Don’t argue with me, please!
That’s my firm request because what I’m gonna tell you is purely personal.
But this much is certain: having covered the New York hockey scene for more than a half-century, I’ve never known a more cockeyed, “misshugah,” mixed up, leaderless outfit than this one.
The culprits?
It has to start with the hands-on leaders – the general manager and the coach, Chris Drury and Peter Laviolette.
“What we don’t know – and may never know – is how deeply involved Jim Dolan is in this mess,” says The Old Scout. “It’s his club but he’s avoided comment thus far, so we don’t know.”
Then, a pause: “Nor do we know how much Dolan knows about what’s going on inside his club.”
What ownership does know is that MSG is in danger of losing a ton of money should the Rangers miss the playoffs.
Remarkably, with all the applesauce that’s been spilled, the Rangers easily could gain a Wild Card berth if it only would win games — like tonight in Winnipeg, for instance.
“They had a glorious chance to pick up four big points over the weekend,” adds The Old Scout. “The different ways they lost both games still is hard to believe.”
With a 3-1 lead half-way through the third period, New York had a stranglehold on Ottawa. And how does one explain blowing the advantage, just like that?
“They just stopped playing,” The Old Scout explains, “as if the game was over.”
The overtime immediately was lost on a terribly bad pass by K’Andre Miller who shouldn’t have been on the ice in the first place.
“Blame Laviolette,” says Old Scout, “Miller had no business being out there in the first place.”
On Sunday, two points were there for the asking. The visiting Blue Jackets had lost two in a row and ready to be taken.
This time the defense was a disaster and Quick was no bargain in goal.
The road schedule ahead is challenging to say the least. It starts tonight in Winnipeg, then on to Minnesota on Thursday and a reunion at Columbus on Saturday. .
As tough as this upcoming opposition has been, the erratic Rangers have – in the past at least – often surprised. It could happen again.
I expect that Jim Dolan will be checking out his club. A pair of losses could – once and for all – convince him that changes in the general staff must be made before September camp opens .
But with this mixed up team you never know what to expect! That’s what this Rangers team is all about. Confused and confusing!