The 2024-2025 New York Rangers need a wake up call. After yet another humiliating loss to the Devils last night, taunting with “are you not entertained” style celebrations, it’s time something happens. With no games until Friday, I wonder if now is the time Chris Drury gets aggressive and tries to get player movement going. With the state of the NHL, it’s tough to say just how effective the returns or what his plans will be, but it’s clear this core is done.

Players were reportedly really upset that Chris Drury had leaked to reporters his desire to move on from the core. The Rangers have responded by getting humiliated in nearly every game since. The players are not making compelling arguments to keep them together. They are getting outworked, out-skilled, most times outshot, and are going through the motions out there.

I get the human side, that the players don’t want to see their friends leave the locker room, but the entire vibe of this team is rancid right now. It would be malpractice for Drury to let this continue and let the team spiral out of contention. Friends will remain friends, but the NHL is a business.

Even Igor Shesterkin looked human last night and in this recent funk for the Rangers, allowing 7 first period goals in his last 5 games. Last night was no different, allowing two goals in the first, goals you don’t normally expect him to give up. Shesterkin normally hits a midseason slump, so perhaps it’s just bad timing.

If the Rangers even want to sniff the playoffs, they need Igor to be Igor. Though this spell has probably proven that the Rangers are a fraudulent contender with great individual players, but they are not playing as a unit this year. Igor is a part of that, and the hope that his level of play turns a corner. He simply has to play better, same with everyone else on this team.

Speaking of the rest of the team, my goodness what is going on with Braden Schneider and K’Andre Miller? Two young solid defensemen who were so key to a stable second pair in the playoffs have now entered the Ryan Lindgren and Jacob Trouba zones where they almost cannot play. It’s crazy since, on paper, this pairing should work and has worked in the past. Miller a more offensive defenseman, and Schneider the prototypical two-way defenseman. It’s simply been a disaster since reunited a few games ago.

There are only two playable defenders right now and they are Zac Jones, and Adam Fox. That is just not good enough and a major reason why the state of the team is where it is right now.

We keep finding new rock bottoms for this team. Just when you think the Rangers are going to claw out of it, they do something like they did last night. It’s that classic Simpsons scene, “Dig up, stupid!”

The Rangers are digging up, with no end in sight.

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