his role – as both a reliable scoring threat and defensively-minded player – which is why if this team does blow it up, then there will be suitors seeking his services at the deadline – as he’s the prototypical “depth piece” that Cup contenders want.
Just ask the Knights if you don’t believe me.
Vincent Trocheck
QUARTER-POLE REPORT CARD GRADE: B-
MID-SEASON REPORT CARD GRADE: A-
Granted, while Trocheck has had some misses throughout this season – he’s had some hits too – and ever since Jacob Trouba’s departure – he’s become not only the defacto captain of this club – but the heart-and-soul of the team too.
There’s a reason why Trocheck, who doesn’t even have an “A” affixed to his sweater, handles the media on a game-by-game basis – and why even the national outlets, TNT and ESPN, go to him first too.
Unlike his peer, another center, alternate captain Zibanejad – and you never question if Trocheck cares – nor does your mind stray in regards to his dedication level either.
The guy wants to win – and I don’t think that’s up for debate whatsoever.
Trocheck’s 14 goals ranks him second-overall, his 15 assists ranks him fourth-overall and his total of 29-points ranks him third-overall.
But if you recall, then the original reason why Trocheck was signed during the Summer of ’22, and in favor of two successful incumbents at the time, Ryan Strome and Andrew Copp – was for his ability to win faceoffs – and where I must add – doesn’t complaining about the team’s lack of success at the dots now feel like an antiquated thing from the past?
Trocheck’s 60% success rate at the circles ranks him not only tops on the Rangers – but top-ten in the league too.
His 43 blocked shots also ranks him first-overall among all Blueshirt forwards and where his 130 hits only ranks him second to Cuylle (156).
From the intangibles department, then Trocheck’s locker room presence could become the straw that stirs the drink for a Rangers’ second-half comeback in the standings – and hopefully – throughout a playoff run too.
Jimmy Vesey
QUARTER-POLE REPORT CARD GRADE: B+
MID-SEASON REPORT CARD GRADE: B+
“The Bobby Carpenter” of a new generation, but not as impactful as a fellow Ranger/Devil like Carpenter himself; and Vesey, formerly known for his offensive skills, remains “Steady Eddie” in his new and well-adjusted role as a defensive bottom-six forward.
Vesey, who entered the season banged-up and was then later made a healthy scratch too, has played in 31 of the team’s 42 games.
While his three goals and one assist isn’t anything to write home about; he’s also not hurting the team either.
But admittedly, if the goal is to get younger, and then once there, to develop these promising prospects too – then it’s easy to understand why the 31-year-old will get breathers – and in favor for the likes of Berard, Rempe, Edstrom and others.
Again, while Vesey isn’t detrimental in any way, he’s also not as impactful as a fellow fourth liner, his usual center, Sam Carrick.
He also doesn’t have a contract for next season – and where it’s most likely that Gabe Perrault will.
(And I can only pray to the hockey gods that James Hagens signs with the Rangers – but where sadly, I must confess – Hagens grew up as an Islanders’ fan – and he bemoans the Blueshirts today.)

Mika Zibanejad
QUARTER-POLE REPORT CARD GRADE: F – – –
MID-SEASON REPORT CARD GRADE: F – – – You
I’ve already talked about Mika Zibanejad enough for one season.
His contract sucks.
He blows.
His one-timer is garbage.
He’s been an albatross.
He can’t hit a net.
He has routinely spit in the face of his goalies with his piss-poor defense.
He’s never held accountable.
And his -21 rating ranks him nearly dead-last among all 778 NHL players who have qualified.
I was the first on the “TRADE MIKA TRAIN” – if not the conductor of it – and as I was following the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs – and where now – I have a ton more passenger tickets to punch on this ride to the depths of hockey hell.
You just can’t pay a third-line center, one that’s been awful, $8.5M a season, if winning the Stanley Cup is your ultimate goal.
Coddling Zibanejad and never scratching him for his regular game-in and game-out deficiencies is also on the head coach.
When you want to explain why the Rangers have been the drizzling shits this season – and while there are other players that you can dissect like a middle school science class – but no make no bones about it – Zibanejad is at the top of the shit list.

