Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. This will officially be our last blog dedicated towards this rotten Rangers’ 2024-25 season.
Anything else posted on this site from this point on and moving forward?
Easy.
Welcome to the nether realm – the off-season.
(Ugh.)
Before getting into everything that has transpired during the past 72-hours in Rangerstown, USA (and where yes, and as you already know by now – there will be a new head coach for the 2025-26 – but sadly, and most likely – the same general manager too); then let me first share with you my last entry posted on this site – as it covered everything and anything Blueshirts’ related – and where much like this franchise today – then I don’t want to be in “repeat-mode” again all-night – and where even if that I’ll admittedly be forced to play some of my “Greatest Hits” too:
The 2024-25 New York Rangers Final Report Card: Grades & Reviews of Every Blueshirt; “Keep ‘Em or Lose ‘Em” Moving Forward, NYR/TBL 4/17 Season Finale Review; First Star Sam Rosen Retires On A High Note, Artemi Panarin Accused of Sexual Assault Again (But Why You Shouldn’t Buy These Allegations Despite His No Comment Defense), 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs Preview & Predictions (A Ryan Will Win The Cup!), What’s Next & More
Off puck-drop, then I do know that I’m several days late when covering this news in regards to Drury’s firing of Laviolette.
But as mentioned last time around – then I wasn’t going to allow this terrible team to mar anymore of my weekend/free-time plans.
What I meant by that is that I wasn’t going to allow this correct decision, albeit, a very overdue one, to ruin my Wrestlemania festivities – nor a day out with my nieces!
And with a long summer ahead – then at least that I’m here now!
(Plus, I already covered most of this news on my Tweeter/X account – and where as always – you can find my real-time Ranger thoughts here: https://x.com/NYCTheMiC )
Drury’s decision to fire Laviolette came to the surprise of no one.
Even people in decade-long comas knew this was coming.
In addition, then not only did I predict that this pink slip was coming for some time now – but so did each and every single one of you.
Heck, forecasting the beheading of the 37th bench boss in franchise history was akin to predicting that you’ll hear fireworks on the Fourth of July.
While admittedly, there were a few doubters about this day that would finally become fact; but for these folks – then they always shared this disclaimer, a preface if you will, about their opinions on this topic:
“Firing Laviolette would make Drury look bad – as after all, how many chances will he get?”
Sadly?
Then as I write these words to you right now – and it looks like Drury will get his fourth chance – and after firing three head coaches in four years’ time.
If you’re new here, then let me be straight with you:
I hated the Laviolette hiring from day one.
Furthermore, and for the newbies, and as my regular readers will also convey to you?
Then more times than not, and perhaps at a 90% success rate – then I’m usually pretty good at predicting everything Rangers.
After all, archives of this site – and social media postings too – don’t lie:
Ahem #nyr https://t.co/t4d01NLtPu
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) April 19, 2025
Ahem #nyr https://t.co/su2P2vqd5E
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) April 19, 2025
The best news about this Lateralette hiring is that expectations are so low, that should they actually do something it will be a surprise. More likely? New GM & HC in two-years as Sather celebrates his 25th anniversary as a Dolan employee. #nyr pic.twitter.com/kRkGzRtJJo
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) June 13, 2023
Been saying for over two years that Mika must go – and while everyone else was crying about Trouba #nyr https://t.co/aWLdTid0NJ
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) April 18, 2025
What would have happened had Drury fired Lavy on this date – and got rid of Mika too? Would #NYR have the run that St. Louis just had? https://t.co/0DzQJFwMzy
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) April 18, 2025
I bring up how I once wanted both Trottier and Sather fired (and that was over twenty-years ago – wow – time flies!), and for one reason only:
Just to show you that I’m not one of these fans/bloggers/pundits/loud-mouths that calls for head coaches to be fired on a regular basis – and as opposed to how many of my peers do.
Just as it was with Tom Renney (2004-09), John Tortorella (2009-13), Alain Vigneault (2013-18), David Quinn (2018-21) – and most recently with Gerard Gallant (2021-23) too – and I never wanted any of these coaches to receive their walking papers.
As explained in the past, and on both this site and in my books, then I think that Renney, Torts, A.V., D.Q. and the Turk all brought something different to the table – and where I also thought that it was the general manager, and the players too, that were more responsible for the team’s playoff failures – and rather than on the behalf of the bench boss himself.
Heck, I think that my “SENILE SATHER” nickname more than speaks to that as well!
This season marked the first time in over two-decades where I actively supported the firing of a Rangers’ head coach.
And just like Glen Sather before him – and this also marked the first time since Jeff Gorton’s firing where I wanted a Rangers’ general manager to get the boot too!
(And I also believe that Drury should be removed as the franchise’s team president too – and where I’m not talking shit here – then I think that I could do a better job than him in this role. After all, this title is more about paying tribute to the past and helping the community – and who pays more time, respect, talks to and writes more books about Ranger legends than yours truly? And give me the money that Drury has access to – and I’ll clean-up and better the community too!)
