Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. Don’t let the Blueshirts ruin your holidays.
After all, the Rangers have never ruined Chris Drury’s Christmas – and these days – I’m sure that he’s regretting that infamous quote from 2008 too!
Then again, maybe he’s not!
The Rangers are now at a point, where similar to the New York Jets, they not only find new ways to lose with each passing game – but just when you think that they’ve hit the last floor of rock bottom – they then pull out the dynamite and implode themselves down to an even farther level of “sucktitude.”
Granted, while the Devils are currently the top-overall team of the Eastern Conference; then regardless of that fact, and Monday’s 5-0 loss in the latest chapter of the Battle of The Hudson may have been the worst of the lot for the 16-17-1 2024-25 Rangers – and where I don’t have to remind anyone – this is the same franchise that won the Presidents’ Trophy last season – and then found themselves two wins shy of reaching the Stanley Cup Final afterwards.
I also don’t think that I have to remind you of what I said following the Rangers’ six-game Eastern Conference loss to the Florida Panthers, as I’ve said it about a zillion times since, but what’s a zillion-and-one?
Here’s your refresher:
“The 2024 Eastern Conference Final loss will go down as the peak of this present core.”
Such words have never rung more true – and with captain Jacob Trouba gone, and to a lesser extent, both Barclay Goodrow and Kaapo Kakko removed too – that former opinion of mine, from June of ’24, is now a concrete fact as we enter the 2024 Christmas/Holiday break.
The Paper Tiger Rangers, who opened up the season at 12-4-1 by beating a bunch of bad teams (three wins against nowhere Detroit, two more against last place Montreal), had their world rocked for the first time during Game 7 of this 82-game campaign, when they dropped a 3-1 decision, at home, to the team that eliminated them from the playoffs some four months earlier, the Panthers.
For a team that’s now presently 1-11 in matches that I deem as “litmus test games” (games against teams that were playoff contenders last year and this year – and with the Toronto Maple Leafs as the lone exception – as after all – they are bigger pretender than the Rangers themselves); but that October 24th loss to the big bad Cats of Sunrise, and now with the benefit of hindsight, was the beginning of the end.
The Blueshirts entered that game against Florida with a record of 5-0-1, and where only a crazy and fluky home opener overtime loss to the former Coyotes, the Utah Hockey Club of today, was the only black mark on their record.
It can not be understated how brutal that loss to Florida was.
As I even said at the time (https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/102424/ ), the Rangers looked listless and were exposed – and for a team that you thought would be seeking revenge against a group that ruined all of their dreams just four months earlier – such an idea was never on the table for this alas-woe-is-me club.
It’s tough to really know, or at least with a degree of 100% certainty, if Florida’s excellence against the Rangers wound up becoming “How To Beat the Blueshirts Blueprint” or not for the other thirty teams in the league – but at the very least – you can’t rule out such a theory today.
Ever since that loss, and really, the ECF series too, and it’s become obvious – the Rangers, and despite some of the player ages on this roster, have become entitled millennials.
What I mean by that, is that if things don’t come easy, then the Blueshirts will fold like a cheap suit – and akin to that burgundy mess that Sieve Vagistat usually wears on the M$GN pregame shows.
Look no further to the Rangers’ record whenever entering a third period trailing for the evidence, which after the loss to the Devils, now stands at 0-15.
In addition, and the Rangers have surrendered the opening goal in most of these games too – and where more times than not, as in what feels like 99.9% of the time – if the opponent scores first, then you know who will emerge victorious come the final horn – and it’s not the Blueshirts.
As all of the losing compiled, then there were numerous “ROCK BOTTOM” points that the Rangers hit, where once hitting them, then you thought, “well, there’s nowhere else to go but up.”
These 2024-25 Blueshirts have defied that idea too.
The first “ROCK BOTTOM” moment for the Rangers is when they got blown out on home ice, 6-1, to a Buffalo Sabres team, that after this win, then went on a thirteen game losing streak – and a streak that was just snapped on December 23rd, following the Sabres’ 7-1 road win against the nomadic Islanders.
