1. Whatever you may think of the Rangers' returning David Quinn and hiring Joe Sacco, plus Ty Hennes, GM Chris Drury has not completed this latest re-staffing because he likes to lose.
2. The possibility exists that each of the new trio will bring effective learning to the organization and, especially for coach Mike Sullivan who knows them all well.
3. That said, there remain areas of concern, starting with the teamwide lack of SPIRIT, which Joe Micheletti fingered as the club's major debit.
What To Make Of The Rangers' New Assistant Coaches
The Maven is the happiest guy in town now that David Quinn has been re-imported by the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers" target="_blank">Rangers</a>.
4. That serious weakness could – and maybe will – change with the hoped for naming of a team captain. That void must be filled.
5. Based on the miserable, failed run to The Finish Line, the best description of Rangers "spirit" was dead-from-the-neck-up.
6. The other uncertain area of concern, ironically enough, is goaltending. The Maven states this despite the knowledge that Igor Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick will return.
7. The easy thing to do is to slough off Shesterkin's below-average puck-stopping as a one-season aberration that won't happen again. But that ignores key facts.
8. Up until last season, Igor had Benoit (Benny) Allaire as his personal guidance counselor. Benny's retirement coincided with Shesty's season-long slump. And if you think that's a coincidence, I do not.
9. Shesterkin will open the season with a new contract that makes him the richest goalie in history. With that bundle, comes the challenge of living up to living high.
10. Or, to put it another way, the richest goalie should live up to his salary by winning games that others would not win. Igor's preliminary test was in the homestretch where it was hoped that he'd lift his club into the playoffs. He did not!
11. The caveat here is that Chris Drury will be one of the most active – he hopes – GMs in the league, dealing left and right to improve what has gone down as one of the most disappointing Rangers team in 99 years.
12. Another one like 2024-25 and all the king's horses and all the king's men won't be able to put the Humpty Rangers together again!