"Something drastic is happening": Insider confirms New York Rangers will respond after another embarrassment
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Rangers insider Vince Mercogliano confirms the New York Rangers and James Dolan are locked in a tense moment after another embarrassing loss.
A well-connected Rangers voice is floating the idea of something «drastic» to signal the last few games are unacceptable. The key detail is he is not promising a blockbuster, he is pointing at the pressure.
Mercogliano's point reads more like a warning label than a leak. Big changes might be needed, but the smartest ones are calculated, not reactionary, especially in a season already slipping.
Vince Mercogliano: "I wouldn't rule out something drastic happening Thursday to send a message that this is unacceptable; I'm just not sure what that could be. It would be foolish to do any buying in this lost season - I think we can safely assume New York has backed off on Kiefer Sherwood talks - and I don't sense that any major sell-off trades are close at the moment. There are no obvious candidates to put on waivers, and a mid-to-low-level firing would be nothing more than a superficial sacrifice. Big changes are clearly necessary, but they need to be calculated, not reactionary."
I'm saying I'm sure there's an impulse to do something in response to another embarrassment, but I don't think there's anything they can do today (or at least will do today) that really moves the needle. This is going to be a long, painful process that must be well thought out.
That distinction matters because Rangers fans are starving for a headline move. Wednesday's 8-4 loss to Ottawa felt like a gut punch, and it came after another awful first period.
The Senators scored four times in the opening frame, and Jonathan Quick was pulled after allowing six goals on 17 shots. New York did score four, but it still became a fifth straight defeat.
So what does «drastic» even look like if a massive trade is not sitting there ready? It can be a hard lineup message, a tough scratch, or a roster shuffle that changes the nightly habits.
New York Rangers looking to make drastic move following another tough loss
I personally want action too, but I also fear the quick fix that costs you two years.
The other reality is ownership optics. Dolan just went on WFAN recently and publicly backed Chris Drury and coach Mike Sullivan, stressing that change takes time.
However, right now, the Rangers need a move that actually changes how they start games, defend the slot, and manage pucks at the blue lines. If something big does happen, it should look intentional, not emotional, because the next milestone is restoring trust as much as points.
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