Slumping Rangers fire Trottier after 54 games
Is there a more pathetically managed or more thoroughly misguided and f****d-up organization in professional hockey than the New York Rangers? The Rangers have the NHL's highest (and yet most unproductive) payroll. Trust me here, people, the problem here is not with the coach. The problem begins with the 20 misfits on the Rangers roster, but the bulk of the responsibility for the fiasco that is the New York Rangers lies with the front office. Glen Sather, who came to New York from Edmonton with the reputation as a genius (hey, he did coach the Gretzky-Messier-Kurri Oilers of the '80s to several Stanley Cups, eh?). His actions since taking over the Rangers have made his reputation as a personnel genius into a mockery.
The New York Rangers fired first-year coach Bryan Trottier on Wednesday after three dismal losses dropped the team with the NHL's highest payroll to 11th place in the Eastern Conference.
No successor has been named.
The Rangers are last in the Atlantic Division with a 21-26-6-1 record. They won five of six games earlier this month to climb within two games of .500, but sandwiched a pair of losses to lowly Atlanta around Sunday's 7-2 pasting at Washington.
Trottier, 46, was hired by the Rangers after four seasons as an assistant with the Colorado Avalanche, whom they play host to on Thursday.
Between poor trades and misguided (and expensive) free agent signings, the Rangers are a team in name only. No matter who is behind the bench, it is going to be difficult to win with the collection of talented, self-centered headcases that currently wear Rangers sweaters.
Ron Low won an IHL championship here in Houston. After moving to New York, he didn't suddenly become a moron. Bryan Trottier was given only 54 games. Clearly, management has not a clue at to what direction they want to head in. Other than the fact that the Rangers are one of the NHL's showcase franchises, why would any self-respecting hockey man want to work in this menagerie?
So much for buying a championship, eh?
