The Rivalry: Islanders and Rangers Head Down the Stretch

From the desks: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS & THE LONG ISLAND NOMADS

THE RIVALRY

Islanders lead Rangers; 4-2

I - NYI 4; NYR 0

II - NYR 5; NYI 0

III - NYI 2; NYR 0

IV - NYR 4; NYI 1

V - NYI 3; NYR 2

VI - NYI 6; NYR 1

VII & VIII

New York Islanders

vs.

New York Rangers

FROM
Eighth Avenue Ice Hut

Trotz Putting Together a Jigsaw Puzzle While Quinn Is Just Making a Mess

Washington takes three straight from the Islanders and wins the season series six games against two.  Three of the last four confrontations have been 1-0 affairs, with a blowout sandwiched in between.  Long Island slides down to third place in the East, four points behind the Penguins, and five points behind the first-place Capitals with seven games remaining in their regular season.

On Tuesday, the Islanders commit one of the cardinal sins of hockey and pay a high price.  Never surrender a goal in the first two minutes or last two minutes of a period.  The Islanders did just that.  Daniel Sprong scores his tenth of the season within 1:29 minutes of the opening faceoff, and the Caps make it stand.

The Long Islanders are 12-9-1 since captain Anders Lee last played on Mar. 11 against the Devils.  Over that stretch, they still managed to outscore their opponents by a 53-47 margin.  But, truth be told, the Isles are just 4-5-1 since acquiring Travis Zajac and Kyle Palmieri, and as noted, losers of three straight.  In another indictment, the Isles have been outscored 24-18 since the duo's arrival.  That hints at a correlation.  Or, said another way, Coach Trotz is struggling to reconstruct his forward lines.

Whereas Islanders fans can be confident their head coach will ultimately implement a viable plan in time for the playoffs, Rangers fans, on the other hand, remain confounded by Coach Quinn's allergy-inspiring line decisions.  The Blueshirts remain four points behind the fourth-place Bruins.  However, Boston has two games in hand.

The Rangers are coming off a split against the Flyers and two consecutive wins against the Sabres.  Long Island comes to the city for the front end of a home-and-home.  After splitting the first four games of the season series, the Islanders have since won two straight over the Rangers for a 4-2 series edge.

Last Sunday against Buffalo, Mike Zibanejad scored his third hat trick of the season.

About that ...

We know about his terrible start to the season.  He failed to score in six of eight games in January and similarly failed to score in eight of eleven games in February.  Mika totaled just six points over his first 19 games of the season.  But we also know he was recovering from a pre-season bout with COVID.  He then scored in nine of 16 games in March for 21 points, and in April, to date, Mika has scored in twelve of 15 games for 19 points.  That gives him 40 points in his last 31 games.  His overall season stats now look more representative: 50 games, 20 goals, 26 assists, 46 points.

Now for the truth ...

In 16 games against the Devils and Flyers, Mika Zibanejad has ten goals and 17 assists for 27 points.  Through 34 games so far against the Islanders, Bruins, Capitals, Sabres, and Penguins, Mika has ten goals and nine assists for 19 points.

That's what's really going on.

N.Y. Rangers: Confused Mission Statement

From the desk: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

Friday Night Is Alright For Fighting

 Kevin Rooney vs. Scott Laughton

Flyers       1

Rangers   4

FINAL

I began the season with no expectations and saying this campaign is about learning how to lose.  I mean that within defeat lay the education and gaining insight into the little things it takes to win at this level.  

This season's division alignments provided a wonderful classroom for just that, with intensified schedules against the Capitals, Bruins, Islanders, and Penguins.  I wanted these kids thrown into the fire.  What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, but the experience would have been invaluable if it weren't for one thing: Coach Quinn and his incessant reconfiguring of lines on the fly.  When Coach Quinn and the coaching staff were made to quarantine, AHL coach Kris Knoblaugh filled in wonderfully by rolling four lines and leaving them alone.

How refreshing!

The Rangers still trail the Bruins by four points.  Despite playing them twice more to end the season, the Bruins still have two more games in hand.  And quite frankly, I don't want the Rangers making the playoffs because I feel Quinn has left them unprepared for that level of play.  Therefore, I want him devoting the remaining minutes of the season more towards this team's up-and-coming talent from here on out.

