Yesterday, those who recognize the holiday celebrated Festivus, and, per tradition, that means grievances are aired. Other than the Buffalo Sabres, just to name another New York (state) team, does anyone else in the league deserve a few grievances tailored their way than general manager Chris Drury?
Hey, the NY Rangers were supposed to be light years ahead of where they are here at the midway point of the 2024-25 season, or at least what I call the midway point. But that’s been too far from the case. So now, Drury and Company get to hear about a few of this team’s shortcomings.
Tied for last place in the Metro
To those fans out there who accurately projected the Rangers to be tied for last in the Metropolitan Division as the Christmas break rolled around, I commend you. You have some ridiculous (that means awesome) foresight that the rest of us will never have.
At this point, it’s an absolute travesty that we’re even talking about this, but here we are, on Christmas Eve, and the Rangers are right down there with the ‘other’ New York team, the Islanders, with just 33 points.
Offensive inefficiencies
One would think that with the likes of Artemi Panarin, Adam Fox, Will Cuylle, Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, and Alexis Lafreniere, just to name a few, that this team would be in better shape offensively. Instead, few groups have struggled more than the Rangers when they had possession of the puck.
And it shows, as the Blueshirts have just 96 goals at the de facto halfway point of the 2024-25 season. Yeah, it’s been a travesty so far for the Blueshirts since this consistent losing started, and one in which there’s no end in sight.
Waving the white flag?
It almost seems like Chris Drury is waving the white flag on the 2024-25 season with the trades he’s made. Yeah, maybe he’s gearing up for something big and unforeseen, but right now, it’s tough to decipher.
Sure, it seemed like a foregone conclusion that Jacob Trouba was gone, so I’ll give Drury the free pass there. But I would have held onto Kaapo Kakko, who was traded for a couple of picks, and Will Borgen. It’s hard to get excited when you’re trading a pair of decent players for draft picks and fringe blueliners.
If the Blueshirts trade away anyone else when this roster freeze ends, this season’s over, and it was never anything more than false hope, courtesy of Chris Drury.