When it comes to Laviolette’s firing from this past Saturday – then I really don’t know what else that I can say that I haven’t already written on this site.
However, just a few unordered reminders – and in a bullet-point format:
— As opposed to last year – and Laviolette continued to promote optional practices. Rather than installing more mandatory practices with his team floundering – and the head coach was just as guilty as anyone for promoting the “country club” atmosphere.
— A disregard for systems and structure. When Gallant was fired, then all you heard from the know-nothing parrots was how The Turk had no systems whatsoever – and talk that didn’t exist until only after he was booted. Laviolette, in Year 1, talked about systems and structure all the time – and where so much so – that both words lost their meanings because of his over usage. A year removed? And you never heard those words again – much less see either of them deployed on the ice.
— No accountability. Whether it was continuing to use Missing Mika on his PP1 all-year or something else – and the only players to get the short-end of the stick were the young guys. After all, what was Matt Rempe, arguably the team’s most effective and energetic player down the stretch, doing in Hartford during the bulk of the team’s first 41-games? And why were guys like Brett Berard, Brennan Othmann and Gabe “Thanks For The Burnt Year” Perreault regularly scratched when it was blatantly obvious that this team wouldn’t by vying for the Cup this season?
— Never having a feel for what was going on in front of him. This took place all-season. At different points throughout this 2024-25 campaign, and players, even some that I wasn’t personally a fan of (the since-traded Filip Chytil and Kaapo Kakko), and players that I’m extremely fond of (Matt Rempe, Will Cuylle and Jonny Brodzinski), all experienced “heaters.” In each and every single instance – and during one-goal games too – and Laviolette benched all of them – and in favor of his struggling FAT CATS (Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, Artemi Panarin, Vincent Trocheck and Alexis Lafreniere).
— No defensive strategies. This is kind of covered in the “systems” and “structure” segment – and I guess the “accountability” one too – but regardless – and the Rangers looked like chickens with their heads lopped off whenever in their own end all-season.
— Never standing up for his goalies. While granted, there were a few times when Laviolette actually asked for a challenge – but for every time that he did – then there were also at least fifteen-times where he didn’t – and that includes for challenges such as goaltender’s interference, offside, etc – and it also includes not taking timeouts either – and especially when watching his backstops having to make a barrage of saves as the skaters in front of them were in a complete state of deluge.
While you can argue that it was Laviolette’s direct superior – Chris Drury himself – that was both the genesis and crux of all Rangers’ negativity and failures from this season; but at the same time – and Lavy could never get his players to overcome such self-inflicted parameters either.
Rather than standing up and beating all adversity presented – and instead – then it felt like Lavy not only accepted all-perceived negativity – but also allowed it to fester too.
Again, while I never wanted the retread “Lateralette” here in the first-place (and again – I was proven 100% correct – and as I have been so many times before with my Blueshirt prognostications) – and where for new readers – then yes, “Lateralette” is solely a shot at the FAT CATS – as no head coach can save these bank-robbers; but to solely finger-point him as the biggest problem of this team is incorrect.
It starts at the top.
It sinks to the bottom too.
But since Dolan doesn’t really have many hockey connects, and since no-move clauses are iron-clad too – then it’s always easier to bad-mouth-and-fire the head coach – and rather to share the blame equally.
But of course – and Lateralette had his faults – and plenty of them – as well.
However, and as of this writing – then he’s the only one getting singled-out here – and that’s not fair either.
Drury must go.
Ditto the core too.
Officially, then here’s how the Rangers announced Lateralette’s termination, and courtesy of https://www.nhl.com/rangers/news/rangers-announce-coaching-changes:
New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury announced today that he has relieved head coach Peter Laviolette and associate head coach Phil Housley of their duties.
For Laviolette, and where this job most certainly took its toll on him – then he hasn’t commented yet about his firing.
As it was for Gerard Gallant two-years ago – and not one member of the Blueshirts’ bird-brain beat has reached out to him for a comment.
Speaking of – then the next time that “The Turk” talks about his Rangers’ tenure – then it will have become the first time when he’s done so – as not one member of the worst crop of reporters in franchise history has ever spoken to him ever since his termination – and where as a reminder – then the news of his firing was broken in Toronto (Elliotte Friedman, SportsNet) – and not in New York.
This time around – and it were the Rangers who broke this news themselves – and as Wince Mercogliano’s tweet, which was posted above, tells you.
Seriously speaking here?
The Rangers have fired two-coaches during the past two-years – and not one beat reporter thinks to speak to that man for his side of the story?
It’s no wonder why Chris “ZOOM ZOOM” Drury speaks exclusively only to them – as he knows where his bread is buttered.
Immediately after the firing, and the worst captain in franchise history, and a man who is also presently in the running for worst general manager and team president in Rangers’ history too, Chris Drury, spoke about his decision.
But alas, and as is always the case – and “Cowardly Chris” would not talk to Blueshirt backers – nor the rubes who pony up the big bucks for Rangers’ season tickets either.