DEFENSEMEN
Will Borgen
QUARTER-POLE REPORT CARD GRADE: None
MID-SEASON REPORT CARD GRADE: B
The big-boned defenseman, one acquired in the deal for Kaapo Kakko, has only played in eleven games for the Rangers thus far – so it’s tough to truly assess him – and especially when he joined this team while they were in their most desperate state of despair and ruin.
That said, I think that he’s coming on a bit.
As pretty much the replacement for Jacob Trouba – and Borgen has been laying the body a lot – while also breaking up a lot of opposing offenses.
Mainly a defensive-defenseman, and the former Krak-Head is averaging two hits per game (22 in total) and nearly as many shot blocks (21).
He also has two-points – one goal and one assist.
As you probably know already, then Borgen may have the most interesting future amongst all Blueshirts.
Since it cost the Rangers a second-overall pick for his services, then it’s up to Chris Drury to either extend him at a much cheaper price than what Trouba once cost him ($8M annually) – or get a first-round pick in return for him from one of the Cup contenders looking for that missing piece – and where all with their eyes on their prize are always looking for hard-hitting rearguard at the deadline.
In other words?
You can’t assess the Kakko for Borgen trade until the fate of #17 has finally revealed itself.
Adam Fox
QUARTER-POLE REPORT CARD GRADE: B-
MID-SEASON REPORT CARD GRADE: B-
I’ve said this before and you’ll hate me for saying it again – but when it comes to the 2021 Norris Trophy winner – then you have to wonder if his hardware acquired was a bit fugazi.
After all, he won his lone Norris Trophy during a 56-game COVID-19 season – and where the Blueshirts played the same seven-teams eight-times over – and where many of those teams were bad at the time too.
In other words, he’s yet to have a season like the one he had four-years ago – and while playing against 31 different opponents during an 82-game schedule.
In the case of Fox, who I’m not even sure is still a Top-5 d-man in the league today (Cale Makar, Victor Hedman, Miro Heiskanen, Quinn Hughes and Roman Josi have stronger cases – and you can also argue for the likes of Josh Morrissey, Charlie McAvoy and one of the Buffalo rearguards too) – then I do wonder if he’s ever returned to 100% following his pair of knee injuries sustained last season.
And if he’s not fully recuperated, and if the season does go south, then the Rangers, and as they should do with Kreider too, should shutdown Fox come the deadline.
There’s no reason to run the risk of furthering injury if you’re just going to punt the campaign anyway.
And I don’t think that I’m breaking any news to you when I say this either – as you’re better off having both Kreider and Fox at 100% for the start of next year – and with a whole different cast of characters around them too.
Due to his role on the power-play and playing with Panarin a lot, then Fox leads the team with 31 assists – and where he’s only second-best to “The Breadman” in points too (33).
And if you can do the math, then 33-31 = 2 – as in the two goals that Fox has scored in 42 games played – and where one of them was an empty netter.
(His other goal? A power-play goal, a fluky one at that, after a quick o-zone faceoff win – which means that Fox doesn’t have a 5 x 5 goal this season.)
This is my long and round-about way in saying that I just don’t think that Fox is feeling right – which yep – also explains the Rangers’ lack of success this season.
While he is a +2; regardless, then a player of Fox’s caliber should be much higher than that – and where in addition – you can come up with at least ten different plays in your head where his porous play led to an opposing goal too.
Zac Jones
QUARTER-POLE REPORT CARD GRADE: B+
MID-SEASON REPORT CARD GRADE: B+
What more can we say about Jones that we haven’t already said on this site?
For #6, he’s essentially been shut-out by his head coach – and for a player that worked so hard throughout the organization, including starting in Hartford, trying to leap-frog past the likes of Tony DeAngelo, Jacob Trouba, Braden Schneider and others – he has now been roadblocked by players such as Chad Ruhwedel, Victor Mancini and Will Borgen this season.
I don’t get it either.
For more on Jones, who has only played in 26 games – and who hasn’t played in over a month either – then check out: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/1125/
Suffice to say, and just like Kakko prior to him, and ironically, Nils Lundkvist too (a player who never wanted to put in the work like Jones did at the same time) – and it feels like Jones will become the next player dealt to a Western Conference team.
