The cataclysmic crumbling of the Rangers has left a fallout of questions whose answers will determine the franchise's future. The following are The Maven's "Most Important" list of queries:

1. THE LAVIOLETTE LEGACY? How will Peter Laviolette's tenure in New York be evaluated? Here's the bitter-sweet answer: Terrific first year. Sickening the second time around. I don't see an NHL head coaching job in his future. Collegiate? Why not!

2. WHO'S THE NEXT COACH? MSG boss James Dolan knows he's got to insert himself in the process today. The range of candidates – from multi-Cup-winners such as Joel Quenneville to newcomers like Jay Pandolfo – extend all the way to the Canadian border. The Maven favors either Q or John Tortorella but I wouldn't be surprised if they settle on a quietly outstanding Jeff Halpern from the Lightning staff. (Halpern is on the inside, moving up!)

3. WILL CHRIS DRURY KEEP HIS JOB? If a serious poll were taken on the subject, Rangerville would have him out of the job in a Manhattan minute. But all signs indicate that Dolan will give him another year because of the chaos involved in finding a replacement. 

4. HOW INVOLVED WILL THE REBUILDING BE? Even stealth-like Drury admits that now even his job is on the line. He must find ways of unloading dead wood such as Chris Kreider and other over the hill veterans. It won't be easy to deal "no-trade" characters like Mika Zibanejad. Furthermore, blockbuster deals involving the likes of Adam Fox and even Artemi Panarin have to be considered.

5. HOW DOES THIS AFFECT THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY? Nobody does "festivals" better than MSG and this will somewhat distract from a losing team. It's roughly equivalent to the Rangers redent homestretch when everyone was toasting Sam Rosen but the team sullied the celebration with its inept play.