The Maven suggested a good month ago that Mark Messier could repair this broken Rangers franchise either by coaching or managing the Blueshirts.
Analyzing the team on tv yesterday, Messier offered these suggestions. Please review them as I did. Then note howThe Maven proves that Mark's plan couldn't work under the Drury-Laviolette axis.
1. GET A CAPTAIN; Mess points out that a genuine leader with a "C" on his jersey would supply the necessary roster cohesion so egregiously missing now. MAVEN'S ANSWER: They had one in Jacob Trouba and dumped him. They acquired J.T. Miller for that role but never gave him the C. Call that two mistakes rolled up into one.
2. CREATE AN IDENTITY: Tomorrow night's opponent in Sunrise is a good example of a team with an identity. That's why the Panthers are defending champs; their identity can be summed up in two words: toughness – talent. MAVEN'S ANSWER: Drury built a soft, vanilla team, easily pushed around. The club cop – Matt Rempe – never knows when his next suspension will send him to the press box. The only way the Blueshirts can get an identity is with a new front office. Right now the New York identity has two words, FAT CATS.
3. DEFINE A NUCLEUS & BUILD A CULTURE. Sorry, Mess, but you lose me with those fancy terms. MAVEN'S ANSWER: The Garden marketeers created a "There's No Quit In The Rangers" slogan which looked and sounded good – until Lavvy's Laughers quit on him.
BOTTOM LINE: Messier's points are well taken but Lavvy-Drury didn't know how to do it. Surely, Drury alone won't have the solution. A complete front office overhaul is necessary, but likely won't happen under Jim Dolan's ownership. Figure on a Drury return and more Blueshirt blundering.