Ryan Lindgren
QUARTER-POLE REPORT CARD GRADE: C+
MID-SEASON REPORT CARD GRADE: C+
You all know the nicknames for double-nickel, including “Heart & Soul,” “Duct Tape & Bubble Gum,” “Warrior” and any other hard-working and sandpaper moniker than you come up with; but you can’t ignore that Lindgren has an expiring contract, which in turn, most likely means that this 2024-25 season will be his last in New York.
I’ve talked about Lindgren a lot on this site – I respect everything that he’s done – but he’s also become a “Black & Blue Ranger” too – and unlike previous Ranger rearguards like Dan Girardi and Marc Staal – then it feels like he’s already peaked at the age of 26-years-old – four-years shy of the standard/acceptable age of 30-years-old.
For a player that keeps ticking despite all of his lickings, and when you consider the state of this franchise as well – then it’s very easy to imagine the defensive southpaw being shipped to a contender at the deadline.
And sadly – and unlike the other BFF’s Mika and Kreider, who are impervious – and it feels like Fox, the only real partner that Lindgren has ever had, will have no say in his BFF’s future.
I don’t think that Lindgren is as bad as most Ranger fans on social media make him out to be (in fact – the complete opposite); but I’m also aware that he’s aged-out a bit (and fast at that) – and that he probably isn’t a true first-pair defenseman anymore.
Should Lindgren be dealt, then I can see him becoming a contributor as a depth d-man for a contender.
Plus, the streak must stay alive too – as the Rangers are so prone to watching their alum win the Stanley Cup while wearing another sweater.

K’Andre Miller
QUARTER-POLE REPORT CARD GRADE: F
MID-SEASON REPORT CARD GRADE: D-
I’m often asked by Miller detractors, and readers of this site as well, the following question:
“What do the Rangers see in Miller that I don’t?”
My stock response:
“He’s healthy and eats a ton of minutes.”
Presently and #79 has logged an average ice time of 21:36 for the Blueshirts – third-best only to Fox (23:40) and Trocheck (21:39).
But of course – Miller doesn’t play on the power-play like Fox and Trocheck.
Take away the power-play and Miller averages the highest TOI (5 x 5) total amongst all. (18:53. Second-best you ask? Fox at 18:13.)
When Miller entered the league, and he said it at the time too, then many thought that he could become an offensive-defenseman.
I don’t think that’s ever been the case.
Currently, Miller has 2 goals and 5 assists – and where his rating of -5 is also worst amongst all Ranger rearguards.
In his defense, then the bulk of Miller’s bad time on the ice is when he was partnered with Trouba.
While he did improve whenever paired with Fox – he wasn’t that much better – but he does seem to be turning a corner in recent weeks – as he and Borgen seem to have developed some chemistry due to all of their regular reps together.
Similar to Lindgren and Borgen (and many others) – and Miller is set to become a free agent this summer too.
Gun to my head?
(And why would you point a pistol at my cranium over this?)
Then I think that Miller is staying – and more so than anything else because I believe that Jones is out (ditto another LD, Urho Vaakanainen too), which in turn, would leave the Blueshirts very weak at LD.
If there’s one cliche phrase to describe Miller this season, then it’s very easily, “consistently inconsistent.”
Perhaps a mentor or a strong defensive coach could fix that – as whatever Phil Housley is doing – well – it’s not working.
Braden Schneider
QUARTER-POLE REPORT CARD GRADE: A-
MID-SEASON REPORT CARD GRADE: A-
For B-Schneids, the 19th-overall pick of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft – and the 23-year-old is already in his fourth NHL season.
Schneider has had some up-and-down moments this season – but he’s also had more ups than downs.
It should be mentioned that Schneider has become a “Rangers’ Slut” – as he’s had more partners than anyone else amongst the defensive corps.
In turn, he has had to find chemistry with a wide array of teammates – while being a “bisexual slut” too – as he’s flip-flopped between LD and RD every week.
That’s not on him.
That’s on the head coach.
Be honest – let me know if you knew this before you read it below:
Schneider’s two goals ties him with Fox among all Ranger d-men.
His ten-points are only second-best to Fox among all Blueshirt blue-liners.
His plus/minus rating of +5 is not only third-best overall on the team – but best among all New York defensemen too.