Instead, and the yellow-backed man of two titles only spoke to the clowns that currently compromise the weak pool of the Rangers’ beat reporters of today – and via his favorite medium – ZOOM.
In other words, then Drury, who works for an organization that has three cable channels, a YouTube account, multiple social media outlets and a growing app (Gotham Sports), decided to blow off all of these mediums – and by opting for softball questions from a beat that acquiesces to all of his requests.
And while we’ll get into the Blueshirts’ break-up day in just a bit – and the same strategy was applied here too.
However, and to be fair, then once the day was over – and all of the player exit interviews (but only after being edited) did appear on YouTube.
The NHL has 32-teams in their league.
Only the Rangers handle these days and events in this manner – as everyone else airs all of this stuff live and in living color.
Just remember this the next time when they ask you to purchase season tickets – as they don’t give one shit about you.
Drury, whose biggest offense is what I said it was in real-time (not doing anything of use during his “WIN NOW” 2024 Trade Deadline), must require anxiety pills in exchange for any real information about this team.
(Anxiety Pills/Panarin Joke Credit: The always illuminating @PuckerUp13 on Tweeter/X)
While we’ll talk about potential 38th head coaching candidates in franchise history in just a bit; but take a look at what former Ranger, and a previous Stanley Cup champion too (with New Jersey – UGH), had to say following Lateralette’s firing:
Gee, wonder who has been saying this for two years now! Now a cup champ is saying it! #nyr https://t.co/U0GpWmrZPo
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) April 19, 2025
As I was wondering if Missing Mika was going to send Lateralette an Easter Gift basket – which would have been ironic too, considering that the dumbass head coach put all of his power-play eggs in the failed $8.5M center’s basket this season; then here’s what Drury told his state media reporters on Saturday:
(Begrudgingly, then all credit for these quotes goes to every single member of the birdbrain beat – as none of this interview was shared to the public – and what a way to build up a positive repertoire with your fan base too. Team President – what a joke!)
(Drury’s quotes are in italics. My remarks are in bold.)
“Leading into the season, and given the success that we had the last few years, then we had high expectations.”
What success?
You bombed, and BIGLY at that, during your past three playoff runs.
Furthermore, and Drury effed up the biggest moment of his front office career – and as he did during the 2024 Trade Deadline.
And expectations?
I was the only one telling you, and going all the way back to August of ’24, that this team was going nowhere.
Heck, then how many times did I write on this site, “the 2024 ECF loss will be considered as the peak of this core.” A thousand? A million? A billion?
“Quite simply, we fell short across the board. Nobody here takes it lightly. We know our fans are frustrated and they deserve a better season than this. It starts with me. I need to do a better job and give the staff and players the opportunity to succeed. And while ultimately, I made the decision a new voice was needed behind the bench, everyone here — players, management, staff — need to take ownership of this season and will be having direct, honest conversations during exit meetings on Monday about what our expectations are for the summer and moving forward, getting ready for next season.”
If it starts with Drury, and as he even admitted – then why hasn’t he tendered a letter of resignation yet?
He wasted prime years of many players this season – while also stunting the development of others.
And what’s Dolan thinking?
His top employee is telling you that he messed up again – yet he still gets another crack at it – and to spend more of Dolan’s money by having two coaches on the payroll again?
[On his own future with the franchise]:
“I’m not going to get into personal, private conversations I have with Mr. D.
“I can tell you that my focus is on doing what I think is right to make this organization better. We’re obviously all frustrated and disappointed with how things ended and not being in the playoffs. My focus is on doing everything I can do make sure we’re a playoff team next year.”
Mr. D.!
Holy Brown Nose Batman!
If Drury was so disappointed, and in another non-asked question, then why did he wait so long when firing Laviolette?
After all, and as I even said at the time – then the time to do it was back in December.
Has he not learned anything from the St. Louis Blues – who now twice, in the past six-years at that, have turned their season around by making an in-season firing?
[On all of the rumors and players (Jones, Vesey, Trouba, Kakko and de Haan) speaking out against him]:
“Again, we’re going to look at every single aspect of this.
“Certainly, I’m always critical of myself and trying to figure out ways to be better. And it starts with me and I will continue to do that.
“As far as players, and we’ve had a few this year talk about ice time or scratches, we certainly want players here who want to play and we don’t want players who are happy being scratched.
“I know for a fact that Lavy was really big on communication and communicated to his players throughout his two years here. Where they stood and why they were out or why they were in or what their role was or wasn’t. Communication is a priority. Being a former player myself, I always liked to know where I stood and we always try to do that with players every single day.”
You hear that bell sound?
That’s how hollow these words were.
[On his upcoming head coach search]:
“I’m not going at this with any preset dispositions.
“If it’s a first-time coach and it’s the best fit, great. As far as what the team needs, again, we’re just trying to find the best fit we can to do what we need to do. We’re looking at a lot of different scenarios and a lot of different candidates.
“We’re going to be looking at everything.
“Whether it’s the specific question you ask or other things that have come up along the way this year that we’ve already begun to look at and looked at during the year.
