News Article: Do the Rangers have a culture problem? An exclusive look at what's bubbling at MSG

[McRanger92]

And you think you know what's happening with people you don't know, have never met, in an environment you've never been in. And if you want to know why the culture is so bad, look no further than the shit head GM.

So I don't know what I'm talking about in regards to the players I've never met, but you know what you're talking about in regards to the GM you've never met? I'm just trying to follow along.

 

[Machinehead]

The real world has always been different than the professional sports world. Fair or not. Athletes are just different. They're like the top 1% (maybe less) of what they do. That's life. They're also tremendously overpaid. $750m for a baseball player? Is this real life?

The main difference is that they're getting paid a lot more money than we are to tolerate things we all have to tolerate.

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

So I don't know what I'm talking about in regards to the players I've never met, but you know what you're talking about in regards to the GM you've never met? I'm just trying to follow along.

I'm just commenting on what we've all scene. He handled the Trouba and Goodrow situations awfully. I understand they both probably needed to go, but there's a better way to do it. And to not expect blowback is being a poor GM. The Trouba think is slightly different because he blocked a trade over the summer. But guess what Chris, you're a millionaire GM (why should I feel bad for you as everyone here says?) find another way. But the thing about Goodrow was, he was willing to work with them, he never heard back. It was bullshit. Players have a right to be pissed. But saying they're purposely trying to lose to get back at Drury is BS. Reading posters here calling guys a cancer? Really? Cancer? That's f***ing gross and immature. Grow up.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

There is a big cultural and heavily generational split at work here, even in the comments to the article you see it. Yea they have a “fun” job. Yea they get a lot of money. Yea without actually having any idea what it entails beyond what you imagine, you’d love to swap jobs with any of these people. But to them, this is their life and they’re humans with opinion, needs, etc and they have these jobs because they’re good at what they do and expect to be treated as such.

Treating adult employees like kids is not going to go well. Making the workplace less open, less communicative, less friendly to modern young adults is going to be bad. Regardless of whether you reading about it think it matters, we are literally seeing that it does.

There’s a reason that good companies where people want to work are mostly (with exceptions of course) ones that are open, supportive, communicative, etc. The days of being treated like garbage and knowing your only alternative option is being treated like garbage somewhere else are over. If the rangers treat good people like shit, good people are going to leave and they’re going to end up worse for it. We are watching this process happen right now.

Drury was doing his job and everything he did was within contractual rights. Players wanted to be able to suck and continue playing for the Rangers. That's not how it works. Fans shilling for the players even though they've wanted to get rid of Goodrow and Trouba for the longest time is something to behold.

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

The main difference is that they're getting paid a lot more money than we are to tolerate things we all have to tolerate.

Sure, and to be honest I'd rather them get it that some of these Fredo owners. And look, 90% of the time a guy gets traded and the other players go about their business. I'm sure it sucked to see Staal, Girardi, Zuc, f***ing Hank! go, but the team didn't crater. Which leads me to think management f***ed shit up real bad. Move the guys, but move them in a way that's not gonna destroy the room. Isn't that part of being a GM? Making sure your moves don't make things worse? I've seen and heard enough about the way Drury goes about things to believe it's more on him than the players at this point.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

What angle are you going to take when he does?

I’d love it if he became good enough to take a regular shift.

I wouldn’t make a gazilion excuses like you will when he doesn’t.

 

[ColonialsHockey10]

I'm very much in the camp of them being real humans and hockey is a job that they have and all that. That's why I don't tolerate personal abuse on here over losing a game.

That being said, this whole thing about losing friends in trades and what have you -- THAT HAPPENS TO REAL PEOPLE!!

My company laid off a good friend of mine recently for no reason. They thought they were making cuts, and then we overperformed, and actually ended up hiring a bunch of people. They laid her off anyway because "ah f*** it, we already decided." They uprooted somebody's life because they're f***ing idiots.

I still have to come here and perform. And you know what? I'll get over it. We can text.

Not being paid is a real issue. Not having your health expenses covered is a real issue. Abuse and bullying is a real issue. Your co-workers leaving is just work. All things end.

This is why I got a kick out of Trouba referring to his trade as “being fired”.