Friday against the Flyers, Alexis Lafreniere skated 22 shifts for 17:49 minutes, and that's a good thing.  In return, the highly touted teenager rewarded Quinn with a goal and an assist.  However, Filip Chytil was held under 14 minutes, while Kaapo Kakko and Vitali Kravtsov were held under 13 minutes.  I would like to see Lafreniere, Chytil, and Kaako Kappo on a line together more, so they can grow and learn to play together.  After all, that's what rebuilding teams do, and that's what these Rangers are, and that's why Quinn has frustrated me through the second half of the season.

Kaapo Kakko and Artemi Panarin assisted on Chytil's third-period goal, his eighth of the season.  Likewise, it was Kakko's eighth assist of the season. 

Don't you wanna see more?

Chris Kreider opened the scoring at 6:02 of the first while on a power play.  That's fine, but I know he's not carrying this team if they make the playoffs.

N.Y. Rangers: Coach Quinn Returns With Mixed Results

From the desk: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

RETIRE #4 ALREADY!!!

Adam Fox has now registered points in ten consecutive games.  The streak ties a Rangers record shared by (among others) Ron Greschner and Brian Leetch.

In fact, Fox has 18 points over his last ten games with two goals and 16 assists.

The sophomore blueliner finished his rookie season with 42 points and a plus-22 through 70 games and placed fourth in the Calder voting.  This season, Fox to date has notched four goals and 29 assists through 36 games.  His 33 points presently are the second-most points by a defenseman this season behind Victor Hedman.  Saturday's game also marked the seventh time this season he's registered multiple points in a game.

Making his NHL and Rangers debut, Vitali Kravtsov generated three shots on goal while participating in 14 shifts during 10:45 minutes on ice.  He joined fellow Rangers' first-round draft pick Filip Chytil, K'Andre Miller, Kaapo Kakko, and Alexis Lafreniere.

🏒

Buffalo is the lone NHL team still with single-digit victories and own a league-worst minus-46 point differential.  Saturday's win over the Rangers was only their eighth this season for their still league-worst 22nd points of the season - six points behind the Ducks and seven behind the Red Wings.

But the Rangers apparently never received the memo.  In two straight games against the worst team in the league, the Rangers fail to win either during regulation time.

Artemi Panarin opened the scoring at 10:02 of the first period with a power-play goal on feeds from Fox and Chris Kreider.  Panarin's second goal of the night came at 17:52 of the second period, assisted by Ryan Lindgren and Adam Fox.

Buffalo's Casey Mittelstadt tied the game the first time at 13:01 of the first.  In the third period, Artemi Panarin got beat in the defensive end, which led to Victor Oloffson's game-tying goal at the 16:19 mark.

Joining Panarin with a minus-one for the game were Kaapo Kakko, Ryan Strome, K'Andre Miller, and Jacob Trouba. 

After a scoreless overtime, Buffalo's Linus Ullmark outlasted Igor Shesterkin in the shootout.

The Rangers were 4-2 in Coach Quinn's absence.  Mika Zibanejad scored 16 points while Coach was away; twelve of those points came in two games against the Flyers.  They are now 2-1-1 since Coach Quinn's return, and Zibanejad has notched just one point.

Otherwise, the Rangers' centermen came up empty once again with just five shots on goal and no points.  Pavel Buchnevich had more shots on goal than the Rangers' centers combined.

Chris Kreider is no different.  The erratically effective forward is averaging just two shots per game.  But I put that more on David Quinn and his inability to establish a team identity.  With just under a half-season left, Kreider might very well reset his career-high in goals.  Just imagine Kreider spending more time shoving bodies in front and cleaning up rebounds.  Apparently, Quinn can't.

At one point, Quinn paired Filip Chytil and Kaapo Kakko with Pavel Buchnevich.  I don't mind the line, per se, but I'm getting tired of his inconsistencies and constant reactive line changes.   

Yeah, I'm looking at the guy calling the shots.