“Unfortunately, we do have extra time with not being in the playoffs to look at a lot of things this off-season and, again, try and make sure we’re back in the playoffs next year.”
Larry Brooks, an official conduit of Drury’s, then reported two-days later (Monday, April 21st) that Joel Quenneville, who I championed for two-years ago, is already out of the running this time-around.
According to Brooks, then hiring a head coach that ignored a sexual matter that he had nothing to do with himself a decade ago in Chicago, wasn’t the right guy for a player that’s presently being alleged of being involved of a sexual matter that Quenneville had nothing to do with either.
You see, it’s easier to blame and out the people that had nothing to do with the sexual offenses – and rather than as it is to actually blame the alleged and believed-to-be sexual deviants.
Accountability – am I right?
And that was it for the mealy-mouthed Drury on Saturday – and where all of this reminded me of what I wrote two-years ago after the firing of Gerard Gallant.
If you don’t remember, and I had to read it back myself too, then please take a look at the following – as this script of mine, a play, my first time as a playwright too, is more valid and illuminating as ever:
“The Hunt For The Rangers Head Coach of October!” Broadway’s Latest Play Based on The Real Life Story of The Blueshirts’ 2023 Search For a New Head Coach, Five New Actors to the Stage Featured, The 37th HC Revealed & More!
And there’s also this blog of mine from 2021 after the David Quinn firing: http://bluecollarblueshirts.com/51821/
The most notable passage from that blog?
The following (and where I only share this with you to prove to you how dead-on the money that I am with my predictions – while conversely – and the Blueshirts’ beat of today is not):
If I were Chris Drury, then the one player I would tunnel vision on would be Matt Tkachuk.
I talked about this last blog a bit, but of all the players that the Rangers could go after during this off-season, then to me, the apple of my eye would be Matt Tkachuk – and from the struggling, and perhaps soon-to-be rebuilding, Calgary Flames.
Without question, the Rangers need a top-six guy who can change the make-up of this team and provide flavor for this roster stew.
Just trying to add marginal fourth line tough guys is a fool’s errand. The Rangers need their own Tom Wilson. The Rangers need their own Brad Marchand. The Rangers need their own Islanders’ “Identity Line.” Loading up on fourth line guys, all making six figures – well that won’t cut it. You have to pay up here.
I know that I’ve brought this up before, but I have to say it again – you have to give up something in order to get something.
The Rangers, when compared to food, are just one flavor. You can say they are all chocolate, all vanilla or all strawberry – but whatever flavor you use – the bottom line is that they are just one flavor.
They aren’t your local Dairy Queen (yes, I used Dairy Queen because of their DQ initials here!), where you can sample many different flavors. The Rangers are just one flavor, a flavor, where if you were to physically taste the Rangers – may taste like dog shit.
Simply put, the Rangers, and I think that they will, have to make some kind of monumental trade this off-season.
To me, then I would look no further to than Matt Tkachuk – and a Tkachuk that won’t be pried away from Calgary with ease. You’re not going to just give up draft picks and a Filip Chytil for him. Instead, and I think that the Rangers are going to have to give up someone major for him, and to me, that player would be Kaapo Kakko.
And yep, and you know it:
At the time of this 2021 writing, then I was also championing for the Rangers to make a deal for Jack Eichel – while walking away from Mika Zibanejad too.
However, everyone and their mother just cried to me (and everyone else too) about Eichel’s pending neck surgery (but one that never scared me either – as I have seen more physical athletes, from the worlds of wrestling and MMA, overcome the same exact surgery), while also praising how “elite” Mika was at the time.
And after passing on Eichel while also re-signing Zibanejad to an eight-year deal back in October of ’21 – and how did that work out?
And not offering someone like Kakko for Tkachuk?
I’m still sick over it.
Eichel has emerged as one of Vegas’ top-stars – and then became an integral factor in their 2023 Stanley Cup win too.
Mika?
Garbage ever since – and today – the worst contract in all of hockey.
Gee, it’s like I know what I’m talking about!
The Rangers are one of six-teams today, along with the Kraken, Flyers, Bruins, Blackhawks and Ducks, that are looking for a new head coach for the 2025-26 season.
Come the end of it, and just as it was two-years ago – and I predict that the Blueshirts will pick the worst of the lot.
After all – and it’s just “The Rangers’ Way” – which is also becoming – “Drury’s Decisions” too!
I was championing for Joel Quenneville two-years ago – and I really made a hard-sell for him again back in December of this 2024-25 campaign – as I thought that he could turn the Rangers’ fortunes around – and just as Jim Montgomery went on to do for the Blues this season.
Brooks, and despite Drury saying that everyone and anyone is on the table, is reporting that Q. is out – and for what I said up above – because of whatever happened with Artemi Panarin.
(I still remain leery on these allegations levied against Panarin – and as explained last time around. I’ll also have more on this below.)
(In addition? Then if the Rangers hired Coach Q. back then – then they wouldn’t have to worry about whatever Panarin did or didn’t do today.)
