Here it comes, folks; are You ready? The Rangers are having a lot to say these days, and you know what that means: The Maven has dusted off his trusty Thought Recording Machine (TRM) to tell you what the TRM really believes is on their minds behind the printed quotes. So let's hit the "START" button and let this amazing contraption work. JACOB TROUBA: "New York is where I want to be." THOUGHT RECORDING MACHINE: Chris Drury wanted to dump me in Detroit. Was he kidding, or what? Thank Heaven for that team-rejection clause; I could've wound up drinking coconut juice in San Jose. Who knows; that may be where I could be a year from now! JACOB TROUBA: "I have no animosity (toward management.)" TRM: Darn right, I don't. I'm making more dough than New York's mayor, his deputy mayor, the comptroller and Matt Rempe all put together. And MSG checks don't bounce. PETER LAVIOLETTE: "Trouba was a really good captain for us last year." TRM: Sure, sure. What else could I say? So, why did my boss, Drury, try to get rid of him last spring? When I'm done with camp, Jake will be lucky if he doesn't get beat out by third-liner Zac Jones. Stan Fischler US Hall Of Fame MSG CHRIS DRURY: "Filip Chytil is full go." TRM: I hope I'm right. Last spring Fil was "full go" in the playoffs and we all know where he went – to the doctor's office to have his head examined. PETER LAVIOLETTE: "Matt Rempe worked tirelessly on his craft this summer." TRM: Good for The Remper. But not good for the way I bounced him around last season. He was lucky if I gave him more than an average of more than five minutes a game. I gotta figure out the big guy. (Shh; The Maven says Rempe can be terrifying) JACOB TROUBA: "This will probably be the last crack for this core. That's no secret." TRM: It will be the last crack for me at $8 million per. Unless I can fool San Jose next fall and get up to nine mil." CHRIS DRURY: "Kappo Kakko is a real, good, young talented player." TRM: Yeah, that's what I'm telling the other general managers. The faster I trade KK the better. I can always plug one of the new kids into Kappo's slot; maybe even Rempe! PETER LAVIOLETTE: "We want to build off last year." TRM: What else can I tell the press? The slogan 'Stanley Cup – Or Bust" is what it's all about. I'm glad Drury is accenting the positive. Sure, we went far last spring, but, hey, I got out-coached by Paul Maurice in Florida and my guys got out-hustled. Lucky me, none of the media guys blamed me for that, or that the Panthers were better conditioned. Drury can help me, but he's gotta think like that Zito GM in Florida and tweak our roster with the right pieces. (Meanwhile, I figure I'm safe through the Trade Deadline 'cause I know the New York media still loves me better than Gerard Gallant!
