1. Toughest part of the Free Agent Frenzy to swallow was that the Rangers' Met Area foes – Islanders and Devils – bested the Blueshirts with their acquisitions.
2. The Devils, especially, scored big from goaltending – Markstrom a huge get – right on out.
3. YAY to blogger Jesse Pollock for this cogent comment: "Is Buchnevich for Blais and a second rounder the biggest fleecing in NHL history?" (Maven's comment: It's in the running.)
4. What's a bit surprising to me are the numbers of fans who have no problem seeing Mika Z go bye-bye in a trade.
5. I'll say this for the last time – I think – my gut tells me that Jake (The Rake) Trouba will be a Ranger at least up to the Trade Deadline.
6. And, no it absolutely will not be a problem if he loses the captaincy to Vincent Trocheck or Adam Fox.
7. All things considered it appears as if Chris Kreider is no longer in the running when a captain change becomes official.
8. Maven Prediction; There shall be no sophomore slump for Will Cuylle. On the contrary, he's gonna have a banner season, possibly higher than the third line.
9. I don't see Chris Drury overly enamored of K'Andre Miller.
10. I do see Miller as trade bait if and when Drury pulls off his blockbuster that never materialized when the Free Agent Frenzy began.
11. Auston Matthews tops the latest list of "Best Americans In The NHL." Your sometimes-favorite defenseman, Adam Fox, came in third.
12. I'd start worrying about Fox's knee if he finishes next October playing blah-blah hockey as he did in the homestretch and playoffs.
13. The Maven's choice as "Third Worst Rangers Pickup In The Homestretch," Jack Roslovic, will make another million or so with Carolina this term.
14. Since nothing has been written otherwise, I'm assuming that Phil Housley and Michael Peca will be back as the aides who tell Peter Laviolette how to win games.
15. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if Braden Schneider winds up as the third best D-Man on the team. He started last October as sixth-best – or worst – depending on how you rate them.
16. I'd love to know which Rangers qualify as "Funniest Guy, Off-Ice" on the team.
-1718898525-q80.webp "Commanders DB Quan Martin looking to make a big leap in 2024")