You know me.
This all means that I’d love to see John Tortorella return for a second stint – and for all of the reasons as previously explained on this site.
I also know about all of the knocks on Torts today – but hear me out.
The biggest gripe with Torts right now, aside from the disciplinarian approach that the limp-wristed Rangers desperately need, is that he hasn’t won more than one playoff round since leaving New York.
Following his 2013 exile, he then had a rough season in Vancouver, a few good years in Columbus, followed by a punch-in-the-mouth tenure in Philadelphia – as he never signed on for a rebuild – nor did he ever come to terms with the present front office of the Flyers’ of today (Keith Jones and Daniel Briere) either.
That all said?
Then look at the two candidates that Larry Brooks, and others of his ilk, are pushing today – Rick Tocchet and Mike Sullivan.
In the case of Sullivan, who Brooks just has a raging hard-on for, akin to his boner for Josh Anderson, then what has he done in the past seven-years while coaching two future Hall of Famers, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin?
Yes, Sullivan is a former Rangers’ draft pick, which seems to be prerequisite when making hires these days (he never played for them though); but after winning back-to-back Cups with the Penguins in 2016 and 2017 (and where you know – where he is today – and where he also has a contract that runs though the 2026-27 season too – which in other words – would make him extremely expensive) – and he hasn’t made it past the first-round since the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
He also hasn’t reached the post-season with one of the greatest players of all-time (Crosby) under his wings during the past three-years either – and this is the guy that’s going to wake up the Rangers’ FAT CATS of today?
Yeah, let’s do everything in our power to get this guy – who can’t win with deep rosters in the Steel City during the past seven-years!
For whatever reason, and I don’t get this at all, and Tocchet is also heavily rumored to be the 38th coach in Rangers’ history.
Apparently, and last time around (two-years ago), and it came down to Tocchet vs. Lateralette.
Tocchet, in 638 games coached between his stints in Tampa, Arizona and Vancouver, has only reached the playoffs once in his career.
He’s also only won one postseason round too.
That’s the savior for the Rangers?
A personable and likable guy no doubt – but c’mon – why is this guy being touted as the coach who could get the Rangers over-the-top?
What, because he has a good relationship with J.T. Miller?
When I look at Torts, my proposed candidate – then look at his rosters when compared to Sullivan, Tocchet and every other retread name out there during the past five-years.
Torts coached only in small markets – sans Philly – but not even a year into his Flyers’ run – and the owner completely overhauled all management – while also fully embracing a complete tear-down of a rebuild too.
As the head coach of the smallest market of them all – Columbus – and a franchise that could never get any of their pending free agents/stars to stay – and in 2019, and Torts pulled off the greatest upset win in all of NHL history – and as he did when his Blue Jackets swept that year’s Presidents’ Trophy winners – his former team too – the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Even during that magical playoff win – and Columbus could never get anyone big to stay with them.
And once in Philly – and no money was being spent there either.
But whenever having big names and big money spent too – and Torts has had plenty of success – including a 2012 Eastern Conference Final appearance with the Rangers.
But to be fair – and it wasn’t a Stanley Cup – and as it was for him in 2004 while he was in Tampa.
Long story short? (Easy for me to say!)
Then I’d rather Torts over any other retread out there.
The one name that always comes up at this time, and as it did in 2023 too (for everything, then check out this link – https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/2023/05/ – as many of the coaching candidates from back then, sans Laviolette (duh) today, applies again), is of course Mark Messier.
I’m also wondering about this too:
When will Henrik Lundqvist (43-years-old today), replace Messier (64-years-old today), as a top name presented by both the fans and media alike, whenever the Rangers conduct a head coaching search?
Five-years down the line? Ten? Fifteen?
When it comes to Messier, then what I said in both 2021 and 2023 remains true to me:
I don’t care!
Yeah, yeah, yeah – I know all the reasons why people are against Messier (the fact that he’s never coached before being the biggest) – but at this rate – could he be any worse?
After all, then he could never be any worse than Bryan Trottier was!
While I don’t see Messier as a realistic option (Drury doesn’t want to be overshadowed either – nor will Dolan ever want to be responsible for firing “The Messiah” as well); but to be clear – then I’m not opposed to such an idea.
Give me Messier doling out discipline, leadership and accountability to all of the FAT CATS – and any day of the week – and twice on Sundays at that!
As far as any other candidates not mentioned yet, and as it’s pretty much the same as it was two-years ago, including, but not limited to, the following:
— David Carle, the collegiate champion in 2022 and 2024 (University of Denver). He’s the sexy name – but one who can also demand his own price and terms too. It’s thought that Chicago presents a better situation – as after all – there is no Dolan, nor Drury either, to be had in the Windy City.
— Greg Cronin, now exiled in Anaheim. Like previous collegiate coaches – including David Quinn – and he failed in California.
— Marc Savard, another former member of the Rangers’ alumni, and one that’s also had a lot of varying levels of degrees of success as an under-boss coach in the Toronto Maple Leafs organization.