It should also be mentioned that Fox averages over six-minutes TOI per game than B-Schneids.
All that Schneider needs is a regular partner – monogamy – and should the Rangers be able to establish a secure home life for him – then he should only continue his ascension – while surpassing the super stuff that he’s doing today.
Urho Vaakanainen
QUARTER-POLE REPORT CARD GRADE: None
MID-SEASON REPORT CARD GRADE: C
One day, U.V. will go down as the answer to this #Cadillac trivia question:
“What was the return in the biggest Rangers’ cap-hit trade in franchise history?”
The other side of the Mrs. Kelly-Tyson-Trouba trade, when the Ducks assumed and absorbed all of “The Great Eight’s” contract, hasn’t really done much to speak about.
But since the aim was to get rid of a lame “duck” (pun intended) captain – then Drury had to take something back – and U.V. it was.
U.V. has one assist in his dozen games played as a Blueshirt.
And with only eight hits – then he’s not that much of a deterrent for opposing offenses either.
Granted, there is something to be said, a positive thing at that, about not noticing defensemen – as that means they are doing their jobs.
However, I don’t really see what value U.V. provides, outside of absorbing Trouba’s contract – and where in addition – I don’t know why he gets the nod over Jones either.
Perhaps Jones, well familiar with Massachusetts (and you can do your own research from here), is also familiar with the coach’s daughter.
After all, I can’t think of any other explanation why U.V. is in, while Jones, two-years younger and with familiarity with this organization, remains out – and especially with the Blueshirts in need of scoring.

GOALIES

Jonathan Quick:
QUARTER-POLE REPORT CARD GRADE: A+++++++++
MID-SEASON REPORT CARD GRADE: A++++++++
I’m taking off one plus for the one so-so game that Quick had – the 7-4 loss to Washington.
But outside of that, and Quick has more than exceeded the role of your typical back-up goalie – and where it’s a god damn shame that these Blueshirts have failed him more times than not this season – as the future Hall of Famer should have logged win #400 a long time ago.
Hopefully we’ll see that epic victory sometime this week!
For as historically bad as the Rangers have been in their near one hundred years of existence (only four Stanley Cups), then equally as such – and the Blueshirts have been blessed with a bevy of big-time backstops.
As the Rangers approach their centennial season, then it’s been nothing but franchise and Hall of Fame goalies in net – including Lorne Chabot, John Ross Roach, Andy Aitkenhead, Dave Kerr, Chuck Rayner, Gump Worsley, Eddie Giacomin, John Davidson, John Vanbiesbrouck, Mike Richter, Henrik Lundqvist, and today, CZAR IGOR.
While the Rangers have had back-up goalies prior to “The Great Expansion of 1967” (“Sugar” Jim Henry stands out), then Gilles Villemure was arguably the best of this kind – and where many other suitable 1B’s soon followed – except for those few years when the worthless Sieve Vagistat was in net.
In recent years, and whether it was Cam Talbot, Antti Raanta, Alexandar Georgiev, Jaroslav Halak or even a one-hit wonder like MacKenzie “The Buffalo Killer” Skapski – and these back-ups have more than delivered.
Jonathan Quick has blown all of them away – with the exception of “THE GOALBUSTER,” a one Mr. Talbot.
(But maybe my Talbot bias is seeping in here – so I’ll just say that Talbot and Quick have been on equal footing – and have been the two best back-up goalies ever since Lundqvist once backed-up Kevin Weekes!)
Granted, you can’t just look at the black-and-white stats here – as after all – the team has been incredibly horrible in front of their last line of defense in 98% of all games played this season (including during wins too – and even during the opening 12-4-1 run); but it should be mentioned that CZAR IGOR earns a whole lot more money than Quick – yet it’s the near-40-year-old that has the better overall stats.
While we don’t know if Quick could shoulder a full load like the man ten-years his junior; but would you bet against it?
I know that I wouldn’t!
Quick has more than delivered ever since arriving – and where it also feels that he’s growing stronger by the day – as whatever was in that fountain of youth that he dove into should be bottled and sold to the masses!
You also can’t forget about Quick’s voice and work in the locker room either, as he has taken in the likes of Cuylle, Rempe and Berard under his wings – including giving THE REMPESTEIN MONSTER a room to sleep in at his humble Connecticut abode.
