One way Chris Drury could solve his Rangers problems is to invite retired MSG Networks Analyst Joe Micheletti for a no-holds-barred one-on-one candid chat.
Drury's first question has to be, "Okay, Joe, how do I make this team better?"
Based on what Micheletti previously told interviewers John Shannon and Darren Millard on their podcast "100 Hockey," the Blueshirts' malaise is as much psychological as physical.
Or, to put it in a good, old Brooklyn saying, "The Rangers heads aren't screwed on straight." Joe put it another way. "They lost their spirit and they never recovered it."
That presents a problem because you can't order "spirit" from Cosby's vast hockey catalogue.
"The Rangers had a spiritual leader when Jacob Trouba was the captain and before Drury started messing with Jacob's head," says The Old Scout. "Once the Trouba stuff leaked out Jake lost his oldtime spirit."
But Trouba is long gone and now's the time to start searching for a new spiritual leader. The temptation is to check out the veterans such as J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck.
"There's only one trouble there," The Old Scout Insists, "and that is none of those vets were much help when help was most needed last season in the homestretch.
"Granted that Miller or Trocheck may wind up with the captaincy but that doesn't mean they have the necessary spirit that Micheletti was talking about."
There are three constant spirited performers on the roster – Will Cuylle, Matt Rempe and Jonny Brodzinski.
Assuming that the following whippersnappers make the varsity, Gabe Perreault, Brett Berard and Brennan Othmann should add to the Spirit Corps.
"The trick for Sullivan is to get his genuine rah-rah guys together," The Old Scout concludes, "and make aware of how important they are and how vital their spirit is to the team's success."
Sullivan didn't have to do that when he coached the Penguins because captain Sidney Crosby had all the energy, skill and motivation to do the job all by himself.
But what Crosby lacked during the past few, dismal Pitt seasons is what the Rangers do have and that's talent.
If the Blueshirts can blend that talent with spirit, they just might have something going! Remember, The Maven said "Might!"