— Jay Pandolfo, the former Devil that’s now having success at Boston University today – and where really – do you want a former rival to be tasked to architect the Rangers’ future? After all, how did that work out for Trottier – and for that matter – former Islander head coach, Laviolette, too?!?!?
— Another Jay, this time Jay Leach, as the man of 70 NHL games played has had success at the assistant levels in Pittsburgh, Boston and Seattle.
— Jessica Campbell, perhaps the biggest long shot of them all, who previously was linked to the Rangers as a skating coach before accepting her present deal in Seattle as an assistant.
When you boil it all down, then this coaching search is going to be vast-and-wide – as every collegiate head coach, every NHL assistant and anybody else who has coached at a top level should – and will be – considered.
While I’d go with Torts again (and like Dolan, who is fond of Torts – then I guess that I’m inclined to go with the devil that I know too – but not a New Jersey Devil either!); but it’s probably best if some new blood wins this contest – but it has to be a person that has no problem busting out the yard-stick, akin to a 19th-century nun, on these losers too.
Then again – and it’s up to Drury, who is 99.999999999999% likely to keep his job, to eradicate all of the dead-weight on this roster – and that includes both Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider.
On Monday, and the unaccountable players on the 2024-25 New York Rangers held their exit interviews.
You can find all of them, albeit edited (some for time, some for content), here:
https://www.youtube.com/@nyrangers/videos
Last time around on this site and I said this:
“I really don’t want to recap 76786869867896867986 interviews where everyone says that they have to play better and will work hard this off-season.”
And that’s pretty much what Monday was – but with a few non-welcomed wrinkles included in the mix too.
I really don’t have the time, energy, desire and interest to recap all of Monday’s nonsense – as that’s what it was – nonsense.
Most of it, including from all of the FAT CATS, was just never-ending millennial crying bullshit.
You can wrap up Monday with these remarks:
WAAAAA – they want their GM and bosses to tell them about every single thought of theirs at every waking moment.
WAAAAA – big bad Drury traded Barclay Goodrow during the off-season – an unrecoverable and insurmountable moment for these entitled bitch boys.
WAAAAA – the mental anguish over Drury and Lateralette not having a 24/7/365 relationship with all of them.
WAAAAA – Trouba was traded.
WAAAAA- the third coach in four-years didn’t cater and coddle to their every last need.
Take a look at any workforce in this country – and only these Rangers feel justified in not showing up for work.
Listen, most of us have undesirable jobs, for poor pay at that, and where we aren’t working out of love – as instead – we are just trying to keep a roof over our heads.
I’m one of these people.
To hear these cunts (and I never use the c-word on this site – so I’m using it here to really hammer home a point/for effect) cry about how their poor treatment – well get the eff out of here with that noise.
These guys are being paid millions of dollars to work a dream job – yet these pussies have the balls to cry about it.
Sorry, but no sympathy here.
And especially not when this franchise charges the highest prices in the league in order to see these losers go to work.
I couldn’t stand all of the crying and excuses that I heard on Monday – which is why I have no urgency when trying to recap all of the crap spewed from these undesirables.
However, and since I do like to give you the news here – then I’m only going to hit the newsworthy stuff – as the rest of it was pure and unadulterated crybaby bullshit.
Among the highlights – or should I say “low-lights” – from Monday’s exit interviews:
— Mika Zibanejad was the biggest bitch of them all – and just writing his name here gives me a rash.
All this half-a-man did was complain about not being coddled by management – and where after listening to all of his crying – then I felt bad for his new child – as that kid doesn’t have a real male role model in his household.
He never defended Laviolette – nor mentioned how his playing time, including on the power-play, was never taken away from him despite possessing the worst contract in all of the league today.
Instead, it was nothing but a “woe-is-me” act from the failed dee-jay.
— Chris Kreider, who I haven’t turned against – and like many in this fan base who have long done; also aggravated me.
The longest-tenured Blueshirt talked about how he was injured all-season – including suffering afflictions to his hands, back, ears and elsewhere – while also mentioning a bout against U2’s “Vertigo” too.
It’s one thing to play injured during playoff time – it’s another to do so in the regular season.
For the man who went over three-months without a power-play goal; then he should’ve sat out and healed – and while in the process – allowed his GM to find some high-priced help.
But of course – and nobody has learned from Colorado, Tampa and Vegas.
Idiots.
— Braden Schneider, while wearing a bulky arm brace, said he had torn his labrum – and as he did last season!
B-Schneids never wanted to sit-out – thus played while injured this season.
Again, and like Kreider – this was a dumb decision – but I do admit – I understand it – but it didn’t help the team either.
Schneider expects to return to full-form next season.
— As opposed to Schneider, and Adam Edstrom never revealed what his injury was (a suspected broken shoulder).
He also plans to be 100% healthy next season.
— Matt Rempe, one of the few to praise Laviolette during his face-time with the asshole reporters, said that he was going to go return to his Albertan home – then find a place in Westchester to live in the off-season – and where he hopes to have work-outs/regular training sessions with Kreider, Brett Berard, and now, his former landlord, Jonathan Quick.
