April is what every red-blooded hockey fan awaits, wants and loves. That's because it's the most important time of the year – the playoffs are on!
This is the "second" 2024-25 season where intensity – check Habs-Caps war – percolates over the top and there's no time for comedy.
It's real, super-genuine, non-Rangers hockey, if you don't mind my accurately telling you so.But what does it mean for a Blueshirts fan who's on the outside looking in at the best hockey of the year?
There are several ways the good citizens of Rangersvile react when they're not sitting in the corner, sulking about what could have been, and what is not.
Here are some to chew on – with an Everything Bagel, of course.
1. ANGER: The rehiring of failed GM Chris Drury continues to rankle the loyalists who fail to understand logic. (There is none). This inner fury will last until something positive emerges from the Seventh Avenue Fortress; possibly the naming of a new coach.
2. HOPE: Though furious over Drury's stewardship of his Losers, there's always a chance that his fourth coaching choice actually will be a good one. This comes under the heading, "You Can't Get Arrested For Dreaming."
3. ANALYTICS: This growing hockey industry offers ever numbers-nerd a chance to spend the entire summer doing nothing but wasting time when he or she could be reading a good book such as Ken Morrow's autobiography.
4. FANTASY: This could kill time all summer. Just spend days trying to figure out how to dump/trade The Dead Wood Brigade, starting with Mika Zibanejad and the rest of the Country Club contingent.
5. ACTUALLY ROOTING: For example it's possible – though improbable – that Rangers fans who live in New Jersey would now – temporarily – root for the Devils. Garden Stater – and died-in-the-wood Rangers fan – Harvey Cohen told me. "I hope the Devils do well." (I'd like to believe that he's serious.) My estimate is this: 99 percent root against the Devs. Or as one Rangers fan wrote to me: "Because I'm loyal to the Rangers!"
The Forgotten Man Behind The Rangers' Failures In 2024-25.
For months the mainstream media, assorted hockey savants and the citizens of Rangerville have been trying to finger the root cause of the club's disgustingly miserable season.
6. SOUR GRAPES: Every time a Devils fan says something nice – like bragging about Simon Nemec's brilliant OT winner the other night, you say something nasty – like "Beginner's luck" or it was really offside. Or the perfect squelch: "Matt Rempe could have done that with his eyes closed."
7. ALTERNATIVE: Read a good book; such as the Maven's TALES OF BROOKLYN.