N.Y. Rangers: Mika Zibanejad Has Entered The Building

From the desk: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

Rangers lead Capitals; 3-1

I - NYR 4; WAS 2

II - NYR 4; WAS 1

III - WAS 2; NYR 1

IV - NYR 3; WAS 1

Ponder If You Will: Life Without David Quinn

Why is it that since his head coach was placed on quarantine Mika Zibanejad has eight points, and the forward lines without all the nonsensical mixing and matching have played more consistently?  

Or, could it be that Mika is finally over any lingering effects since he himself contracted the COVID virus earlier this year?  

Speculation aside, his goal late in the third-period was rather nifty, converting a defensive takeaway in the Capitals zone into an unassisted game clincher.  After scoring just six points through the first two months and 19 games this season, Mika now has 13 points through eleven games in March.

Pavel Buchnevich appears to be in a similar condition.  After scoring 13 points through the season's first 19 games and at one point getting bumped off the first line by David Quinn, pissed-off Pavel has now scored 15 points through ten games played in March.

Congratulations are also in order, as Bret Howden notched only his twentieth SOG and his first goal of the season ... into an empty net, that is.  He has five points this season, three of which have come in the last four games.

Meanwhile, with or without Quinn, the streaky Chris Kreider is again trending in the opposite direction.  After putting up eleven points during a seven-game stretch, Kreider has since only registered four points in his last eight games, during which time the Rangers have posted a 3-4-1 record. 

Keith Kincaid was back in the net.  He faced 29 shots, four on special teams, and stopped all but one at even strength.  The Rangers blocked 23 other shots.  Otherwise, Kincaid earns his second win since being called up. 

And don't look now, but the Rangers have defeated the Washington Capitals for the third time in four games, over which time they've outscored the Capitals by a 12-6 margin.

N. Y. Rangers: Blueshirts in a Landslide

From the desk: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

Rangers vs. Flyers series tied; 2-2

I - NYR 3; PHI 2*

II - PHI 4; NYR 3

III - PHI 5; NYR 4#

IV - NYR 9; PHI 0

*shootout

#overtime

Back to the Future: Blueshirts Post Largest Goal Total Since 1986 Smurfs Scored Ten Against the New Jersey Devils

No head coach, no staff, no problem.  

Or, was David Quinn the problem all along?  

That can be debated.  

In any event, minus their entire coaching staff crowding the bench area and busting their pucks, the Rangers veterans took it upon themselves to lead the troops after Monday's overtime backbreaker in an uproarious bounce-back effort against the Flyers on Wednesday.

Insofar as Quinn, Brendan Lemieux might have something to say.  After all, he's the one who lit the fuse igniting a Blueshirt explosion.  Lemieux converted feeds from Adam Fox and Bret Howden to open the scoring at 7:05 of the first period.  At 14:47, Artemi Panarin netted his seventh of the season for a 2-0 Rangers lead.

The Flyers, throughout the second period, appeared to be skating in the west side railyards.  The Rangers, in turn, unleashed a seven-goal attack against Philadelphia goalies Carter Hart and Brian Elliot.  Mika Zibanejad posted a hat-trick and assisted on two other goals by Pavel Buchnevich and another by Jacob Trouba.  Then with just 0:27 seconds left in the second period, Filip Chytil scored his fourth goal of the season for a 9-0 Rangers lead.

Alexandar Georgiev was back between the posts demonstrating a marked improvement in performance after getting the hook in each of his last two starts against Pittsburgh and Boston.  If anyone needed a confidence booster, it was him.  Georgiev faced 26 shots on goal and stopped them all for the shutout.

Circling back to Lemieux, it was his second goal and sixth point in limited minutes.  The Rangers need his physicality on the ice.  The Rangers got four points from their blueliners, a goal and assist from Jacob Trouba, and assists by Adam Fox and Libor Hajek.  Pavel Buchnevich finished with four points.  Even Bret Howdenn attempted a shot on goal.  So, you know things went well.

With the victory, the Rangers tie the season series against Philadelphia at two wins apiece.

N.Y. Rangers: Artemi Panarin Lifts Lagging Mates

From the desk: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

SHOWDOWN AT HIGH NOON

SATURDAY

Rangers

vs.

