LAST SPRING THE RANGERS WERE BEATEN BY FLORIDA. THE CANES WERE BIGGER AND TOUGHER. HOW IS GM CHRIS DRURY ADDRESSING THESE CONCERNS?
The Maven's right-to-the-point answer is that Drury has not fixed what's broken. Or, to put it in my native Brooklynese: "Same Old-Same Old." (As in roster.)
Mind you, Drury made two obligatory additions. Former Blues' Cup hero Reilly Smith along with ex-Oilers grit guy Sam Carrick.
If you choose to believe the Seventh Avenue Propaganda Machine, Smith will provide an answer to the annual question: "Where's our ace left wing?"
As for Carrick, he'll magically become the gritty "new" Barclay Goodrow, and there you have it – "The Great Band-Aid Surgery" is complete.
Or is it?
Of course not. The Penguins were so happy to relieve themselves of Smith they were willing to sing "Sayonara" in fifteen different languages.
As for Carrick, what can you say about a guy who's been dropped by the Toronto Maple Leafs, Anaheim Ducks and Edmonton Oilers?
Okay, he's handsome and likes traveling in various parts of North America.
But not to worry, Benji. The Maven predicts that both Drury and his band leader Peter Laviolette are beginning to see the light.
Out of training camp, they will present a presentable whizbang. Lavvy will once and for all take my advice and give Matt Rempe a regular gig on the third or fourth line and all will be right with the Ranger world. (No more of these five-minute Rempe cameo appearances, please!)
Pay better attention, Chirs and Pistol Pete; I said make Rempe a 14-minute per game regular up front and – guaranteed – we won't have to worry about Smith or Carrick making miracles or making the square root of mashed turnips.
It's all there in Rempe's 6-8, 230 pound package. All he needs is a coach who has faith in him and a manager willing to gamble.
Get it, Benji; the problem isn't Rempe, it's the two guys called managers and coach!
