We're angry and upset here but, come on, we need to step back from the ledge and look at things objectively.
What has gone wrong? An aging core, perhaps aging more quickly than we all anticipated. A star Dman whose skills have always existed on a razor's edge due to skating issues and now, even in his mid-twenties has seemed to lose just enough to reduce his effectiveness.
More so: the failure of our youth movement. We were so fortunate to draft two years running at the very top of the draft. I think KK is, and will be, a fine player, but nowhere near what you hope from a #2 OA. Laffy, too: he might end up a consistent 30+30 player at some point but he is not that now, will never be the franchise winger we hoped for with a #1 OA, does not seem capable of elevating his play to carry a team. KM: going backwards. BS: OK, will likely get better, but might not have the ceiling of a #1 D. Whose fault is this? KK and Laf were everyone's choices. Has it been our developmental system? I don't think so. Sometimes it's the player.
Horrendous front office management of the roster.
Coaching? How many different styles have been tried? Don't think it is Laviolette's fault though he might have quickly, too quickly, used up his time.
Face it: this team isn't that good. Even last year, with all the last second heroics: that is not a statistically viable way to play. Just like one-run wins in baseball seem to balance out from one season to another. All those wins masked slowly developing problems that have worsened this year. You might say that is the mark of a good team....I'm not so sure.
One thing I reject is the whole "country club" blame many of you like to bring up. Frankly, that's ridiculous. The Rangers treating their players right does not make them play worse or have any impact whatsoever on the team.
The team we saw last night reminded me of a "dark ages" team. For long (long) time fans, it reminded me of teams we iced at the end of the Francis era.
There is no simple answer here. I agree that we need to be open to trading anyone with value for future value. There is no short-term solution that will quickly improve this team. Trading our problems for other team's problems is not the answer.
Fire Drury? I'm OK with that.
But this happens in sports: good teams fall apart. This is a perfect storm: an aging core and young players not progressing. Of course I'm upset. But one thing you can say: it's never boring being a Ranger fan. In fact, this whole thing is fascinating. But, let's leave the rancor out and examine things realistically. We all have our opinion. But opinion should be backed up, not with emotion, but clarity. It's going to be a long season. It is going to be ugly. It might be ugly for a few years, especially in a cap era where your options are limited. Our prospect pool is limited. There is no simple solution, no knee-jerk answer here. Our personnel decisions and day-to-day lineups need to be adjusted. But, simply put: we don't have enough talent on this team to be anything more that a marginal playoff team, if that. I don't know what else to say. But, I'm not going to be angry at players. Yes, the game Saturday was a disgrace. I don't mind losing as long as there is effort. This team, right now, is "sick" and there are no short-term solutions. No radical solutions. I've readjusted my expectations from thinking we can win every game to expecting us to lose every game. I will take my good moments where and as they come.
