Rangers Fans: Attention, Please: Your 2024-25 Villains are hereby exposed. Let's face it, every fan must have a hockey villain. Right? It's a virtual law of fandom. But first, know who the Maven's Private Rangers Villain-Buster happens to be. It's Long Islander Sean McCaffrey and he's written the definitive book on the subject: "Ranger Killers – Villains of New York Rangers History." Take my word for it; this book is a pip – all 411 pages and one hundred villains of it. This well-researched volume starts off with Villain No. 100, John Ferguson, and ends with the villain of all villains – surprise, surprise – Denis Potvin, worst – or best – of all. Believe it or not, this is McCaffrey's tenth Rangers book and I love 'em all. That said, I asked Sean to come up with FIVE CURRENT RANGERS VILLAINS and he rapidly obliged. Here they are in the author's own words: Take it away, Young Maven McCaffrey: 1. TONY DEANGELO: "No one receives more audible and vociferous jeering than Tony. Since being dumped by Drury, he's suited up for the Canes and Flyers. DeAngelo is now a free agent which means that he could earn even more Rangers fans disdain by signing on with the Islanders." (Maven adds: Now wouldn't that be fun!") Stan Fischler US Hall Of Fame MSG 2. SIDNEY CROSBY: "Although he's become more respected than hated lately, the fact is that Sid has been the biggest Ranger-killer this century. And let's not forget that it was the Rangers who had the best odds of landing Crosby when he went first in the overall Draft. Yet, Pitt got him and that still bums me out." (Me, too, says The Maven.) 3. JACK HUGHES: "That's like the Crosby thing – What If?' The Blueshirts had a chance at Hughes but the Devils got him and we got stuck with Kaapo Kakko. Hughes' attack dismantled the Rangers in the 2023 first playoff round. Jack is looking like a future Hart Trophy-winner." (Mave says Kakko is looking for trade.) 4. TOM WILSON: "Who can forget how the Caps' monster jumped Pavel Buchnevich and then our Breadman. That episode eventually led to the firings of David Quinn, Jeff Gorton and John Davidson. Which led to the arrival of Chris Drury who's now on his third coach; thanks to Wilson-mania." (Maven says Matt Rempe soon will dispose of Terrible Tom.) 5. AKIRA SCHMID: "Un-real!. This nobody enters the opening round of the 2023 playoffs and kills the Rangers with the best four games of goaltending in his lifetime." (The Maven has located the Swiss-born Schmid. He's backup goalie for the AHL's Henderson Silver Knights.)