But even the Isles taking their worst loss of the season isn’t a silver lining for Ranger fans anymore.
After all, with all 32-teams now idle until Friday, December 27th, and both the Rangers & Islanders sit last place in the division with 33-points a piece – and where only because “baby brother” has played one more game (35) than the 34 games played Blueshirts – it’s the Islanders that stand (or sit – or maybe “lie” works better) as the worst team in the Metro.
Speaking of the standings; the Rangers, following Monday’s matinee where they were embarrassed again, this time to a tune of 5-0, are now ten-points out from the third-seed in the division (Carolina, 43 points), while also five-points back of the second wild-card (Ottawa, 38 points).
Equally as crazy?
The Rangers are only five-points ahead of the worst team in the Eastern Conference, the 28-point Buffalo Sabres, and only seven-points ahead of the worst team in the entire league today, the 26-point Chicago Blackhawks.
As former Indianapolis Colts head coach, Jim Mora, once made famous, I ask you now, “PLAYOFFS?”
Rather than that, and instead, I’m checking Tankathon.com for the top-ten consensus picks of the upcoming 2025 NHL Entry Draft:
The Blueshirts, after suffering what was then their “WORST LOSS OF THE SEASON” to Buffalo, and where as you already know, about a dozen or so candidates for this distinction soon followed, talked big when they entered Detroit on November 9th – and in a game that I attended too (full report here: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/111124/ ).
The Rangers prevailed in Motown that day, by a 4-0 final – but it was also clear that for all of their boisterous, yet hollow, words – that nothing had changed.
Once again, it was a goaltender having one of the best games of his life, a staple of this franchise during its near 100-years of existence, as the lone reason why the Rangers took two-points from their opponent.
The Blueshirts, after breaking, then setting, many positive winning franchise records last season, have done a complete 180, a polar opposite, this year.
Not only did they lose five-games in a row for the first time in years, and as they did in matches played both prior and after Thanksgiving; but come December, the Blueshirts actually found a way to lose to the then worst team in the league, and as they did when they lost on home ice to the Blackhawks 2-1 on December 9th – and as they did again just eight-days later when they were shut-out, 2-0, by the then eight-win Nashville Predators.
You would think going 0-10 at the time in litmus test games and losing to the three worst teams in the league, Buffalo, Chicago and Nashville would be rock bottom.
But you’d be wrong.
Of course, and sandwiched in-between all of this was a very public contract negotiation between the team’s best player, goaltender CZAR IGOR and the club’s GM, Chris Drury; Drury’s words now forever known as “THE MEMO;” the trade of captain Jacob Trouba; and of course, the deportation of the franchise’s second-overall pick of the 2019 NHL Draft, Kaapo Kakko.
In game one of “THE POST KAKKO ERA,” and the Rangers were very fortunate when they drew a flu-ridden Dallas Stars club. The Blueshirts survived that game, 3-1 – but due to the illnesses in Texas – and you couldn’t really feel good about the Blueshirts winning their first litmus test game of the season.
After all, two more were to follow, in a pair of pre-Christmas matinees, four-point swings in the standings too, against the Hurricanes and Devils.
And have I mentioned yet that the Rangers haven’t strung two wins in a row since Veteran’s Day?
Following a 3-1 loss to the Canes, then Monday’s 5-0 drub job sustained by the hands of the red-and-black attack – and we can safely say that the win against Dallas meant NOTHING.
And while who knows how much undiscovered “ROCK BOTTOM” earth that’s still left to sink into; we can also, and with confidence, state that the Rangers have never been worse.
Put it this way:
I was talking to my good pal, “The Maven,” Stan Fischler, and we both agreed – this is the worst that the Rangers have ever looked in franchise history ever since the days of World War II – and only because the team was decimated and devoid of all talent, due to the war.
Not even the Dark Ages (1998-2004) can compare to what’s going on right now.
Unlike the “Dark Age Era,” then you still had the good vibes and remnants in you following the 54-year drought being rained upon in 1994.
