Despite some panic over the Rangers' disappointing playoff exit, New York should certainly keep their core intact.
The fallout from the Rangers' fall from Stanley Cup competition is understandable.
Those who believed the slogan "Stanley Cup Or Bust" are understandably miffed at being left with nothing but "Bust."
Then there is the analytics bunch who will juggle enough theories until you'll be so dizzy that you'll think that the Blueshirts still are about to beat the Panthers.
Finally, there's the press corps – also known as media – where some argue that the Blueshirts lineup should be blitzed. (In Brooklyn we used to say "Throw The Bums Out" but that's a No-No now.)
At least one press box sage suggests that it's time to fumigate the Rangers "Core" which is not a nice thing to say or do to the following "Core Men."
Chris Kreider: He'll be 33 by September and not yet over the hill. His series-saving hat trick vs Carolina shows there's good stuff left on his stick.
Breadman Panarin: Granted he got pushed around by the naughty-naughty Cats. So what? His regular season histrionics prove that he still has more talent in him than, say, Blake Wheeler. Panny is too gifted to be unloaded.
Mika Zibanejad is one of the NHL's very best SECOND line centers. Management was deceiving itself believing he's a Grade A playoff pivot. But Mika The Marvelous still has the goods to be a second line asset.
Trade The Z man? No way!
Really, the problem with beating Florida was that general manager Chris Drury failed the way Emile "The Cat" Francis failed in the same role a half-century ago.
Or, as the late Hall of Famer Rod Gilbert told me multiple times: "We needed more toughness to match the Cup-winning (1970 and 1972) Bruins. The Cat never got us enough of that which is why we came out second-best."
All Drury has to do is 1. Go shopping and come back with two tough forwards in the Panthers mold; 2. Keep the core intact.
The Maven rests his case!