In a response, and Quick, whose legacy and future Hall of Fame status remains fully in-tact, said that Rempe always has a meal – and a bed if required too – at his home waiting for him.
This just spoke to Quick’s role as a team-leader – and a mentor for all “Baby Blueshirts” too.
— Artemi Panarin would not answer any questions in regards to the recent sexual assault allegations made against him – but knowing that he signed an NDA – then it’s not like he could say anything about this story anyway.
Again, while I remain suspect of this story – then by even signing this NDA – and Panarin already looks guilty in the court of public opinion.
However, and for his accuser – then in the same vein – and she looks like a gold-digger/pill pusher too.
After all, if Panarin was 100% guilty, then why not publicly file charges against him?
Not only would she get her day in court – but as a result – then she could sue him for punitive damages in civil court too – and just as I see in every “Law and Order SVU” episode!
Again, and as said when I first heard these allegations – and I don’t get it.
Panarin has earned over $100M in his career – and needs to screw around with some airhead hole on the road?
He has an alluring and attractive wife at home (who has borne him two kids) – and plenty of money to pay for a high-end prostitute too.
Wouldn’t it be easier to pay a quieted/silenced pro rather than to risk his career, marriage and future earnings with an unscrupulous money-seeking female?
Artie Panarin simply isn’t Artie Lange!
— J.T. Miller, and because of a recent death suffered by a friend, wasn’t there – but his BFF, Vincent Trocheck, was.
Trocheck used the word “snowball,” when implying something positive will take place next season with this same losing core – which also told me that he had no clue what the word “snowball” means.
— K’Andre Miller admitted that he didn’t have a good season – but he also didn’t refute any claims that he’s looking for a monster contract despite his lack of a performance this season anyway.
— Calvin de Haan continued to complain about his treatment – while never admitting the fact that he was just a “thrown-in” component to a trade where Drury just wanted draft picks in return for Ryan Lindgren.
— Zac Jones, and to his credit, didn’t back away from his scathing words that he uttered earlier this season. He admitted that his offensive numbers did – but he also took the time to praise his own defensive play – and where he seemed very open to getting the hell away from this franchise too.
— Igor Shesterkin never talked about his contract negotiations, where he’ll now be the highest-paid goalie in the league next season – but he did say that the team “broke” along the way. He never brought up his multiple games of 5+ goals allowed either.
— Alexis Lafreniere faced the music and admitted that he sucked this year – and where perhaps the pressure of his new contract signed got to him a bit. He didn’t mention if he’d use softball this summer as a therapeutic way to combat his mental issues.
— Adam Fox said that he felt bad that Laviolette was fired – but he didn’t say that Drury deserved to be axed too.
He also didn’t say if his two knee injuries effected his play this season neither.
— Gabe Perreault, who made an idiot out of Drury by making him burn a year of his entry-level contract, then only to play four games afterwards, said that he’s going to go back to Boston College to at least finish his sophomore year.
And when the Rangers go nowhere in the future – then he’ll have plenty of time when trying to attain his degree – should that be his desire.
— Brennan Othmann, no goals in 26-games played throughout his career, feels the best is yet to come.
Didn’t Pavel Brendl, Jamie Lundmark, Vitali Kratsov and Lias Andersson all say the same thing before?
One last story – and then I’ll go home.
Also on Monday and the Sports Business Journal reported the following NHL television rating figures:
NHL Local Ratings (via SBJ):
Biggest Gains:
Ducks (KCOP) +75%
Sharks (NBCS Bay) +42%
Capitals (MNMT) +41%
Avalanche (Altitude) +40
Flyers (NBCS Philly) +9%Biggest Drops:
Blackhawks (CHSN) -78%
Rangers (MSG) -49%
Penguins (SN-Pit) -38%
Lightning (FSDNSUN) 29%
Isles (MSG) -28%— Braylon Breeze (@Braylon_Breeze) April 21, 2025
In case that graphic doesn’t work for you, then here’s the black-and-white of it:
Biggest Gains:
Ducks (KCOP) +75%
Sharks (NBCS Bay) +42%
Capitals (MNMT) +41%
Avalanche (Altitude) +40
Flyers (NBCS Philly) +9%
Biggest Drops:
Blackhawks (CHSN) -78%
Rangers (MSG) -49%
Penguins (SN-Pit) -38%
Lightning (FSDNSUN) 29%
Isles (MSG) -28%
The Rangers, via M$GN this season, saw their viewership drop nearly 50% when opposed to last year.
Of course, this poor number can also be explained by these few bullet-points:
— Streaming is growing while cable (cut the cord) is declining. In other words, then many viewers are using Gotham Sports (and yes – illegal means too) to watch these games.
— M$GN had wars with both Optimum (since settled) and Comcast (still on-going) this season, which as a result, cost them a few million potential viewers.
— The team sucks thus creating a lack of interest.