Quick, who grew up loving this team (by now, you should all know that Mike Richter was his biggest inspiration), has been a revelation.
I’m not joking – give him a job once retired – and whether it be with M$GN, as a goalie coach, an advocate, an ambassador, whatever.
If I was Drury, then I would have extended Quick for next season a long time ago – and my apologies to Dylan Garand too!
The only monkey wrench when it comes to Quick is his expiring contract.
Should the three-time Cup champion want a fourth ring for his hand – then he should perhaps seek a paycheck elsewhere.
But if he’s content with staying at his home base, and where his legacy is already long secured too, then you have to keep him on the books – and even if he’d most likely fetch a pretty return – and especially at the deadline – and even more so should a contender have a goalie that goes down (cough-cough – Carolina).
Carrick, Cuylle, Trocheck and Quick are the four best players, the most consistent too, on this team today.
No ifs, ands or buts about it!
CZAR IGOR
QUARTER-POLE REPORT CARD GRADE: B
MID-SEASON REPORT CARD GRADE: B-
I will admit – had CZAR IGOR’s new contract, which goes into effect next season, when he will become the highest-paid goalie in all of hockey, been active today – then I would’ve gone with a C or C- here.
After all, and similar to my former talking points on Lundqvist vs Talbot, Lundqvist v. Georgiev and eventually Lundqvist vs Shestyorkin – then what’s the value in nearly paying CZAR IGOR ten-times more than what his back-up is earning?
To be fair, CZAR IGOR has carried this team to a lot of wins this season, mainly during the opening weeks – but once he burnt out – the Rangers were then exposed.
Another cause for concern was his perennial injury sustained – and where hopefully – this one (a collision), and unlike the others of the groin/wear-and-tear variety, is now behind him for this campaign.
For the Rangers to have any shot at all of pulling off a 2019 St. Louis Blues – then CZAR IGOR has to stay healthy – while also proving to the world why he deserves every penny of his future contract when he will be annually paid $11.5M (a $92M pact that begins with the 2025-26 season).
While it would be somewhat unprecedented; then I do wonder if the Blueshirts continue to falter, thus slip-and-slide in the standings, then will Drury trade CZAR IGOR before his new deal goes into effect?
After all, CZAR IGOR turns 30-years-old this December – and with Quick already possessing amazing mentorship skills – then would it be the worst thing in the world if JQ32 imparts his knowledge upon a 22-year-old Dylan Garand – and especially if the world “rebuild” returns to this franchise?
Hmmm….
One way to shut such a theory down?
CZAR IGOR just owns the league – and then hoists a Stanley Cup over his head in June.

The Dearly Departed
I gave Jacob Trouba a “C” in my quarter-pole report card, while giving Kaapo Kakko a “B.”
The Trouba trade was always about the money, because if he was paid half of what he’s making, then the Rangers would still have a captain today.
For Kakko, who had chance-after-chance, then even more chances-after-chances, it just never worked out.
And I don’t blame the Blueshirts’ brass for that either – as “The Feckless Finn” was the consensus second-overall pick of his draft.
He just never performed.
Maybe he has a ceiling akin to another former high-end Rangers’ pick, Manny Maholtra.
Heck, maybe he shatters that ceiling and goes on to score 9867986766796968696876 goals in his career.
But what I do know is this – it just never was going to work out for him in the high-pressure cooker city of New York.
And there’s a reason why two different head coaches scratched him during a do-or-die Eastern Conference Final Game (Gallant and Laviolette) – and where a third coach also scratched him during his stay too (David Quinn).
These two players were the first to shatter a core that’s no more – and where hopefully – Zibanejad will be the next head to roll.

INCOMPLETE
I’ve already talked about Brett Berard, who is now in Hartford. The man called-up in his return, Bo Groulx, has yet to play.
Louie Domingue played well enough to beat the worst team in the league (Chicago) when CZAR IGOR was injured.
Arthur Kaliyev, acquired via the waiver wire, was a mistake in my opinion – as the Rangers had already gone through their own ordeal with another bust from the 2019 draft.
