No question, the Panthers-Maple Leafs series was hockey melodrama at its best. 

And for those who REALLY care – especially the Blueshirts brass and the good citizens of Rangerville – there's a lot to learn from that tourney. Here are The Maven's 15 thoughts:

1. First and foremost DON'T SIGN JOHN TAVARES. (I put that in capital letters because I REALLY MEAN IT.)

A Special Playoff Tonic For Rangers Fans The Maven knows how tough it is in Rangerville. 

2. Tavares – the guy who skipped town leaving the Islanders high and dry – will become a free agent and some GM will be duped into signing him.

3. Warning to Chris Drury: DON'T! The Leafs threw the bank at Tavares and foolishly made him the captain. They figured that he was the missing piece who would bring Toronto its first Cup since 1967.

4. As I learned first hand on Long Island, Tavares is as much a leader as Mortimore Snerd and the only cup he'll bring to The Garden has something written on its side: DUNKIN' DONUTS!

5.  Leafs' boss Brendan Shanahan – also to become a free agent – constructed a "sure thing" core. Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and Tavares. They were supposed to guarantee a championship for Toronto.

6. Chris Drury also built a core; a Big Apple core led by Breadman Panarin and Mika Zibanajad. Another Toronto-New York similarity.

7. The Leafs overpaid Chump Quartet annually delivered a CHAMPIONSHIP while chirping "All Or Nothing At All." 

8. Last year Florida got the ALL – and could do it again – and the Leafs got nothing at all. The non-playoff Rangers were even worse.

9. Toronto has the richest team of the 32 NHL squads; the Rangers are the second richest. Seems like there's a failure Syndrome there folks, doesn't it.

10. Drury is eyeing soon-to-be-free agent Marner who'd love to cut his Maple Leaf chains and emigrate to Seventh Avenue between West 33th and West 31st Streets. But Double M will want more simoleans than Igor Shesterkin is making. Should Drury pay huge for Marner?

11. The answer is YES if you don't care whether the Rangers make the playoffs or not. The answer is NO if you want something better than the Blueshirts' Fat Cats gave you this year.

12. Florida knocked off Toronto because Cats GM Bill Zito strengthened his roster with the likes of Brad Marchand up front and Seth Jones on D. 

13. When a playoff berth was still possible, Chris Drury strengthened the Rangers with what? What, I ask you – WHAT?

14. Shanahan fired coach Sheldon Keefe last summer and imported Craig Berube who couldn't even awaken his team for last night's biggest game of Toronto's season. 

15. Drury fired retread coach Peter Laviolette and replaced him with retread coach Mike Sullivan. Lavvy and Shanny have one thing in common, they are not Paul Maurice who happens to be coach of the still-champion Florida Panthers.