Furthermore, you also had true heroes, now proven winners, the core players of the 1994 team, still hanging around, including the 2000 return of Mark Messier – one of the most beloved players in franchise history – if not the most beloved Blueshirt of all-time.
To be fair, while there’s always a recency bias whenever making a grand statement like this; at the same time, I also believe that social media, the 24/7 news-cycle and the fact that franchise is now on a thirty-plus-years Cup drought only intensifies things.
Plus, while there were expectations for those teams under both Neil Smith and Glen Sather – such expectations were never as high as they were when this team entered the 2024-25 season.
After all, none of those late 1990s-early 2000s teams were coming off a Presidents’ Trophy win.
There’s a lot more that I want to get into tonight, including our annual “SANTA WISH LIST” for every Ranger, thoughts on the team itself, what to do next, potential trades and of course, some light commentary on Monday’s 5-0 loss.
But before getting there, let’s get usual segment out of the way first – the now amended daily disclaimer.
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, thirty-four down, forty-eight 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?
I still wouldn’t bet on it.
In case you missed it, then here’s where I last left off – another failed litmus test game:
I’m not going to waste my time, nor yours either, by giving you a blow-by-blow recount of Monday’s loss.
After all, such a defeat is now dated, and furthermore, you don’t want to relive it again either.
However, and for the sake of posterity, then here’s the box score and stats from the game:
SCORING:
PENALTIES:
TEAM STATS:
GOALIES:
|
NYR
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 29 | 5 | 24 | .828 | 16 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 59:48 | 0 |
|
NJD
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 12 | 0 | 12 | 1.000 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 60:00 | 0 |
If you want some running commentary from Monday’s game, then I did provide some of it while at the bar, and where you can find all of it here: https://x.com/NYCTheMiC
But for the purpose of this blog, let’s just keep it to the things that you need to know – and what stuck out to me too.
And away we go.
Obviously, the big news, both before-and-after the game, was that Laviolette took the advice from his former player, Kaapo Kakko – and as he did when he scratched a veteran – and rather than a young player as he usually does (and in all of his previous pre-Ranger stops too).
However, and despite it being clear as day that the useless third-line center, the $8.5M Mental Mika, has been the biggest Blueshirts’ problem in all of the land – then it was Mika’s hugging buddy, the longest-tenured Ranger at that, Christopher James Kreider, that had the day off.
I don’t get it.
For the 79867986867867896786th time this season, then I ask you this:
What more does Laviolette need to see?
Not only was Mika out there during four separate power-play failures (0-4), but while some of his man-advantage time was decreased, he still logged 3:07 of all-out nothingness.
While Laviolette didn’t speak about his decision prior to the game, following the loss and the idiotic bench boss said this:
“At the end of the day, we’re not playing a brand [of hockey] that we need to play in order to be successful. He’s a guy that we count on to help deliver that. For me, those conversations aren’t easy, but that’s the decision that I made today.”
Lavy, when asked if he was trying to send messages, added, “If I have messages for the rest of the room, then I’ll tell them myself.”
It’s time for Lavy to have a conversation with Mika – and then send Mika a message too!
The Kreider scratch only added to the rampant speculation about his future, as not only was his name leaked in Drury’s memo from a month ago, but ESPN is also currently reporting that CK20, and his friendly contract, is being shopped around – and with the Boston Bruins as the most likely suitor.
(For those who don’t know, then Kreider was born thirty-minutes outside of Boston, Boxford, MA to be specific, and also played three years of collegiate hockey at Boston College. In turn, it’s now presumed that Boston would be one of the teams that he’d be willing to accept a trade to.)
There have been various trade rumors bantered about, but where in a page and a flashback out of 1975 – it’s a potential Kreider for Brad Marchand (a soon-to-be UFA) swap that’s getting the most steam.
There’s also been package talks featuring K’Andre Miller and/or Ryan Lindgren included, and in exchange for Trent Frederic and draft picks.
We’ll see where it goes – but it would be ironic if Lindgren & Marchand were included in the same trade – and especially after what “The Rat” said about the former Bruin prospect following his first game played against him.