I will say, and before this Rangers’ season went to shit – and the first of two bi-annual “Garden of Dreams” fundraisers (the first taking place in November of 2024 – and before the war against Optimum) raised the least amount of money in the ten-plus years since the Rangers have held these routine charity drives on M$GN airwaves.
(I even said this at the time – as these two fundraisers, and for the first time, failed to generate six-figures in donations)
And laugh all that you want – but I 100% believe that having Sieve Vagistat – and not Henrik Lundqvist – to promote the cause only hurt it.
(I do believe that having Vagistat as a regular ANALyst also hurts TV ratings.)
And while you can blame the poor Rangers’ season for these god-awful numbers all that you want – but take a look at the top gainers – Anaheim and San Jose – two markets that are not only in the non-traditional hockey state of California – but two of the worst teams in the NHL throughout this 2024-25 campaign too.
While the wars against cable companies is perhaps largely part of it; but I also think that a lot of Ranger fans, and like yours truly, have grown to hate the core players.
Heck – I think we’re also at the point of all-out disdain-and-detest too.
While I’ll never a miss game – as I’m loyal (or perhaps another l-word, as in “loser,” applies!); but that’s not going to the be the same for everyone else – and as these numbers suggest.
Up Next For The Rangers: A long coaching search – followed by a lot of time off.
Up Next For Me: I’m back to working on my upcoming books – but before that – and I promise – I’m going to answer about 967869678678967867896 emails, social media messages and blog comments!
As far as a next blog goes?
Then, and again – and I need a break from these scumbags.
I’ll return whenever a story is made (I’m not going to invent/make-up click-bait content) – and where most likely – once a 38th head coach in franchise history is selected by Cowardly Chris.
Up Next For You: Your favorite segment, which brings us to…
PLUGS TIME! (Buy a book and support my Rangers’ induced therapy bills. After all, I don’t run ads on this site!)
My fourth title and tenth book is now available!
“The Top 100 Villains of New York Rangers History,” is now available for sale!
For complete information, please visit: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/rangerkillers/
My second plug of tonight’s blog – the mandatory plug for my book, “The New York Rangers Rink of Honor and the Rafters of Madison Square Garden.”
As mentioned previously, the book is now available in hardcover, in paperback and in Kindle formats. To purchase a copy of the book, visit this link:
https://www.amazon.com/Rangers-Rafters-Madison-Square-Garden-ebook/dp/B09CM5N2WD
For those still looking for signed paperback versions of the book, I have re-ordered more copies. I now have a few signed copies for sale at $25 a pop (includes shipping price) through me directly. Here is all the information on that:
Order “The New York Rangers Rink of Honor and the Rafters of Madison Square Garden” Book Today
My four-volume set of books, “One Game at a Time – A Season to Remember,” is a game-by-game recount of the Rangers 2021-22 campaign.
My second title as an author, “One Game at a Time – A Season to Remember,” is now available in eBook, paperback and hardcover formats.
To obtain signed copies, visit: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/onegamebook/
To purchase all four volumes on Amazon, visit: Amazon.com – “One Game at a Time.”
The greatest volume-set of books on Rangers’ history today!
“Tricks of the Trade – A Century-Long Journey Through Every Trade Made In New York Rangers’ History,” a four-volume set of books that meticulously covers every trade made in franchise history, is now on sale.
All four volumes of the title can be purchased on Amazon.com and are presented in three different formats – eBook, paperback and hardcover.
To purchase Volume I: Conn Smythe (1926) – Craig Patrick (1986), visit Amazon.com
To purchase Volume II: Phil Esposito (1986) – Neil Smith (2000), visit Amazon.com
To purchase Volume III: Glen Sather (2000-2015), visit Amazon.com
To purchase Volume IV: Jeff Gorton (2015) – Chris Drury (2022), visit Amazon.com
To purchase signed copies of all four volumes, visit https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/tricksofthetrade/
If you haven’t already, subscribe to this blog for the next update:
Don’t forget to order my four-volume set of books, “Tricks of the Trade!”
If you don’t order through me, all four volumes are now available on Amazon.com
For more details, check out: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/tricksofthetrade/
Thanks for reading.
LET’S GO RANGERS!
Sean McCaffrey
BULLSMC@aol.com
@NYCTHEMIC on the Tweeter machine
Jessica Campbell is not getting the job. Mollie is a blasted fool. Brooks says W is a no go. Slight quibble ; whether Ramsay or Trouba and his shit defense or Goodrow and his 1 goal was here or not, no defense , pathetic gutless stupid play night after night., no urgency, indifference to shooting and scoring , myriad overpassing . And fuck Meeka; since his ghastly pass in OT vs the Panthers a total embarrassment .
Queneville is a no go.
Rangers haven’t shown they’re particularly forward thinking. New coach will be another retread, someone who will do mostly the same things.
With the announcement Drury is still around, I don’t expect much organisational changes. He might dump a player or two (Kreider seems destined to leave), then pick up a few smaller trades and make another run for the Cup. He said it’s the goal, and I’d take him at his word. Slight retool, and away we go again.