|
Rangers close out 2024 in Florida against the Panthers |
|
|
|
|
|
The Rangers close out 2024 in Florida against the Panthers. New York is in a vastly different position, both standings and mindset wise, from when the two teams faced off in the Eastern Conference Finals. If you told any Blueshirts' fan seven months ago this would be the case, no one would have been you, but yet, here is where we are.
The worst insult you can give an athlete is that he quit or that he is soft. Larry Brooks used that word repeatedly in his column below, taking the players to task. He very clearly said the players quit on Peter Laviolette and in general. The team started 5-0-1 and 12-4-1, then the bottom dropped out and as the team slid down the standings, the compete level went south along with the record. The lack of leadership in the room and on the ice has been staggering and somewhat surprising. No one was about to step up and help stem the tide, which unfortunately says a lot about the character of the squad.
Elliotte Friedman in his 32 thoughts podcast went into this even more. He noted that the waiving of Barclay Goodrow and trades of Jacob Trouba (and Kaapo Kakko) may just be the tip of the iceberg. Mika Zibanejad certainly is one to watch and if Vincent Trocheck was available, though is likely not, he would be most team's #1 target. Friedman added that the surgery of this team is not often because management has decided that this group is not it and more changes are coming.
I have no idea where this lands, nor do I think anyone in the organization does. Every attempted change has not worked. A few additional draconian moves remain. This team certainly has fractured and lacks any level of confidence. Barring a complete 180-degree turn back to where they were six weeks ago, by March 7, we likely won't recognize this team.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»