Capitals

The Rangers were lucky to come away with two points in their first meeting against the Flyers.  Philadelphia's line-up is still being compromised by COVID.  So, there are questions as to what outfit the Rangers really defeated.  But with regards to what transpired on the ice, the Rangers committed one of the cardinal rules of hockey, not once, but twice, and got away with it.

Never yield a goal in the first two minutes or last two minutes of a period.  

They did just that, allowing a goal in the first 0:59 seconds of the game to Nicolas Aube-Kubel.  Colin Blackwell tied the game on a power-play goal at 3:24 of the second period.  Ryan Strome then put the Rangers ahead with an even-strength goal at the 8:21 mark of the third period.  But with just 1:14 left in regulation, Joel Farabee scored his seventh goal of the season, tying the game at two.  After a scoreless overtime, Artemi Panarin, returning from injury, saved the Rangers' ass with a decisive goal in the shootout.

Playing minus Jacob Trouba and K'Andre Miller, the blueliners still limit Philadelphia to 22 shots on goal and 0/5 on the power play.  The Rangers blocked 27 shots in front of Alexandar Georgiev, who stopped all but two shots.  For reasons I won't get into, Ryan Lindgren and Adam Fox walked away with a respective minus-two for the game.

There came the point when Coach Quinn was reprimanding Brendan Lemieux on the bench, if I remember correctly, after a neutral zone blunder.  How about Quinn coaches better and gives Lemiex more ice time!  

Yeah, I went there ...

And thank goodness for Colin Blackwell, who miraculously has seven points in only five games.  Artemi Panarin had eight shots on goal, which equals all five Rangers' centermen shots on goal combined.

N.Y. Rangers: Smells Like Teen Suppression

From the desk: RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

The Best Teacher is Experience

To skate, or not to skate, that is the question.  Whether tis nobler throwing two teenagers into the fire, or by withholding stunt their development.  To score, perchance to dream ...

Ranger fans are still waiting for the wonder twins to activate.  Kaapo Kakko, through eleven games, has two goals and one assist.  Off-Broadway's newest sensation Alexis Lafreniere through twelve games, has just one goal and is a minus-four.

Coach Quinn has so far limited each to under fifteen minutes per game.  He also continues maneuvering both wingers up and down the lines and is yet to provide them with stable linemates.  Although, a rather precarious situation at the center position does not help settle matters.  But now, with Artemi Panarin out for Friday's game, I expect one if not both to receive eighteen to twenty minutes against Boston. 

There are no soft spots in the schedule.  This is a unique experience.  The division setup is unforgiving, and that's why you must play the kids now.  They'll be all the better for it come next season.  

N.Y. Rangers: Mix and Match Madness

From the desk: RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

THURSDAY

Rangers    3

Sabres       2

FINAL/OT

Nice way to score your first NHL goal ... Colin Blackwell recovers the puck in the neutral zone and handles it into Buffalo's end.  He finds Alexis Lafreniere on the left wing, who wrists the puck past Buffalo goalie Linus Ullmark's stick side at the 2:47 mark of overtime.  It's Lafreniere's first NHL point through his first seven games.  To date, he has taken 13 shots on goal for an average of 1.8 shots per game.  However, four shots came Thursday against Buffalo.  It appears, then, Lafreniere is getting a little more comfortable.  

Now, if only Coach Quinn can just stop shifting Lafreniere up and down the lines.  That said, Coach Quinn, this season, also had Lafreniere switch sides and played him on the right wing.  It just makes me wanna scream, STOP!  Can we please give this kid some stability and line continuity?  The loss of Filip Chytil complicates matters.  Do you want Lafreniere playing with Ryan Strome or Brett Howden?  If you're going to play him on the first line, keep him on the first line.  If you want him playing on the third line, keep him on the third line with Colin Blackwell and Philip Di Giuseppe?  At least Di Giuseppe brings some physicality to the ice.  The point being, stop coaching in a panic, and let's settle the third line.  Start giving the lines some routine and stability.

How about winning some more face-offs!

The Rangers' biggest problem has been in the net.  But as I keep saying ... you can't be disappointed with what you do not expect.  Like the forward lines, just let the young goaltenders play.  Making his fourth start, Shesterkin faced 25 shots and stopped all but two (one even strength, one on the penalty kill) en route to his first win of the season.

