1. Mikael Granlund is The Maven's choice as a potential Rangers free agent get. He's a proven scorer and a solid playoff performer who'd enhance the NY power play.
2. With Dallas, Granlund filled in for the injured Tyler Seguin in the top six and also would have a role with the Rangers' penalty-killing unit.
3. In a regular season 4-0 loss, I saw everything I needed to know regarding who should be the first Rangers group to be given the boot. Here's how:
4. Adam Fox, Chris Kreider, J.T. Miller, K'Andre Miller, The Breadman, Mika and Vinnie Trocheck, all were saddled with minuses.
5. By contrast, Brett Berard, Will Cuylle, Sam Carrick, Brennan Othmann, Gabe Perreault and Braden Schneider all evaded the "minus" category.
6. Or, as insightful hockey seer Joltin' Joe Dionisio notes: "One vet having an off night is feasible, but eight of them collapsing isn't a recipe for success."
7. I said it then and I'll say it again; the Rangers never should have punted Jimmy Vesey out of town.
The Extent Of The Rangers House-Cleaning Is More Than You Know
It took a good half-year for Chris Drury to unload the unwanted Chris Kreider.
8. There are "Insiders" all over the place but for The Maven there's only one "Insighter." Her name is Jessica Cassino and she regularly emits gems as easy as exhaling.
9. I asked Jess what she would have said to the Rangers in a pre-game pep talk that Peter Laviolette did not. Ms. Cassino shot back: "My words for them would have made (Hollywood's "Goodfellas") Martin Scorsese blush." Then, a pause: "But the Rangers would get the point!"