Imagine your company approaching you and going “you’re wildly underperforming and have been for years. Can you tell us 5-10 cities in the U.S. you’d be okay living in - and that work for your family - and we will try to send you there? You can keep your salary too.”

Some people are right. This is managements fault. It’s management’s fault they have no emotional intelligence and continue to covet players with horrible attitudes and leadership qualities.

 

[FanCos]

Who would you suggest?

Tiki would make a fine GM

NHL Legend And Stanley Cup Champion Esa Tikkanen Has Just Been Sentenced To Suspended Jail Time

Esa Tikkanen, known for lifting the Stanley Cup with the Oilers and Rangers as one of their legendary players, has been sentenced to one year of suspended jail time.

www.bladeofsteel.com

 

[Machinehead]

Sure, and to be honest I'd rather them get it that some of these Fredo owners. And look, 90% of the time a guy gets traded and the other players go about their business. I'm sure it sucked to see Staal, Girardi, Zuc, f***ing Hank! go, but the team didn't crater. Which leads me to think management f***ed shit up real bad. Move the guys, but move them in a way that's not gonna destroy the room. Isn't that part of being a GM? Making sure your moves don't make things worse? I've seen and heard enough about the way Drury goes about things to believe it's more on him than the players at this point.

Or maybe the room is just overreacting to it because they think they're better than they are.

 

[McRanger92]

I'm just commenting on what we've all scene. He handled the Trouba and Goodrow situations awfully. I understand they both probably needed to go, but there's a better way to do it. And to not expect blowback is being a poor GM. The Trouba think is slightly different because he blocked a trade over the summer. But guess what Chris, you're a millionaire GM (why should I feel bad for you as everyone here says?) find another way. But the thing about Goodrow was, he was willing to work with them, he never heard back. It was bullshit. Players have a right to be pissed. But saying they're purposely trying to lose to get back at Drury is BS. Calling posters here calling guys a cancer? Really? Cancer? That's f***ing gross and immature. Grow up.

The players should understand the season started. No one wouldve been traded if they played well. They haven't. Such is the nature of playing for a team with high expectations. No one feels bad for Chris Drury. I think he should keep making trades. This team is not good enough to win a Stanley cup.

 

[haveandare]

People in my company get promoted, demoted, transferred all the time

At the end of the day I get paid to do a job regardless of all that

Pay me half of what these players make and Ill go play hockey in the Yukon Territory with a smile on my face everyday


These players have it too good, go out there and play

Not sure you’re getting my point though.

You might not care. These guys do. And Drury should know that they do because they’re his guys.

He has to manage the human beings he actually has to manage. He’s doing a terrible job of that and it’s leading to garbage results. Whether you think it’s justified or not doesn’t really make any difference.

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

Or maybe the room is just overreacting to it because they think they're better than they are.

Maybe? Sure. I don't know. But it's been a pretty dramatic fall. I know you're not high on the team but there's no way they should be this deep in a funk losing to Chicago, Seattle, and Nashville with the talent left on the roster. Not all three at least.

 

[JimmyG89]

If the workplace is that bad, ask out. There are 31 other teams that should want your services. You'll still be compensated the same way as your contract lays out until it expires or is bought out.

This isn't an excuse for shitty workplace rules or whatever, but if you are unhappy in your workplace and you don't rely on it being paycheck to paycheck to survive in this world, submit your two week notice, or in this instance, request a trade.

Don't keep a job because you like a few co-workers. You can always keep that relationship outside of the workplace. Instead it's, " We need to figure out a way to have the GM removed cause he traded my friends".

 

[Machinehead]

I think the players are absolutely looking at it like "we won 55 games and the ECF etc etc so why are we removing key pieces like Goodie and Trouba?" They think this is just a funk and they'll just come out of it.

And yeah, if they didn't go on this slide, that would have actually been the prevailing thought in the media tbh.

We all know the problems are deeper. I'll have my disagreements with Drury, but you have to give him credit for seeing it despite the team being conventionally good last year.

 

[Jim Ramsay]

Not sure you’re getting my point though.

You might not care. These guys do. And Drury should know that they do because they’re his guys.

He has to manage the human beings he actually has to manage. He’s doing a terrible job of that and it’s leading to garbage results. Whether you think it’s justified or not doesn’t really make any difference.