After all, who can forget about this bad photoshop:
I’m on record – I don’t want to see Kreider traded.
But if that’s the route the general manger goes down – then it’s hard to argue against it too – as because of his friendly contract – then Kreider would bring the most value back in a return – and especially if the word REBUILD, and not RETOOL, becomes the focus in New York.
For what it’s worth, and Kreider, following his name being leaked in Drury’s memo, publicly made mention of his poor back and injury issues – and in what’s thought to be a strategy in order to disinterest and sway away potential suitors of his services.
Perhaps such back ailments led to his scratch on Monday – but I’m of the opinion that this was more of a case of Lavy being a clown – and also as a way to “bubble wrap” Kreider ahead of the NHL trade freeze which will be thawed this Friday.
I just can’t envision a scenario where Kreider would ask out against the Devils of all teams – and one that he usually has success against too.
And as mentioned, while Kreider hasn’t exactly been excellent this season – and similar to Kakko, Brodzinski, Jones, Mancini, Smith, Vesey and others like them who were previously scratched this season – when Mika still remains in the line-up – then no positive message is being sent, nor is anyone really being held accountable here either.
As briefly discussed above, but now fully explained here, then this loss was another ROCK BOTTOM moment for the Rangers – and the lowest of them all too.
This was a wire-to-wire MASSACRE of the Blueshirts – and where the Devils took their souls and then sent them straight to hell too.
To illustrate how bad it was, then not only did the Rangers’ elite, tops-in-the-league, penalty kill go 0-3 (they ultimately finished 1-4 – but only because Devils’ head coach, Sheldon Keefe, skated the bottom of his line-up during a late power-play with 4:00 remaining in regulation – and with the score already 5-0 at the time too); but all across the land – and the Devils were owning the Rangers every which way.
For instance, during the one-sided affair, and the Devils were airing videos of Ranger fans celebrating Kaapo Kakko’s draft selection from 2019 – where at this point of the game – the first overall pick of that draft, Hughes himself, had already notched three-points, via his two goals, one assist, showing.
The Devils’ social media account on Twitter/X, also had their good fun at the Rangers’ expense too (and no – I don’t blame them for taking their victory lap either – they earned it):
It’s because I play IG hockey, isn’t it? pic.twitter.com/Y3xvz9ZgBy
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) December 23, 2024
Safe travels across the Hudson. pic.twitter.com/0zgZbQ47E1
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) December 23, 2024
While many hockey purists and reporters – and Ranger fans too, took a deep offense against the Devils’ Twitter/X team – perhaps they should have solely taken out their frustrations on their favorite team instead.
After all, the Rangers set a franchise low for shots on goal (SOG first tracked in 1955) with a paltry dozen of them on Monday.
And for a team that just routinely gives up, then it was no surprise that the SOG period totals lessened by each twenty-minute segment played, as after mustering up five shots in the first period, the Rangers then only added four more in the second stanza, then three more during the final frame – and again – the Blueshirts had four power-plays too!
This is unacceptable – but Mika won’t be held accountable.
And nothing against Jacob Markstrom – but this was the easiest game of his life – and by far – the easiest shutout that he ever recorded in his career too.
If there’s any silver lining to be taken away from this, then it’s the fact that the Devils, and much like the rest of the hockey world, are exposing that seven-foot shithead, Sieve Vagistat, as the worst ANALyst of all-time.
For “Mr. Instagram Hockey,” it’s nice to see this smug fool get his comeuppance – and as noted about 987678679868796987 times in the past on this site – how he still has a job with M$GN is beyond me – and where I’m led to believe that he has some sort of blackmail on one of the M$GN powers-to-be.
After all, who else in their right mind would hire a moron that not only was the worst back-up goalie in franchise history, but who just self-promotes his made-up stat company for thirty-minutes straight – and a service that no other team, broadcast or league entity uses today?
But when slammin’ on Vagistat is the only good thing to come out of this – then that tells you all that you need to know.
