Jerome Miron-Imagn ImagesExactly a year ago when Joe Micheletti retired from doing Blueshirt tv analysis for MSG Networks, he was asked a very simple question:
"What's wrong with the Rangers? WHAT EXACTLY WENT WRONG?"
Joe fielded the question on the short hop.
"No spirit!'
Micheletti did not utter the two words in secret. It was heard – and read – by every one in the Blueshirt organization, and all the ships at sea.
Since neither Chris Drury nor his self-appointed coach Mike Sullivan were obviously aware of Joe Mich's rip, you would have thought the two front office geniuses would have a logical, honest response.
Like maybe find a way to instill SPIRIT into the lineup. No? Yes?
When it came to a pure, pasteurized edition, this model turned out to be worse than the previous disaster.
A key reason for that was the anointing of J.T. Miller as captain.
LOGIC 101 LESSON: If last year's losers had no spirit. And this group of skating mummies had less; should we be surprised that they finished last in the division?
Analagous question: Does Niagara Falls flow up or down?