N.Y. Rangers: Hurricanes Burst Blueshirts Bubble

From the desk of: RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

The #NYR are still a rebuilding team. Oft times winners must first learn how to lose. JD and Gorton still have more work to do. I'm fine with this. #LGR

— B'klynTrolleyBlogger (@BTB_MikeII) August 5, 2020

At no time are the Rangers ever really in this series.  Thanks to former Blueshirt Brady Skjei, Jesper Fast is knocked out of action in the first period of game one and never returns.  Coach Quinn says losing Fast changes the whole complexion of the Rangers' approach.  I, on the other hand, do not completely buy into that notion.  However, I agree that not having Fast, and Brendan Lemieux, and Igor Shesterkin, on the ice does indeed compromise the Rangers.

Otherwise, eleven New York Rangers make their playoff debut against Carolina.  That speaks directly to the ongoing efforts of John Davidson and Jeff Gorton.  Lest we forget they're only a year and a half into this, and as far as I'm concerned, are going about their business well.  With regards to the players, learning how to lose as a team is part of the process.  Getting outscored by an 11-4 margin over three games is a hard, but necessary lesson learned.  If nothing else, this series demonstrates to the younglings the drastic differences between three regular season victories over the Canes versus three straight losses in the playoffs.  Carolina has been through this before, and it shows throughout all nine periods of hockey.

If the Rangers through three games only score four total goals, going 1 for 14 on the power play is largely to blame.  Otherwise, Artemi Panarin gets off ten shots in three games, but only one SOG in game one.  He scores one goal, but does not score enough; Chris Kreider scores a goal, but does not score enough; Mika Zibanejad scores one goal, but does not score enough.  Kaapo Kakko creates some nice chances for himself, but ultimately concludes the series with no goals and no assists. Circling back to Zibanejad, as a center he assists on just one goal.  And since I'm going there, Carolina wins 95 face-offs versus 85 by the Rangers.  Carolina also out-shoots the Rangers from the field by a 102-88 margin.  Quinn's Rangers are ill prepared to contain Andrei Svechnikov, who tallies a hat trick in game two, and less able to shackle Sebastian Aho, who totals three goals with five assists.

N.Y. Rangers: Battle of the Hudson Resumes

From the desks of: 

RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS  &  THE BRICK CITY STYX

BATTLE OF THE HUDSON - I

New York Rangers

vs.

New Jersey Devils

FROM

THE ROCK

It's time I welcomed myself to the 93rd season of New York Rangers hockey.  It's also high time the Rangers hoist Ron Greschner's #4 to the rafters!

Thank you very much ...

Even though the front office hastened the rebuild, I enter this season with few expectations.  But, boy, am I a happy camper!  The triumvirate of John Davidson, Jeff Gorton, and David Quinn, along with this collection of young talent, has elevated my enthusiasm to levels not experienced since 1992 (Roger Neilson withstanding).  Sure, they financially capped themselves like a jar of marmalade, but I don't care.  Everyone I want in a blue shirt is present and accounted for right down to Anthony DeAngelo's last minute signing.

DROPPING PUCKS

• I mean Mika Zibanejad no slight, but I like the idea of entering the season without a captain.  The Rangers are in a good place.  Let some of these players distinguish themselves first.  If everyone takes the ice with the characteristics of a captain in mind then eventually one will materialize.  But make no mistake, Zibanejad has a big fan in me.

• Henrik Lunqvist's playing time is a big concern.  At this stage of his career perhaps less is more.  Two seasons ago Henrik started 60+ games for the eighth time in his career.  Last season he was limited to 52 starts.  In March he turns 38-years old.  Not one bit do I mind him chasing down career milestones.  In fact, I'm rooting for him.  But closer to the point, I just want Alexandar Georgiev receiving representative minutes in net.

• What is Chris Kreider still doing here?  He is the last person I expected to survive Gorton's purge.  But since he still dons a blue shirt, how about some consistent play for a change.  If Kreider ever gets his head screwed on straight could be a top forward of the league ... but it isn't, and he's not.

NYR - Kaapo Kakko

(2019 #2 overall draft pick)

vs.

NJD - Jack Hughes

(2019 #1 overall draft pick)

And let us not forget Nico Hischier, the 2017 first overall pick of the 2017 draft.

