When The Maven said that the Blueshirts would knock out seven teams to make the postseason next spring, I did not expect an earthquake of approval.
My point is that the revitalized Rangers will be a better team than Boston, Detroit, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh (for damn sure), Washington, Columbus and Buffalo.
This not only upset Maven Round Table Chairman – this week only – Jess Rubenstein. What's more, the distinguished Chairman actually opened his rebuttal with an apology; and I kid you not.
"Sorry," (Isn't that an apology) says Rubenstein, "but unless Mika Zibanejad and Alexis Lafrenière have some 'Moses Parts The Red Sea" kind of comeback, the Rangers will have just one legit scoring line.
"And on defense, once you get past Adam Fox, Slava Gavrikov and Braden Schneider, the other three defensemen are question marks."
It's not that Jeff and I never agree, we're on the same page when it comes to our wondering just how well the Igor Sheterkin-Jonathan Quick duo will fare between the pipes.
Or, to put it another way, we believe that the absence of goalie guru Benoit (Benny) Allaire still will have a negative effect in the Department of Goals Against. When you think about it, you have to wonder who's sorry now that Benny retired?)
Rubenstein: "The Rangers thought that replacing Allaire with one of his disciples would be workable."
The record – without Benny – holds the answer. My other answers to Jovial Jess goes this way:
1. Mika and Lafreniere are perfectly capable of coming back strong. Each has the skills and – unless they've been taking defeatist pills, they should be well-motivated with new coach Mike Sullivan.
2. Sure, the bottom half of the defense roster is an uncertain quantity. But iffy players such as young Scott Morrow have a definite plus side and easily could positively surprise.
Pressing Rangers Questions And Answers
When a club like the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers" target="_blank">Rangers</a> finishes in the NHL's subterranean depths, it raises questions that must be answered before the autumn leaves start to fall. (Now don't be a wise guy and tell me that they're falling already.)
3. As for the absence of Benny Allaire, that's purely a Shesterkin problem where the goal crease becomes a lonesome old town. But I would think that – at this point in his career – Shesty could figure out how to stop pucks all by his itty-bitty self.
Meanwhile, Rubenstein has been sitting in the corner itching to come up with a wiseguy answer; and here it comes: (See The Maven duck under the table.)
"Maven," says Jess, chuckling softly under his breath, "your question should have been, 'Which teams will the Rangers contend against to get the First Overall Draft Pick in the 2026 NHL Draft?"
P.S. NEWS FLASH! RUBENSTEIN HAS JUST BEEN FIRED FROM THE MAVEN'S ROUND TABLE – FOR A GOOD 15 MINUTES!
P.S.S. He now also has a square table of his own, and is open for questions!