Season's over... Let the questions begin

I’m not sure they’ve finished scraping Chris Drury’s blood off the ice in Pittsburgh just yet. The Rangers though, are done for the year, and get a whole summer to think about ways to get the club past the 2nd round of the playoffs.

Let’s face it -the refs REALLY missed one yesterday. How they didn’t call a penalty on Ryan Malone for sticking Drury may remain as mysterious as who REALLY killed JFK. But it wouldn’t have mattered. The Rangers were beaten by a better Penguins hockey team, and now go into an off-season filled with questions, mostly the ‘Will he be back?’, variety of queries.

We start with captain Jaromir Jagr. He played inspired hockey through the last 7-8 weeks of the season. He’s 36, clearly not the star he once was. But (yesterday’s VERY quiet game notwithstanding) he was the best Ranger on the ice during the postseason. He still wants to play. GM Glenn Sather needs to sit down with Jagr ASAP. I know the free agent signing period starts July 1st, but the Blueshirts at least have that advantage of knowing Jagr and having access to him. Get it done soon.

The same goes for Steve Avery. Once his lacerated spleen heals and you know he’s OK, get him back in the fold. Others who may have played their last games at Garden ice: Shanahan, Roszival, Straka. The Rangers’ hierarchy has to get more physical players and improve the power play-their forwards don’t frighten anyone.

But there is plenty of youth, plus Gomez, Drury and Henrik Lundqvist to provide leadership. There is hope for the future.

VIDEO AND MORE AFTER THE JUMP...

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