After all, kicking the Rangers when they were down wasn’t just exclusive to the Devils’ social media team – as there were a ton of incidents that transpired both during and after the game between fan bases on either side of the river – and where quite frankly – I was disgusted by all of it.
Case in point, then take a look at this:
— ShestyOwnz (@shestyownz) December 24, 2024
The original video of this Devils’ fan throwing water on a young child was posted on Twitter/X by user @BrianF121 – and as this undoctored image proves to you:
Following Brian posting this video, then he was doxxed by Ranger fans, as his home address and phone number were soon leaked on Twitter.
I’m not going to share that information here (you can find it very easily by going on Twitter and searching for this story), because one, I’m not the police, and two, it would be illegal for me to do so.
But with the information now out there, and assuming that this wasn’t just a stunt between two males who share the same blood, then this was an assault – and with visual evidence shared to the police by the idiot who committed the crime too.
This assault or ploy, was then followed up with multiple videos of fans brawling with one another in the building.
Again, and as I always say on this site – these millionaire athletes don’t go down to your job and fight over what you and your co-workers do – so why are you fighting over what they do?
Plus, it’s nearly freakin’ Christmas – and this is what you’re doing?
Such face-to-face confrontations were only rivaled by “TWITTER BEEFS,” as you had notorious Devils’ season ticket holder, @TheBrattPack63, and “Ranger Influencer,” @NYRLouie, challenging one each other to fights and getting really nasty & personal – and if you want all of it – then just check out this thread:
Lmaooo bro, be so for real
— NYR Louie ™️ (@NYRLouie) December 24, 2024
To be fair, Louie had the calmer head of everyone involved, as he even said that he wasn’t going to fight over what athletes were doing – and where afterwards – he announced his departure from social media throughout the holiday season.
Mr. Bratt Pack, and his fellow Devil brethren, after issuing physical challenges (including one where Bratt Pack challenged Sieve Vagistat to a fight – and much like the Jake Paul v. Mike Tyson freak fight – I’d pay to see this – and I’d be rooting for Bratt Pack to win too!), then deleted most of their tweets on Tuesday morning – and where I’m to presume – once sobering up.
After all, their words, which were most likely screen-shotted anyway, would create legal troubles for them should they ever be followed through, as with what they said, it would be considered as premeditated violence.
And while I’m all for the chirping and talking shit – attacking kids and threatening to kill someone over Twitter is just ridiculous – and completely unwarranted.
But I only share this to tell you how bad of a day it was in Rangerstown, USA – as not only was the team taking it from all comers – but so were the fans – including young children.
However, I do want to add the following, and as someone who has visited 28 NHL cities and who has also attended numerous games in New Jersey, Philadelphia and on Long Island where the Rangers were the visitor.
I’ve never had an issue.
Not one fight. Not a threat. Nothing.
I’m not alleging to be a tough guy here, as after all, I’m an old-man with a beer belly now 42-years-old preserved too – but a lot of these crazy situations can be avoided.
During my years of watching the Rangers on the road, and while I’ve seen a ton of fights break out (especially in the late 1990s at the Nassau Coliseum); the highest-level that I’ve ever been involved with is some light ribbing – and usually at the bathroom line when boozed-up fans are at their mouthiest.
Free advice?
Should you ever find yourself in a situation, then just tell your agitator, “hey, I root for Team USA too – and yes – I know that the Rangers suck!”
Note: This advice many not work out in Canada – and where the closest I ever got involved with some dumb nonsense was at a Montreal bar following Chris Kreider taking out Carey Price during the 2014 ECF.
As told before in this space, then while imbibing at this local Montreal watering hole, four huge Inuits, who looked like four Samoans out of the Roman Reigns blood line, weren’t exactly keen on yours truly, and my pal, Ten O’Clock Tommy, wearing #20 jerseys.
Rather than seeing where this was would end up; instead, we paid our tab and then went to one of the other 96786798679867986879 bars in town.
Some may call this “pussy behavior,” but in a foreign country – and it just wasn’t worth it – that is – unless Kreider is going to come down to my job and start wailing on some of the people that I don’t like at work!
