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Why NHL insider warns Rangers about overreacting to surge: ‘Fool’s Gold’
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- Why NHL insider warns Rangers about overreacting to surge: ‘Fool’s Gold’
For the first time in a while, the New York Rangers are fun to watch again. They're 4-1-2 since the Olympic break, and appear to be embracing making a strong finish to an otherwise dismal season.
The new top line, centered by Mika Zibanejad with Alexis Lafreniere and Gabe Perreault on the wings, is on a legit heater. Noah Laba and Tye Kartye have the third line looking like a tone-setting force. Vincent Trocheck is still here after all the trade rumors. Igor Shesterkin and Adam Fox are healthy again, bolstering a thin lineup. The power play is absolutely humming.
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Heck, the Rangers are even winning games on home ice these days, the latest a convincing 4-0 shutout over the Calgary Flames on Tuesday. That was their second win in a row, the first time they've done that since Dec. 18-20, nearly three months ago. And by also winning Monday down in Philly against the Flyers, the Rangers swept a back-to-back set for the first time this season.
So, things are looking up, right? There's reason again to be optimistic, don't you think?
"A lot of hockey executives call it 'Fool's Gold,'" warned NHL insider Pierre McGuire, who spoke with Forever Blueshirts on the Rink Rap podcast. "This time of the year, teams that are already clearly are out of the playoff run, they're really dangerous to play against … I think that's part of it, when you talk about teams like the New York Rangers right now."
It's a point well taken. The Rangers (26-30-8) couldn't get out of their own way most of this season, and basically were knocked out of playoff contention in January. They're last in the Eastern Conference and tied for the forth worst record in the entire League. Per Tankathon , the Rangers have a 9.5 percent chance of winning the NHL Draft Lottery and landing the top pick in this year's draft.
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Some argue that's a more important victory than any the Rangers pile up the rest of the way in this 2025-26 season. But coaches, like two-time Stanley Cup winner Mike Sullivan, and professional players aren't wired to tank. So, a strong finish isn't a bad thing, though, as McGuire pointed out, the Rangers front office can't be duped into thinking positive results when the pressure's off outweigh the team's collective faceplant, not only earlier this season, but last season, as well.
"The biggest thing that has to happen in New York right now internally is players need to get better," McGuire stated. " Braden Schneider needs to get better. Lafreniere needs to get better. They've had this laundry list of players, especially young guys, that haven't gotten better. And that's not good for the organization. Guys must start to get developed, and hopefully that will take place with this new coaching staff."
Pierre McGuire believes Rangers shouldn't be tricked into thinking team better than it really is
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It's not quite like the Rangers needing to put lipstick on a pig. They have some serious talent on the roster. But general manager Chris Drury and the front office face serious questions about why this group collapsed again this season. Injuries aside, there are issues with lack of quality depth, limited prospect pool, and high-end talent that must be addressed, no matter how many games they win down the stretch here.
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As for Drury's decision to not move Trocheck ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline last week, holding out for a possibly better return package this offseason, McGuire's not up in arms like many disgruntled Blueshirts fans are.
"I think that was probably the most prudent thing to do … I don't have a problem with what Chris did there," McGuire explained. "I think fans have to understand, the general manager's responsibility is not for immediate. It's for long term and sustained growth, and I think that's why Chris probably didn't make the move."
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Though he sounded the warning about not getting too excited about their improved play now that the season is lost, McGuire relented that there are some really good things going on recently with the Rangers.
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"I do like to look for the positives of teams that do want to work hard, and one of the positives is the play of Mika Zibanejad , and the developing play of Gabe Perreault . Lafreniere looks like he's more comfortable playing with Zibanejad, which is a positive. Getting Adam Fox back, that's a huge thing, another positive," McGuire offered.
Lafreniere recorded his second career hat trick Tuesday against the Flames, and has eight goals in his past nine games. Perreault had two assists Tuesday, and sits on seven points (three goals, four assists) in his past five games. The 20-year-old's confidence is growing by the day. That's a tangible positive result down the stretch here, one that carries benefits into next season.
Zibanejad's been really good all season. And now the 32-year-old is living his best life, flanked by a pair of talented 20-somethings (Lafreniere is 24). Zibanejad has eight points (three goals, five assists) in the previous four games, and leads the Rangers with 27 goals and 61 points this season.
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"So, there's more positive than negative right now," McGuire said. "I think the coaching staff is starting to feel their way through this roster. It's going to be a tough year for free agents. It's not a real good year, so I don't think Chris Drury can go down that road. It's been a really tough year in Hartford, a few really tough years in Hartford. So, there's some work to be done.
"Retool, rebuild, it really doesn't matter what you call it, they've got some work to do."
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