Point being, the next ten years of metropolitan area hockey is shaping up to be a lot of fun.  Just don't say that too loud.  Newark is off to a ponderous 0-4-2 start, and giving away multiple goal leads like candy on Halloween.  With the return to full duty of Taylor Hall, and the big acquisitions of P.K. Subban and Wayne Simmonds, no one anticipated such a start as this.  All I'll say for now is that coach John Hynes deserves to see this through.

Raise Gresch With The Greats

The Rivalry: Islanders vs. Rangers III

From the desks of:

NO SLEEP TILL BELMONT  and  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

The Rivalry

Islanders lead season series 2-1

I - NYI 7; NYR 5

II - NYR 5; NYI 0

Thursday

Islanders   4

Rangers    3

FINAL

S'up!  Guess who's finally paying attention ...

Baseball withdrawal effects me differently from season to season.  This year hit me especially hard, and took a little longer to shake.  But for good reason, I was compounded with Red Sox hangover.  To that affect, I'll only say it's a family matter ... and man(!) was it a lot of fun.  Otherwise, it usually takes me about three weeks during a normal year to start shaking my pom-poms over football.  This year for a change I was actually engaged by Week One.  As the days go by I tend to slip into a hockey frame of mind somewhere between Halloween and Thanksgiving, with basketball not far behind.  This year, no such thing.  Basketball was first to regain my attention, I'd say about a month ago.  Halfway through the hockey season and only now am I joining the fray.  I can not explain it, that's just me.  As the state or condition of my respective teams of interests have no bearing on when I mentally check in.  I any event, here I am ...


N.Y. ISLANDERS: Hot to Trotz.

Imagine what could have been in 2012-2013; imagine winning that first round playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins.  Imagine following up in 2013-2014 with another upwards leap in the standings, as opposed to falling flat on their ass and failing to make the playoffs.  Then imagine back-to-back 100-point seasons and actually advancing beyond the second round.  Such were the best years under former coach Jack Capuano, whom was fired midway through the 2016-2017 season.  The Islanders predominant deficiencies throughout this era lay in net and along the blue line, which invariably meant Garth Snow, with head coach coming in a not too distant third.

Enter Lou Lamoriello and Barry Trotz.  While on the one hand Lamoriello has yet to dramatically impact the active roster, Barry Trotz has taken essentially the same personnel Doug Weight coached last season and transformed them into the one of the top defensive teams in the league.  For the moment, the Islanders are tied with the Boston Bruins for fewest goals allowed.  With Thursday's 4-3 victory over the Rangers, the Islanders move up two notches into seventh place of the Eastern Conference standings.  They improve their record to 24-14-4, which is only slightly better than last year's 21-18-4 with John Tavares still in uniform.

And there's the rub ...

While Tavares gets to don his Maple Leaf pajamas every night, the arrival of Barry Trotz is a perfect instance where coaching and structure are making a world of difference.  Puts both Weight and Capuano in different perspective, to say the least.


N.Y. RANGERS: You Can Not Be Disappointed With What You Do Not Expect.

The Rangers last year issued a statement saying they were going into full rebuild mode.  So why is everyone treating this season like some apocalypse?  Did some not get the message?  That being said, I will be utterly disappointed if Jeff Gorton does not continue the purge he initiated last season.  As Mats Zuccarello said on MSG channel after Thursday night's game, "This sucks!"

Yes it does, and that's why Gorton needs to continue full bore into this rebuild.  In the meantime, I'll bide my time concerning myself with what will become of last year's blue line acquisitions: Rob O'Gara, Yegor Rykov, Ryan Lindgren, and Libor Hajek.

I'll say this much about David Quinn: the Rangers temperament is much improved.  Despite a 17-19-7 record, I find the post-Alain Vigneault Rangers quite refreshing.  Their improved level of physicality and overall grittiness has not gone unnoticed.

N.Y. Rangers: Sudden Woes Continue in Canada

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

Retire Ron Greschner's Number!

Sorry, my baseball withdrawal varies from season to season.  It took me longer to kick it this year than others.  I was over it rather quickly last season, but in a rare instance this year's extended through November.  And so, here I am, 27-games into the season, my loss.

