Dead or Alive? Which is it? That's what Rangers Pooh-Bah Chris Drury has to decide about his team. During and after the 5-1 pasting administered by New Jersey the other night, I came to the conclusion that I know four beached whales with more zip in them than the Zippered Sextet from MSG. If Drury's Non-Demons are, in fact, dead from the neck up, then the Dear Boy had better get rid of the deadwood a bit faster than PRONTO! Start with that huge mistake of an acquisition, Reilly Smith. Somehow, somewhere, also dump Jacob Trouba; "court-martial the captain, if possible. K'Andre Miller is young but plays old. Surely Drury can find a someone who thinks Miller can win a Norris. Adam Fox once won a Norris, but never again. If Drury dares – he won't – to pull a blockbuster, fading Adam Fox would head the package. Igor Shesterkin Has Reportedly Rejected Contract Extension Paying Him $11 Million Per Season Bring on the Kids. Brett Berard and Victor Mancini have the goods. Gabe Perreault and Brennan Othmann can do the job with hustle, smarts and – most important – youthful enthusiasm which the purring Fat Cats (The Z Man especially) lost somewhere along the way. The Maven has no idea what to do with Mika Zibanejad because his money bag is too full. If the Rangers were carrying three goalies now, Igor Shesterkin would be third in line, alias second backup. Check out The Shesterkin's 18-game-under- .500 record. It's 8-9-1 with a pathetic 3.05 goals against average and .908 save percentage. And he thinks he deserves a raise! Let's not forget that Iggy turned down a generous Rangers $11 million offer. TURNED IT DOWN! Arthur Staple – my favorite Rangers beat man – of The Athletic reported that Free Agent Day, July 1 wIll feature a stampete for Iggy's signature. "In a bidding war," Staple asserted, "Igor could get $13 million, maybe $14 million." If so, then "Insanity" is the new name of the game and I say, get him outa here; the sooner the better.