Furthermore, and the Blueshirts, because of their record, don’t have the luxury to play around with another reclamation project either.
I thought that Victor Mancini had a hot start, but admittedly, he did peter out a bit as the season progressed. That said, and I still believe he has a bright future ahead.
Connor Mackey had a strong two games, including a fight too, but he’ll never be a regular here. Ditto Chad Ruhwedel, who for whatever reason, received games over both Jones and Mancini.
Of course, the biggest elephant in the room is Matt Rempe – and where you can’t explain the Rangers’ decision-making on him either.
For a lightening-rod of a guy who was 16-4-2 with a Presidents’ Trophy winning team last year – and he can’t become a regular this year with one of the worst teams in the league.
But it should be noted that during the Blueshirts’ two best wins of the season (Devils & Knights) and there was #73 in the line-up.
He was also part of a big win against the Stars – and you can ask Miro Heiskanen about this too!
In other words?
In seventeen games that I’ve deemed as “litmus tests” – and the Rangers, 3-14 in these contests – had Rempe on the ice in all three of them.

MANAGEMENT
I’m giving head coach Peter Laviolette a D-, mainly because he lost this team, makes horrible line-up decisions, never adjusted his power-play and has an unhealthy infatuation with Missing Mika’s one-timers to nowhere, while giving his boss, general manager, Chris Drury, an F.
Drury’s biggest failure took place last season.
With a Presidents’ Trophy winner on his hands – and the best he could do was Jack Roslovic, Chad Ruhwedel and Alex Wennberg.
Despite having offers on the table where he could’ve acquired Patrick Kane, Frank Vatrano, Adam Henrique, Radko Gudas and/or Jake Guentzel – and he didn’t want to give up Kaapo Kakko, a first-round pick and/or Brennan Othmann.
Fast-forward to today and after all of his public messes – and he dealt both Trouba and the formerly “untouchable,” Kakko himself.
As a Blueshirts’ historian (buy my books below to learn everything about this franchise), then Drury’s 2024 Trade Deadline will go down as one of the top-five “WHAT IF” questions in Rangers’ history.
Knowing how dear to the heart that Drury values some of these assets, and where he holds them on for far too long as well – then I really don’t have faith in him come this year’s deadline.
As we approach the March 7th trade deadline (we’re only seven-weeks away), then even if the Blueshirts win every game from this point on – then I really don’t know what’s out there for Drury.
After all, I’m on record (going back to the 12/9 loss to Chicago) – I think that the Rangers’ shot at the playoffs are kaput – and even if they defy my line of thinking – then what will they do once there? Get swept by the Panthers or Devils?
(But if they could draw Toronto – then all bets are off!)
From all reports, then it’s Vancouver that Drury is looking to do business with – and either for J.T. Miller or Elias Pettersson.
But to make a trade work, then you kind of need to include Zibanejad’s contract in such a proposal – and where it sounds like Mika wants no part of joining a club with the worst travel schedule in the league – and a city that’s 3,000 miles away from his home – and in another country to boot.
Drury could also look to Boston – but what’s the return there?
I don’t see Brad Marchand coming to New York – an Esposito 2.0 move – and with Kreider starring in the role of Jean Ratelle.
If the Bruins are the team that Drury trades with, then it’s probably when the Rangers are out of it – as sellers – and not as buyers.
In short (easy for me to say), then I just don’t see who is realistically out there that could become the Blueshirts’ missing piece to a Stanley Cup puzzle – and where the present state of the franchise is more puzzling than ever before too.
I’ve talked a lot about the standings in previous blogs this month – where to recap what I’ve already said – then not only are there a lot of teams that the Rangers need to jump – and teams that desperately need to end playoff droughts too (Ottawa, Detroit, Montreal, etc) – but as a result – and the sellers should come out like bandits.
My point?
Even if there is someone out there that could motor this team to the playoffs and beyond – then the Blueshirts will have to pay a hefty price because of the competition.
Drury, in his four-years, has shown us that he’s not willing to pay such a price.

Up Next For The Rangers: Tuesday night in Denver – but where hey – they won’t have to worry about Alex Georgiev!
Instead, it’s former Devil goalies!
Up Next For Me: Holy shit, I have to be up for work in three-hours!
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!
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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