How the latest trade and big signing will affect the Rangers.
When all is said and done about the Rangers' electrifying moves the only real difference in the team is Jacob Trouba's move to California.
That is addition by subtraction.
A fading defender is gone and young prospect Victor Mancini will replace him. Mancini couldn't be worse than Trouba but he figures to be better and better as he gains experience.
Throw-in Defenseman Urho Vaakanainen has no particular value – or as my buddy Jess Rubenstein says, "He's just a body."
Don't fool yourself, this essentially is the same team as the one so severely criticized as softer than a wet sponge. That has not changed even with the victory last night.
That goes for coach Peter Laviolette of whom it has been said that "He still can't find the pilot light, let alone the burner!"
Ditto for K'Andre Miller, Adam Fox and Ryan Lindgren on defense as well as Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider up front. Each a flub in one way or another and each one could be gone faster than the A train in rush hour.
Drury has threatened changes so we should take him as his word. He promised deals with Big Al Lafreniere as well as Shesterkin and he delivered.
But it's still the same team that's been playing like turkeys since Thanksgiving!