* Nobody knows where ace Toronto sharpshooter Mitch Marner will wind up next fall. For all we know Double M will remain a Maple Leaf. That said, blockbusters do happen every summer; and you know what that means.
* It means that of the wealthy teams that must make a move to maintain their dignity, the Maple Leafs and Rangers head the list.
* So much for logic but when Chris Drury says "nothing is off the table," that "something" could – not will, but could – wind up being a longer-than-long-shot deal for Marner in a Blue Shirt.
* I'm reminded of a historic Rangers-Leafs deal in February 1964 when the Blueshirts dispatched future Hall of Famer Andy Bathgate to Toronto for a hefty package of quality players.
* Bathgate helped Toronto win the 1964 – third straight – Stanley Cup. In return, Bob Nevin and the other worthies never won the Cup but played well for New York.
* Chris Drury's "Meet The Press" end-of-season event was devoid of anything of substance other than "we'll do everything to make the team better." (Gee, why didn't I think of that?)
* If you were Drury, would you trade Barclay Goodrow? Not me, pal. He may sleepwalk through next season but we know the Rangers will need him in Playoff-April.
* Looking forward to September training camp, the biggest question mark surrounds whether or not Filip Chytil will be 100 percent free of ailments so as to give 100 percent every night.
* A persistent undercurrent theme that is most disturbing is that the Blueshirts did not try hard enough against the Panthers. Or, that Florida's overall energy level consistently – and embarrassingly -- made the Blueshirts indeed look like they needed large shipments of espresso coffee.
* Since the Maple Leafs and Rangers are the two highest-valued NHL teams – and Toronto and New York have been without a Cup for 57 and 31 years, respectively – is there a theatrical message here?
* Something like "The Fat Cat Follies?"
