If the Rangers are to succeed in 2025-26 rather than fall on their collective faces, some significant changes must be made.
One of the most egregious sins of the Chris Drury-Peter Laviolette general staff was in the area of leadership.
Once captain Jacob Trouba was drop-kicked to California and never replaced.
"The Rangers dearly needed new captain," says The Old Scout, "and the fact that they failed to do so is a major reason they lacked leadership – and missed the playoffs."
We start this process by elimination. None of the rotten core deserve consideration because they either are too old, too slow, and just plain dead wood.
Now The Maven is going to help Mike find the right guy for the "C."
On paper, Adam Fox would seem to be an ideal candidate. He quarterbacks the power play, he's a local guy and he's an only-Ranger character.
But as personalities go, Foxy has "negative charisma quotient," or the Square Root of Blah. (Sorry, Adam, but facts are facts."
What the club desperate needs as a leader is one with the three V's – Vim, Vigor and Vitality.
Now that the team aims to be younger and tougher, it tells me that Sully had better get off his tuchus, get it over with and name Young, Fighting Will Cuylle, the man of the house.
He hits, he scores and he'd be the perfect pick in the new scheme of things.
If there are any objections I want to hear them here and now!