I'm essentially picking up where I left off last season.  Therefore I'll be brief.  

David Quinn is cool with me; I presently have no issues.  In fact, he's already a considerable improvement over the previous administration.  The differences in style and the team's level of grittiness are stark.  His sensibilities are far more in line with my own than those of his predecessor's.

In the bigger picture, I'm more concerned with Jeff Gorton's continuing rebuilding efforts.  How far will he go?  Because if we're really talking rebuild, that entails stripping it down.  Last year's deadline transactions were a great start.  As this season's trade deadline approaches, I plead for more of the same.  I love MatZucs, but he's right to expect a trade.  Zuccarello along with Chris Kreider should be moved.  And by no means should Jeff Gorton stop there (if you know what I mean...).

That being said, there's also a "here and now" element to rebuilding.  Newcomers Ryan Strome and Ryan Spooner are savvy acquisitions, as were bringing Adam McQuaid and Cody McLeod into the fold.

Otherwise, I entered this season with no expectations.  And so far, the Rangers are off to a positive start.  In a recent eleven game stretch (Oct. 30 through Nov. 21), they posted a 9-1-1 record.  But if you've noticed, the Rangers have struggled ever since both McQuaid and McLeod were recently lost to injury.  The Rangers are now 1-4-0 in their last five.  Both their respective absences were clearly evident during one-sided losses against the Flyers and Caps.  Then after splitting a home/home series with Ottawa, Montreal took their turn pushing the Blueshirts around on Saturday, as will other bigger teams when the Rangers play without either McQuaid or McLeod, or in this case minus both.

In support of Jeff Gorton (whom I believe forced Glen Sather's hand thereby releasing his grip on the organization), I like what I see.  My hope is he remains disciplined and committed.  Rangers fans are behind this.  Meaning there's every reason to get this done right.

#LGR

N.Y. Rangers: Draft Will Confirm Who's Really In Charge

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

Talking Tough Is One Thing; 

Drafting Tough Is Another

New York Rangers: David Quinn Named New Head Coach.

I'm not going to pretend I know anything about David Quinn, because I don't.

Nor do I care ...

I'm more concerned with the upcoming June entry draft.  Because if Jeff Gorton selects another bunch of Smurfs, then David Quinn is going to coach Smurfs.  If Jeff Gorton selects a bunch of gargoyles, then David Quinn will coach gargoyles.  If he drafts big tough two-way players with requisite speed, then Quinn will coach such players in a relative manner.

I will simply say Quinn sports a fine resume, and that I welcome a new start with a fresh face.

He becomes the 20th head coach I remember well.  I came to learn of Emil "the cat" Francis only after the famed coach's run with the Rangers ended.  The very first head coach I care to recall is Jean-Guy Talbot, whom otherwise left no real lasting impression upon me.

Fred Shero was head coach when Ron Greschner and the Rangers advanced by the hated New York Islanders en route to the 1978-1979 Stanley Cup finals.  He only lasted two seasons behind the bench (blame Barry Beck), but is worthy of an honorable mention.

Herb Brooks brought his authoritarian style - not to mention his Olympic gold medal - to Madison Square Garden in 1981 and becomes the first head coach I genuinely rallied behind.  Developing a bunch of college kids into TEAM USA and defeating the mighty Russians in 1980 earned Brooks a ton of respect.  Not unexpectedly, though, his taskmaster tactics wore thin with established NHL veterans and would be replaced by the same person he himself succeeded as head coach, i.e., Craig Patrick.

Seemingly out of nowhere, in steps Ted Sator whom astonishingly takes the original cast of off-Broadway Smurfs all the way to the conference finals.  Just as quickly, though, he also steps through and disappears beyond the Eighth Avenue steam pipes.

Fast forward ... Roger Neilson is the first Rangers head coach to win the President's Trophy.  However, like Mark Messier I couldn't stand the guy nor his system.  The Rangers clearly were in need of a major kick in the posterior, and Mike Keenan was the absolute right guy to administer just that.  But because Rangers head coaches traditionally have the lifespan of a fruit fly, Keenan left after just one (Stanley Cup) season.

