Rangers Fall in Game 7 to the New Jersey Devils

When I was a kid, when I did something awful, my parents always said, “We’re not mad; we’re just disappointed.” I never really understood that statement as if you’re disappointed. Aren’t you mad also?

As you grow up, you start to understand those phrases more and more as time passes. So as I sit here after watching the New York Rangers lose 4-0 in Game 7 to the New Jersey Devils, I get what my parents meant years ago.

It is hard to be angry at someone who doesn’t care. So here I sit, and New York Rangers, I am not mad at you. I am disappointed.

First, let’s address the elephant in the room. Artemi Panarin, two years in a row now, has choked in the playoffs and has been unable to raise his game to the levels they need to be at—two points in 7 games and five games straight without a point to end the series. That is not enough for a guy who makes 11.6 million a year.

Along with Panarin was the underperformance of Mika Zibanejad. I believe he started the series well despite the lack of scoring. He played Hughes well to start and limited his production in the first few games. I can’t defend him or really anybody in games 3-5. They were terrible in every one of those games, especially in MSG.

Chris Kreider was easily the best forward for the Rangers, scoring six goals in just seven games. Although again. In games 3-5, he did nothing. He did score the lone goal in game three, although other than that, it was nothing of note.

Patrick Kane can be explained as lazy, old, washed, careless, lack of effort, and more, but I won’t get into it. Simply embarrassing, there is more to the story than what you see on the score sheet.

The Kid Line needed to be better. Invisible for most of the series after the Kaapo Kakko goal. Lafreniere had 0 points and was just a generally lousy series. The Rangers needed them to step up, and they just didn’t.

The defense was so good in games 1 and 2 and fell apart for the rest of the series. One player who needed to be more in game seven was Adam Fox. He doesn’t regularly have bad games, but it was one of those times, and it showed.

Igor Shesterkin. Igor Shesterkin. Igor Shesterkin. It is a shame he won’t continue into the next round. Once again, Igor Shesterkin stands on his head and is let down by the 18 guys before him. It is embarrassing to see this team do exactly what past teams did to Hank.

So much talent, and you can’t manage a series win? Nobody does it like the Rangers. Elite goaltending, stars disappear, and you can't score on a rookie goaltender.

A lot more conversation on what this team's future will surely come. Although you’re locked into this core, multiple big contracts with no move clauses and little wiggle room in the cap this summer.

If you’re Chris Drury looking at the roster you managed to put together, it’s hard to imagine this team not making it out of the first round. With the cap struggles mentioned above, the first thing to look at is coaching, in my opinion.

I don’t believe this roster sees many changes despite the potential need. Maybe we see a shocker trade of K’Andre Miller for an established defenseman with term and manageable AAV, although I doubt it. Or perhaps a Barclay Goodrow cap dump. Regardless, I don’t expect much difference from today's roster.

I mentioned canning Gallant earlier in the year, but the Rangers got it together and sprinted into the playoffs. Although we’ve seen this with Gallant before, you can only rely on talent and goaltending for so long. So I plan to do a deep dive on Gallant and potential replacements later in the offseason.

Although, with that being said, the Rangers' season has ended. Endless talent and potential crashed and burned as fast as it started. The Rangers were outplayed for most of the series, and they need to figure out that a series doesn’t end after two wins. But, alas, I digress. The stress is over until, of course, the cap crunch and trade rumors begin.

Photo Credit The Day