Listening to the Rangers alibi their disgraceful season was like having a dinner only consisting of a dozen stale muffins. (Or, Drury's stale pizza.)
But if you have the stomach to digest what a veteran, objective hockey observer thinks of the New York Slumpers, then LISTEN UP.
Chris Riley knows. He starred in college hockey, coached and worked in the NHL tv production business for decades. Here's Riley's review of the Rangers, so hold on to your seat:
"Peter Laviloette lost the team in December. Something happened in the locker room and the season – for all intents and purposes – was over. I don't believe that Chris Drury knew how to handle the situation.
"Drury and Peter Laviolette had issues over what went wrong with the team. As for personnel side issues, the one thing that surprised me was the fact that Sam Rosen, Joe Micheletti and the Rangers TV production crew were not allowed to stay in the team hotel. That proved to be a very weird situation.
"Also, I believe that Artemi Panarin is a problem as well as Chris Kreider. In my mind, captain Jacob Trouba was fighting a battle with them as long as he was with the team. Body language says a lot and I watched Trouba seemingly not having much to do with them.
"Mika Zibanejad vanished once the problems started. He's not a confrontational guy and didn't know how to handle what was happening. And, no, the trade for J.T. Miller did not improve anything. When he got to New York he soon realized what a blankety show it was and just decided to play out the season the best he could.
"Add to that the fact that there was no team unity. It also seemed to me that Adam Fox on defense acted as if he didn't care. K'Andre Miller often looked as if he was playing pond hockey at times with turnovers and confusion over defense in his zone.
"As for Igor Shersterkin, there were times when he looked like a Beer League goalie. If I were guessing, he seemed to be thinking, 'I have my big contract – who gives a hoot?' Yet, before he won his huge deal he was a world-beater.
"There's something to be said for team chemistry as opposed to stats and analytics. It amazes me when I watch the bench and see players with their heads down looking at, I PADS. My comment, 'Hey, math wizards, the game is played on the rink and not on an IPAD.' They need more camaraderie.
"With the Rangers, I do not see it!"