It’s stuff like this, and let’s not forget what the expectations were this season either, that only gives more fuel to the fire that this is the worst period of Rangers’ hockey since the days when Adolf Hitler was on this planet.
But at least those war-time Rangers had an excuse – they were fighting Nazis.
What’s the excuse today? The GM hurt their feelings?
As far as anything else from the game before pressing on, then the following:
— It was nice to hear Sam and Joe actually call out the Rangers – and rather than fawning over their opponent as they usually do. Micheletti was screaming about how bad the defense was and how they were letting down Quick all game. Rosen was incensed about the lack of effort too.
— The Rangers took inexcusable penalties. They were boxed twice for too many men on the ice, which I feel is the end result of all of Lavy’s line blendering – and a general overall lack of focus too.
— Lafreniere has sure turned into a fat cat, huh? Ever since receiving his contract extension which will make him a $7M+ player annually – and he only has one goal scored in that time.
— It was nice to see Trocheck and Carrick drop the gloves – but not even two fights could spark this sorry sack of losers.
— Mika still sucks.
— Special Teams Swing games and the Rangers went 0-7 – not including the bullshit kill they got at the end of the matcdh following a merciful decision from Keefe.
— Panarin had another pointless game – and for the team’s best skater – he only registered one SOG – when the score was already 5-0.
— Despite all of their bravado during their interviews, and make no bones about it – THERE WAS NOT ONE SILVER LINING TO TAKE OUT OF THIS GAME.
— Last but not least? This was the end of the road. There’s no coming back from this.
With the Rangers much closer to a first-overall pick than a division playoff seed, then I ask you the following:
If you were to win the lottery, the powerball, the whatever today, and where in turn, James Dolan then sold the team to you prior to the first day of 2025, then if winning the Stanley Cup was still your goal for June of ’25, then what moves would you make?
For me, in this hypothetical and never-will-happen situation, then of course, and in my first move, I’d employ all of my ideas from my first book (plugged below) – and not only create a Rangers’ Rink of Honor – but retire the many names & numbers, including Frank Boucher, the Cook brothers, Ching Johnson, Ron Greschner, Emile Francis, and others, and where all of them would receive banners in the rafters of M$G.
After that, I’d take a deep look at the state of this roster as presently constructed today – and then realize, and as I’m doing right now, that there’s no way that this team can win the Cup this year.
Yeah, we can fire both Chris Drury and Peter Laviolette, and force Mika’s hand too by telling him that he’s played his last game in the NHL unless he’s willing to waive his NMC; but even if you do all of that, then what’s realistically out there?
For starters, the Rangers aren’t even a playoff team, nor have a history flourished with Stanley Cups to their names either.
In other words, what other players in the league with NMC’s and NTC’s would even be willing to waive their parameters of their contracts to join the Rangers?
Don’t forget, not only are the Rangers losers, but they play in the city with the most state income taxes too.
Sidney Crosby and Brady Tkachuk you may ask, two names rumored to the Rangers earlier this season – and forever as weak as those legs in those rumors were?
Both the Penguins and Senators are ahead of the Rangers in the standings – and why would either player want to leave their comfortable environment for this chaotic hellhole?
Not only do you have to play in NYC – but you now have to avoid being set on fire too.
Advice to everyone: Stay out of the lawless Subways!
Outside of Kreider, whose value probably isn’t as grand as we all think it is, then what are you really going to get back in return?
The one player that would provide the biggest return is CZAR IGOR – and who can still be dealt before his new contract kicks in.
But even then, and yes, you can find cheaper goalies for the same production, then where does that leave the Rangers?
Rather than losing 5-0, 4-1, etc; instead, you run the risk of losing 10-0, 8-2, etc.
As I write these words, and as I’m looking at this roster and what’s potentially out there – and I don’t see a “quick fix” – nor a series of moves that could get this team over the hump either.
That’s why I go back to what I said following the 2024 ECF loss – that was the peak.
