Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal News / USA TODAY NETWORK [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/fa1dacaa-b8a4-4056-9c90-6b667632b0d8.jpeg] Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal News / USA TODAY NETWORK Neil Smith knows more than a little bit about hockey. Much more. In fact the native Torontonian knows tons about the ice game. He belongs in the Hall of Fame for a number of reasons, not the least of which is his general managing the New York Rangers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers] to the club's last Stanley Cup in 1994. Smith – along with colleague Vic Morren – is co-host of one of the most insightful hockey podcasts on the continent, NHL Wraparound. On a recent podcast in which The Athletic's Vince Mercogliano was a guest, the Rangers' plight was their subject and Smith delivered cogent comments about the Blueshirts and their woes. Listen up because Neil's observations always are on target: Not surprisingly the current stewardship of Blueshirt GM Chris Drury was a meaty target. Neil pointed out that Drury's modus operandi was open for examination. "Drury was a player in the league for a long time," said Smith, "a Stanley Cup-winning player, a captain and a captain of the Rangers. Yet he has probably been the worst I have ever seen as to the way he treats his players." A Blueshirt Analyst Explains The Disaster [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/375f5679-574c-427d-a7c3-f14240798c4b.jpeg] A Blueshirt Analyst Explains The Disaster The <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers">Rangers</a> are enjoying a six-day break – if you call being buried in the cellar with no place to go and plenty of useless games to play, "a break." [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/latest-news/a-blueshirt-analyst-explains-the-disaster] Smith named the usual suspects – Trouba, Goodrow and Kreider. "I never treated a player like that," Neil asserted. It confuses me as to how an ex-player can be so numb to the feelings of the players?" As for Artemi Panarin's future, Smith got some giggles with this one: "Obviously, if you're walking around with jeans on – and a tattered coat, there's no sense having a five-carat diamond on your hands!"
