Impertinent thoughts on pertinent Rangers topics.
1. The prospect facing the most make-the-team pressure coming to camp has to be Brennan Othmann.
2. The 16th overall pick in 2021 supposedly is “The Complete Player” who delivers shots, passes and hits at top speed. For Othmann’s sake it had better happen in September.
3. This has to be “Rangers No-Headache Week” since there hasn’t been a single headline about Jake (The Rake) Trouba.
4. But there’s plenty of talk about Igor Shesterkin’s next deal. Some views that I’ve received are about 180-degrees apart.
5. One fan writes that it “should be no more than three years.” A smart media guy I respect writes, “A 9.9.5 deal feels right.”
6. Pressed for his reasoning, the savant explains, “While Igor hasn’t won a Stanley Cup, he has won a Vezina. Plus he’s made the Rangers appear better than they were in both 2022 and 2024.”
7. The most surprising missive of all comes from Andy Meier of Newburgh. Asked to pick “The Most Disappointing Ranger,” his first choice is K’Andre Miller.
8. “I believe that Miller regressed this past season,” Meier explains. “And I didn’t like the fact that he took a midseason sabbatical from the team.”
9. Few could argue with Meier’s two other “disappointments” – Filip Chytil and Kaapo Kakko.
10. Not surprisingly Matt Rempe is getting mid-summer ink. The Skating Giraffe finished his boxing lessons and now he’s taking a course in how to be a better hockey player.
11. That’s commendable but the bottom line on whether he makes the team or not will emerge during training camp after Chris Drury and Peter Laviolette complete their roster review.
12. Even without the boxing and Hockey 101 lesson, I’d say that Rempe makes the varsity team.
13. The Maven’s choice for “Black Ace To Stardom” is defenseman Zac Jones. As Trouba goes down, Jones jumps up on the D-Man top six.