While at the start of the season, I thought that Panarin would be a lock to receive a new deal – and now I’m not so sure about that either.
If the Rangers can completely bottom out, which would really say something with who’s on the roster, then you wouldn’t want an aging star to take away time from a top pick – and man, oh man – don’t we all know this repetitive story all too well?
For this team to get over the hump and improve matters, then it has to come from within.
There are players in this league that could turn things around for the Rangers at the drop of the hat, but guys like Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Nate MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Matthew Tkachuk, and others like them, are not available.
Trading lost causes for lost causes isn’t going to work.
Similar to 2025 playoff hopes – and it’s now time to give up thoughts on a retool too.
A rebuild is the only way – and if that’s the route that Dolan allows his brain-trust to go down, then at least losing would be easier to swallow.
Today, and all of the losing is equally as unacceptable as it is pathetic.
I mean, this team doesn’t even show up for games, much less stay competitive during them.
Not only are they getting blown out repeatedly during effortless showings, but they are now getting shutout too – twice in the last four games – and where this team has rarely been shutout ever since Panarin came into town.
Simply put: There are just way too many leaks, too many holes and an even more amount of passengers, and to think that there’s a magic wand that the GM can wave, or a team that a new head coach can save, is just futile.
As we close out this morbid manifesto, then at this time, and as I vent all negativity from my system (but such feelings shall return once the Rangers resume play), then let’s take a gander at my CHRISTMAS WISH LIST for every Blueshirt on the roster – and where feel free to sound off in the comments with some gifts of your own too!
THE 2024-25 RANGERS CHRISTMAS WISH LIST
Brett Berard: All tickets to Hartford ripped-up – and a full-time varsity roster spot from this point on – and beyond. Get this kid a lease on a NYC apartment, pronto!
Will Borgen: No more shifts with Missing Mika – as every minus next to his name in his limited amount of games played thus far have been incurred whenever #93 is out there with him.
Jonny Brodzinski: A regular NHL paycheck for the remainder of the season, even if it’s only as a spare forward – then a new residence come the 2025-26 season.
Sam Carrick: More respect, as the fourth-line center is one of the rare players to not only have played well this season, but to have shown effort during each shift that he takes too.
Filip Chytil: A CTE pill – and a helmet that guarantees full protection from concussions too. He can play when he’s not running the risk of injury – but sadly – these risks will follow him throughout both his career and lifetime.
Will Cuylle: A new contract extension – and a letter affixed to his jersey too – and if it’s not the “C,” then the “A” from Zibanejad’s sweater should be ripped off and then sewn onto the front of the #50 jersey.
Adam Edstrom: A contract extension too and some finish for all of his drives to the net.
Adam Fox: A trip to the fountain of youth where he can revisit his injury-free 2021 Norris Trophy winning season. These days, and there’s something to be said about Fox’s only Norris win taking place during a 56-game COVID-19 season – and where he only had to play the same seven teams too. Simply put: One ENG in 34 games played is nowhere near Norris caliber.
Zac Jones: A trade to a better situation. Despite working hard, taking undeserved raps to the knuckles and now being benched by his head coach, it’s time for him to get out of here before it’s too late.
Chris Kreider: One more renaissance – and if not – a trade to a contender. Similar to former Rangers and his past teammates, players such as Ryan McDonagh, Mats Zuccarello, Dan Girardi, Ryan Callahan, J.T. Miller, Marc Staal and even Henrik Lundqvist, who never got a chance in Washington because of his heart condition – and every heart that pumps Blueshirts’ blood will be rooting for him to win a Stanley Cup should he be traded elsewhere.
Alexis Lafreniere: Someone to give him the “Men in Black” treatment – and by zapping his brain in order to forget that he already received a new contract. The first-overall pick needs to go back to playing as if he’s playing for a new deal – as prior to his extension, his past 100-games played were inspiring.
Ryan Lindgren: A health bar rejuvenated – and as if he was a video game character. Sadly, all of the wear-and-tear, blood-and-guts & duct tape-and-gum have already diminished a player that’s only 26-years-old. Even a fellow “Iron Man,” a warrior type, Dan Girardi, had a longer prime before all of the damage incurred led to his decline.
