Memories of Mark Messier and Brian Leetch should help the current New York Rangers win the Stanley Cup.
Memories of Mark Messier and Brian Leetch should help the current New York Rangers win the Stanley Cup.
But here's the issue.
Coach Peter Laviolette has his Leetch, and that's none other than Adam (I Can Defend, I Can Score, And I Can Think) Fox.
But Lavvu has no Messier, and now we have to find one to make this Trail To The Stanley Cup easily walkable by The Lads In Blue.
So, we start with the current Captain and ask ourselves, is Jacob Trouba anything like Mess?
And the answer is "a little but not a lot."
But that's not to fret because our answer is in a "Leadership Committee" out of four guys with the Messier Touch.
The Maven starts with Chris Kreider, an original Ranger, and that's gosh darn important because this guy is ALL-New York, a lifetime Blueshirt. What's more, he'll do anything to win a game and has the track record to show it.
It was Kreider who -- on May 17, 2021 -- single-handedly beat the Canadiens in that series by taking out All-Star goalie Cory Price.
After the Blueshirt bulldozed him, Price exited for the rest of the playoffs with a serious knee injury.
(Important Historic Note: The Canadiens called it a premeditated hit. The Rangers contended that the Habs Alexei Emelin pushed Kreider into Price.)
Really, it doesn't matter. What matters is that without Cory, the Habs were no better than the Valleyfield Braves. The Rangers knocked off the Canadiens and went to the Finals.
P.S. They still hate Kreider in Montreal and let me assure you, no big deal! Kreider -- with one crash -- knocked out the goalie and his team.
Getting back to the Rangers Rah-Rah Department, the offense leader has to be Lavvy's biggest gun, Artemi (Most Motivated Ranger) Panarin.
The Breadman does not have to utter one single "Rah." Just go out and bake those Pumpernickels disguised as pucks.
Since we only need three to become the Messier facsimile, I have to choose between Mika Zibanejad and Vincent Trocheck.
The Magnificent M has the style all right, but V-for-Victory Vinnie has the Mess-type substance, so I go with The Check Man.
By the way, goalkeepers are excluded from this list, so I'll round it out with my idea of the Most-Messier-Type-Defenseman -- Ryan Lindgren.
Now for the most serious question of this equation: Is there enough leadership in Pistol Pete's Platoon to defeat Rod Brind'Amour's wranglers?
The answer has to be "YES!" It has to be since The Maven is on record for them to win The Cup.
P.S. I'm sure it would help if Mark Messier was standing right behind me as I write this.
Not to worry, the 2024 Rangers leaders will take care of business.
And Messier will be proud!