Rangers fans were for the most part behind his successor, Colin Campbell.  It's just that general manager Neil Smith started making some ponderously awful trades for sake of prolonging an increasingly futile run for another Cup.

Enter the Glen Sather era ...

His body of work spanning 2000-2004 on its own should have qualified as a fire-able offense.  Unfortunately in the eyes and mind of James Dolan, the omniscient Sather can do no wrong.

John Tortorella's arrival finally marks the first time Sather starts taking seriously actual NHL level player development.  I believe now as I did back then that Tortorella slammed the brakes on Sather's impatience regarding young inexperienced players and prospects.  I'm convinced Torts did indeed hold sway over Sather, by effectively taking charge of an emerging group of players (drafted by Jeff Gorton), letting them develop together, and giving them a sorely needed identity.  If left to his own device, Glen Sather very likely would have traded many eventual endearing players, away.

However, due to his already obnoxious and increasingly erratic behavior, Torts absolutely earned his dismissal.

Shame ... (Rick Nash really let him (us) down).

Tortorella is then replaced with the diametrically opposite Alian Vigneault, whom I wanted fired the minute he was hired.  If the Canadiens didn't want him, and the Vancouver Canucks fired him in an effort to increase toughness, then I certainly didn't want Vigneault coaching the Rangers.  Let's be clear - he took Tortorella's team to the Stanley Cup finals.  But that team then underwent considerable changes to better suit Vigneault's style, of which Glen Sather was all in.  And where did that get Tex's Rangers?

Hence the genesis of today's condition.

Rewind back to the organization's statement announcing a change in direction.  My untrained ears heard Jeff Gorton wanting to gut this pig.  But I also heard Glen Sather in the background whining about wanting to rebuild while staying competitive at the same time (which we know is complete garbage nonsense).  I think Jeff Gorton recognized this as well, and may have gone so far as calling out Sather over his repeated attempts at tomfoolery (as I suspect Tortorella once did).

While serving as both assistant and interim general manager for Boston, Gorton played a large role in building up the Bruins as we know them today.  Yet, he was dismissed from Boston and hired by Sather with haste to replace Don Maloney (whom accepted the general manager's position with the Phoenix Coyotes) as head of scouting and development.  Gorton, therefore, has been a front row witness to Sather's follies for the past twelve years.  And at this juncture in his career I believe he can get an NHL job anywhere there's a need for a qualified general manager.

Therefore, why wouldn't Gorton issue Sather an ultimatum, i.e., either the rebuild goes according to his plan, or he seeks employment elsewhere.  After thinking the situation through, my fantastical scenario says Sather gave Gorton his blessings to proceed forward.

And, he did ...

• February 20: Nick Holden remarkably traded to Boston in exchange for defender Rob O'Gara and Boston's third round pick 2018 draft.  I wouldn't have given the NYR three pucks and a roll of tape ... but that's just me.  Rob O'Gara is 24-years old, 6'4" 215 lbs.

• February 23: Michael Grabner traded to rival New Jersey Devils in exchange for defender Yegor Rykov and Newark's second round pick 2018 draft.  Yegor Rykov is 20-years old, 6'1" 205 lbs.

• February 25: Rich Nash traded to Boston in exchange for three players (Ryan Spooner, Matt Belesky, and prospect defender Ryan Lindgren), plus the Bruins first round pick 2018 draft, and their seventh round pick 2019 draft.  Ryan Lindgren is 20-years old, a stocky 5'11" 203 lbs.

• February 26: Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller traded to Tampa Bay Lighting in exchange for forward Vladislav Namestnikov, prospects Libor Hajek and Brett Howden, the Bolts first round pick 2018 draft, and a conditional second round pick 2019 draft.  Defenseman Libor Hajek is 20-years old, 6'2" 196 lbs.  Centerman Brett Howden is 19-years old, 6'2" 193 lbs.

The 2018 NHL entry draft is less than thirty days away.

With an eye towards the future, Jeff Gorton spoke of becoming a more physical team.

With his mind on the present, David Quinn spoke of being a physical team.

Fine.

Now we find out who's really in charge.

Talking crunch is one thing; drafting crunch is another.  If it turns out being the latter, then Gorton is calling the shots.  If it turns out being the former, then we know Sather is still firmly in charge.