Victor Mancini: No more returns to New York this season. The ping-pong usage of Mancini does him no favors, and at this point, you don’t want to poison this promising prospect with this nuclear bomb of a team.
K’Andre Miller: A one-way ticket out of town. Maybe he’ll find his game elsewhere, but he won’t find it here.
Artemi Panarin: One more Hart Trophy contending season for the greatest free agent signing in franchise history – but one that’s been unable to pull this terrible team out of the muck. He’s become an ox trying to drag a cholera-full crew down the Oregon Trail.
Jonathan Quick: For his teammates to care as much as he does. The future Hall of Famer and three-time Cup champ is usually the best player on the ice during most of his starts – and his will to win is rarely reciprocated. Perhaps he should bottle-up whatever springs he can find from the Fountain of Youth that he cannon-balled into before signing with his boyhood team.
Matt Rempe: A clean slate. Today, and it feels like all of his suspensions and hopeful appeals following them are fixed trials – and as commanded by Gary Bettman and Co. It also doesn’t help that both Drury and Lavy have used him this season whenever trying to get a spark, where in a butterfly effect, Rempe then feels forced to go the extra mile, which only takes away from the good that he’s doing. Perhaps with a guaranteed roster spot, and Rempe wouldn’t feel the need to be “noticed,” thus limiting his PIM incurred.
Chad Ruhwedel: A successful retirement.
Braden Schneider: A regular defensive partner – and side of the defense too. For a young player, and he’s flip-flopped from LD to RD as often as one changes their underwear. A never-ending rotation of partners, as if he was a Hunt’s Point prostitute, does him no favors either.
Igor Shesterkin: A trade and a chance to win a Cup when he still can (he only has until July 1st to make it happen) – or forever be doomed as having the same fate as Henrik Lundqvist.
Reilly Smith: A trade to a contender. He shouldn’t be blamed for being the 29th consecutive right-wing to not have success with the BFF connection – and it’s better for him, and his chances of winning a second Stanley Cup as well, to get out of this no-win situation.
Vincent Trocheck: To be named as the 29th captain in franchise history – and to serve the complete term of his contract too – and unlike the three past captains of this club.
Urho Vaakanainen: A trade at the deadline – and hopefully he’ll bring back at least a second-rounder in return! Wishful thinking!
Jimmy Vesey: More playing time. He should not be scratched as often as he is – as the entire fourth line has been the only trio to give it their all whenever they hop over the boards.
Mika Zibanejad: A guilt-free, all-expenses paid, one-way deportation to one of his native countries, Sweden or Iran – and where I hope that Donald Trump then makes the country that takes him back pay for his cap-hit too!
James Dolan: A direct line to Kevin Weekes – who he should have replace Chris Drury as the team’s general manager.
Chris Drury: More time in front of the pizza ovens at his Colony Grill chain of restaurants.
Peter Laviolette: Another stop in the Metro division – and after Joel Quenneville is named as 38th head coach in franchise history.
Ranger fans: One more Stanley Cup win in their lifetime – and where try to take care of your health – as it may be a while.
As we go home here, then I have to share this video that Pauly Donatone made – as P.D. recorded Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider celebrating Christmas.
Enjoy:
I have no clue who made this, but my friend Pauly sent this to me and I’m in tears lmaoooooo #nyr pic.twitter.com/yNN1Ty6Ywk
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) December 25, 2024
Up Next For All Of Us: Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwaanza, Boxing Day, Ranger Depression – all of it!
Happy whatever you celebrate!
And if you want more Rangers’ themed “Christmas Calamity,” then check out the latest episode of “The Blueshirt Underground Show,” which you can find by clicking the play button below:
The Rangers, following the break, return on Saturday night in Tampa – where “OLD FRIEND” Ryan McDonagh will be there.
So will Jake “What Could’ve Been, But Kakko Was Considered Untouchable” Guentzel.
I also hear that Amazon still offers one-day shipping, which now 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
