There's a new day dawning for the Blueshirts and its official flying object is The Bluebird of Happiness.
Or, to put joy in its four-word context: THINGS ARE LOOKING UP!
No matter how you shake it, Chris Drury, Inc. has begun its rebuild and – for just that alone – there should be joy in Mudville. The following are The Maven's raucous reasons why:
1. YOUNG MVP SAVED: Despite false suggestions that some filthy-nasty team would make a pitch for "Where There's A Will Cuylle," the generous GM Drury tied him down to Seventh Avenue with a new deal. The Maven forecasts that No-So-Wee Willie will be the club's 2025-26 MVP. Period!
2. A 'BULLVON' ON THE BLUE LINE: I'm very bullish about 6-3, 220 pound Vladislav (Call me Slava) Gavrikov being added to a defense that needs all the beef it can get. Don't be surprised if he turns into the Second Coming of Jake Trouba; only better!
3. LOOKING AHEAD TO THE NEXT DRAFT: It's a fact that the 2026 Entry Draft is projected to be one of the most fruitful since Connor McDavid skated on double-runners. His Nothing Could Be Finer Than Carolina deal adds a first and second-rounder to Drury's collection.
4. ADDITION BY SUBTRACTION: How bad was K'Andre Miller? Maven Round Table Member Bernie Rhode says: "He had more turnovers than a baker!" Miller was no more than an aspiring star but never reached that plateau on Broadway or Seventh Avenue.
K'Andre Miller Expected To Sign Eight-Year, $60 Million Contract With Hurrcianes As Part Of Blockbuster Sign-And-Trade
A sign-and-trade between the New York <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/" target="_blank">Rangers</a> and Carolina Hurricanes is close to being completed.
TIME OUT: It's only July 2, which means that Drury's dressing room fumigation has only begun. The Dear Boy has almost three months to play around with his pawns.
One of them happens to be spelled Mika Zibanejad.
Ah, if only the New York Americans were around today; Red Dutton would have grabbed The Poor Man's DJ faster than you can say, "Adam Fox, You're Next!"