I'm pleased to report that Rangers fans are not so parochial that they are ignoring the Stanley Cup Final and are loving it. Here are a few thoughts:
1. Game Six tomorrow night in Florida could be the Panthers' Cup-clincher yet for some strange reason they do relatively poorly in Sunrise. Go figure!
2. "Momentum" does not exist in this Final. In fact, the entire idea of "momentum" being a factor is pure nonsense.
3. That's why I predict an Edmonton victory in Sunrise with Connor McDavid leading the way.
4. At the rate Brad Marchand has been scoring for the Cats, you have to wonder how GM Bill Zito could possibly let him depart to Free Agency.
5. Guess who's the highest-rated Ranger in The Hockey News' Top 100 list? It's Igor Shesterkin at 35 with Adam Fox at 40.
6. Now you know why the Rangers are in trouble. One veteran NY beat writer offers this: "Shesterkin is their biggest problem." Plus. "With Igor, there's no accountability when they lose."
7. As for the ultra-disappointing Alexis Lafreniere, Big A will require Chris Drury retaining a chunk of his salary if the Rangers try to move him before next season.
Incredible But True Rangers Tales: The Forgotten Cup Hero Of 1940
The "Put A Banner Up For Chris Kreider" bloc simply doesn't know what it's lobbying about because it doesn't know <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers" target="_blank">Rangers</a> history like The Maven.
8. Rangers Who Could Be Pieces Of Trades: Carrick, Borgen, Vaakanainen, Parssinen.
9. A non-marginal, non-late acquisition who should be traded: K'Andre Miller.
10. Of all the Drury late-season acquisitions, Cal de Haan received the absolute worst treatment from the Laviolette-Drury combine. (They might as well have made him the stickboy.)