The Maven dives into what went wrong for the Rangers against the Panthers and what this offseason presents for the Blueshirts.
1. The third-worst mistake made by Chris Drury was thinking that Jack Roslovic was the answer as right wing for Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad.
2. Drury's first-best move would be to find a trading partner and move restricted free agent Kaapo Kakko somewhere far, far away; say like San Jose or perhaps Vancouver. Maybe the Finnish League.
3. I can dream can't I? But The Maven was just musing that Black Ace defenseman Chad Ruhwedel would have played more efficiently than Jake Trouba.
4. A few pals and I have been debating whether this playoff-failing Rangers outfit deserves the "Choke" label. The majority feedback is negative; it was not a choke.
5. Brooklyn-based author-critic Steve Viuker says nix to choke. He explains, "Choke is failure of a person or persons to act or behave as anticipated or expected."
6. Meanwhile, Sean McCaffrey, publisher of Blue Collar Blueshirts says that what we experienced was, yes, a choke. "The Rangers were up 2-1 with home ice – and, yes, it was a choke. Was Florida really better or did the Rangers usual suspects do what they always do at this time of year – go into hiding. This was a failed season!"
7. Coach of non-choke Florida, Paul Maurice, offers this bit of enlightenment: "When the pressure got the greatest we played our best hockey."
8. If Chris Kreider doesn't want the captaincy then Ryan Lindgren would be my second choice. Anyone but Trouba.
9. The other important Maven Poll is complete: The question: Should Peter Laviolette be fired for failure In Florida? The overwhelmingly majority answer is: "Give him one more year!"
10. Pistol Pete's in-again-out-again indecision about how and when to play Matt Rempe destroyed what could have been an effective playoff fourth line.