In case you Rangers fans are tired of the Mainstream hockey writers "hocking a chinik" about Chris (Turned Tortoise) Kreider's exit – sob-sob – and other such nonsense, it's time to meet Mister Nitty Gritty for some harsh hockey talk.
That's The Maven's name for pal Sean McCaffrey who – unlike the Mainstreamers – minces no words and gets to Rangers Truth faster than you can say "Where's Sam Rosen when the Blueshirts need him?"
With that in mind, I consulted with Sean, publisher of Blue Collar Blueshirts, on what the Mainstreamers are missing. McCaffrey's truths are stranger than fiction. So, I tossed a few hot questions at him. Here goes:
QUESTION ONE: Is there any way to dump your nemesis – and mine and thousands of Rangers Fans – Mike Zibanejad? He says he doesn't want to leave New York and he has the "Dreaded No Movement Clause." Now what?
McCaffrey: "For starters, 'No Movement Clauses' can be broken. Take for example Ryan McDonagh of the Lightning and how fast he returned there two years later.
"As for Mika – and if I was Chris Drury – Rangers management should tell him straight-out, 'We're going in a different direction and you can sit in the pressbox. Taking away a player's time is one way to force someone's hand who has a NMC."
The mainstream media is talking a lot about Drury doing a big cleaning out of the Rangers core; assuming such a thing exists. They've been talking for months about dealing Chris Kreider any second now. If it happens, would that be the start of something big for the Rangers?
McCaffrey: "I don't see this off-season being one that changes the Rangers' future. On the other hand, the next off-season features a better Draft class as well as a much-deeper Free Agent pool as well.
"Mike Sullivan might as well give the young Blueshirts all the ice time. Meanwhile, Drury should hold on to Breadman Panarin until the Trade Deadline when his value will be at its best for a Cup contender."
The Rangers Accomplish Their Goal By Trading Chris Kreider And Not Retaining Any Of His Salary
New York <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers" target="_blank">Rangers</a> president and general manager Chris Drury was able to accomplish his main goal in the trade, sending Chris Kreider to the Anaheim Ducks.
The Washington Capitals proved this past season that a team not only can be turned around in a year, but it can be revived into a contender. Might this be possible for the Rangers in 2025-26?
McCaffrey: "The 2024-25 season was so bad – and Florida exposed the Rangers even before that – that I don't see the Rangers as being much of a force next season at all."
What's your solution for the Blueshirts? "The Rangers organization needs to get down to bedrock and reconstruct!"