Yeaaah we arent going to agree at all on this issue

At the end of the day I wish they 'cared' about showing up to do their job for the people that pay good money to see them do it either at home or at MSG

 

[Shesterkybomb]

I think the players are absolutely looking at it like "we won 55 games and the ECF etc etc so why are we removing key pieces like Goodie and Trouba?" They think this is just a funk and they'll just come out of it.

And yeah, if they didn't go on this slide, that would have actually been the prevailing thought in the media tbh.

We all know the problems are deeper. I'll have my disagreements with Drury, but you have to give him credit for seeing it despite the team being conventionally good last year.

He hasn't seen the biggest problem because he hasn't looked in the mirror yet.

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

The players should understand the season started. No one wouldve been traded if they played well. They haven't. Such is the nature of playing for a team with high expectations. No one feels bad for Chris Drury. I think he should keep making trades. This team is not good enough to win a Stanley cup.

I mean, they dogged Goodrow and the captain before the season even started. Right or wrong, it's gonna have an affect on the team. Maybe Goodrow was more important than people thought. But maybe don't bring the worst f***ing defenseman on the team back for another year too.

 

[Machinehead]

He hasn't seen the biggest problem because he hasn't looked in the mirror yet.

Again, I have my disagreements, but anybody who's going to change things around here -- I'm gonna let him cook. I'm tired of it.

We argue over the specifics, but most of the fanbase is pretty much in lockstep on being tired of the way this team plays.

 

[kovazub94]

You have no idea what that room is like. It's comical you've listened to one podcast by some dude and have determined everyone in there is crying in their stalls holding on to their stuffed teddy bears.

Don’t believe your eyes - listen to what podcasts tell you based on disgruntled underperformers, amiright!!!

 

[Graves97]

Vince casually mentioning a player went out to dinner with a PR person. Which player do we think took a team employee out on a date?

I also found it funny how Vince glossed over the nature of the dinner. If this was romantic in any way, its very normal for companies to have policies against this without prior disclosure.

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

I think the players are absolutely looking at it like "we won 55 games and the ECF etc etc so why are we removing key pieces like Goodie and Trouba?" They think this is just a funk and they'll just come out of it.

And yeah, if they didn't go on this slide, that would have actually been the prevailing thought in the media tbh.

We all know the problems are deeper. I'll have my disagreements with Drury, but you have to give him credit for seeing it despite the team being conventionally good last year.

Outside of the Trouba deal, he has not made a move in like a year that's improved the team. He's not a great GM.

 

[Machinehead]

Outside of the Trouba deal, he has not made a move in like a year that's improved the team. He's not a great GM.

He was attempting to augment a roster that was a failure at its foundation. Let's see what he does now that he's not committing to that roster anymore.

 

[haveandare]

Drury was doing his job and everything he did was within contractual rights. Players wanted to be able to suck and continue playing for the Rangers. That's not how it works. Fans shilling for the players even though they've wanted to get rid of Goodrow and Trouba for the longest time is something to behold.

Lol I’m not shilling for the players. I’m trying to point out why this article makes a lot of sense and fills in a lot of blanks for me.

Obviously moving players isn’t the problem - that has happened forever to all of these guys. The problem is being underhanded and shitty about it.

Not talking to a player when you’re about to thrust them into a situation like that? And they’re someone you know will not be happy about this? That’s just being a bad manager. Doing that to Goodrow and then trying and failing to do that to the captain of the team in the middle of the summer? Again, really bad management. Starting the season with that issue unsettled with the captain of the team and then being shocked when the team feels the effects of it a leader being half out the door?

This stuff is Drurys job. It’s not just making transactions. He’s supposed to be managing the entire organization. He’s doing a bad, bad job of it and we’re just now seeing how bad - it’s not a coincidence that we’re all seeing the team play like absolute trash.

 

[kovazub94]

Winning is what creates a good culture. Fix the issues (what is taking place) than put balms on the symptoms - looks like certain players are more comfortable being bros than winning. Time (is passing) to look in the mirror and make adjustments.

PS I’d be totally ok with all of them hating GM and winning because this hate fuels them. I bet Drury too.

 

[haveandare]

Kudos to Vince for getting this story and writing it like this. I’ve been really frustrated not being able to figure out how and what was actually going on to make such a cataclysmic failure come on so suddenly. This actually answers a lot of questions for me personally.