There is no doubt that Benny Allaire helped Igor Shesterkin become one of the best goaltenders in the NHL.
1. The simple fact of life is that there's no replacing a Connor McDavid. We all agree on that. Likewise, there's no replacing Rangers 20-year goaltending guru, Benny Allaire.
2. Benny is retiring as Igor Shesterkin babysitter and there's trouble in River City because you just don't "replace" one of the most amazingly adept goalie coaches – ever. You just don't. Period!
3. And certainly not with someone named Jeff Malcolm no matter his alleged 14-carat gold resume may look – BECAUSE HE'S NOT BENNY ALLAIRE; that's why.
4. Benny Allaire had The Knack. He took a nobody named Henrik Lundqvist and turned him into a superstar and Hall of Famer; although The King never won a Stanley Cup.
5. From Allaire to Malcolm is like from McDavid to Charlie Juniors and the real question now is – how does this affect Igor Shesterkin who won a Vezina thanks to Benny.
6. Allaire and only Allaire is the guy who straightened out Iggy when he went into his mid-season funk last winter and needed a life saving device from Jonathan Quick.
7. Hey, maybe this Jeff Malcolm will make miracles for Czar Igor and head counselor Jonathan Quick. (Yeah, maybe).
8. But there's a big difference between Big Benny and Not So Big Jeff. THIS BIG! (So, let's hope that Benny doesn't forget his cell phone as well as the Blueshirts clubhouse emergency number.)
9. Memo To Matt Rempe from my sage sidekick, Solon Mihas: "Neither merchandise sales nor social media attention should earn anyone a spot on an NHL roster, without the skill to be there. You've brought a lot to the table but you have much to prove – and to improve."
10. Memo To New Goalie Coach Jeff Malcolm: "Your prime client, Iggy Shesterkin, did not rank in The Top Five in any of the top goalie stats, other than wins where he ranked third along with two other goalies."
11. Get this, Master Malcolm: Your new client, Czar Igor, was not even in the Top Ten for GAA and Save Percentage. Sir Solon says: "That speaks volumes."
12. The Old Scout on Shesterkin: "He's a great goalie but he got overplayed, got gassed and then lost his confidence before Quick saved the day."
13. Does it bother you that Quick is 38; which makes The Geezer almost as old as The Maven?
14. More on Shesterkin's next contract from a guy who's written more goalie books – including "Guardians Of The Goal" – than anyone I know: "Igor should get three years max, at the going rate for goalies," writes George Grimm.
15. Adds Georgie: "What good is having a great – but overpaid goalie – if you can't fit players of the same caliber under the Salary Cap? And if he balks, let him play this season for his next contract. If he walks – life goes on!"
