The Panthers outsmarted the Rangers with both their play and front office decisions to come up victorious in the Eastern Conference Final.
It was a complete KO. The Panthers are playing for the Stanley Cup tonight – and not the Rangers – because Florida beat the Blueshirts ON the ice and OFF the ice as well.
New York is on the outside looking in because Rangers general manager Chris Drury got comparatively trumped in every way by the Cats genius hockey boss Bill Zito. Here's how:
DEFENSE: Apart from Ryan Lindgren, vs. Florida the Blueshirts blue line corps – you, too Adam Fox – proved mediocre. Now I'll name THREE Florida defenseman who were better than any Peter Laviolette iced. Also how Zito beat Drury in getting them.
1. GUSTAV FORSLING: Can you believe that Zito got him for $0. Bashin' Bill merely picked Gus up on waivers in 2021 and he's become a star. Get this: He finished the regular season with a league-leading Plus-56.
2. BRANDON MONTOUR: Here's another incredible bargain passed up by Drury. At the 2021 trade deadline, Montour was available and Zito got him for a third-rounder. Brandon showed the Rangers a double-threat as defender and offensive D-man with a rocket shot that led the Cats' power play unit.
3. NIKO MIKKOLA: This is embarrassing. He was a Ranger but Drury dropped him – and dropped the ball again -- so Zito said "Thank you very much" and gave up not a thing. Mikkola played all 82 games for Florida, hitting, blocking shots and playing better in the third round than Fox, Trouba and the rest. The Rangers offered this winner nothing and Zito picked him up for nada.
Oh, yeah, Drury did bolster his defense by acquiring Chad Ruhwedel from Pittsburgh. Chad is a useful, experienced blueliner. You would figure that with Fox, Trouba and Lindgren all hurting that Ruhwedel could have been a worthwhile replacement.
Nay and nay; he rottenly rotted upstairs in the press box. And if that doesn't hurt enough, how about two more guys who really hurt the Rangers up front.
1. SAM BENNETT: This fella was all over the place whacking Rangers and scoring goals. Guess what? Zito got him for two players who still have not appeared in the NHL.
2. SAM REINHART: The son of ex-NHLer Paul Reinhart killed the Rangers in the Conference Final. Zito traded goalie Devon Levi and a 2022 first-rounder for this power play ace. This Sam -- like Bennett -- has proven well worth it.
Do you remember Drury's wonderful deadline acquisitions not named Jake Guentzel? How about a chap named Alex Wennberg....ah, let's forget about it!