from Larry Brooks of the New York Post,

Regarding the Rangers, in the dead calm of the summer:

1. It is no secret the Blueshirts are operating under a Win Now mandate, which is somewhat appropriate for a team loaded with veterans playing for a franchise that is going on 30 years since its one and only Cup since, Lord help me, 1940.

Perhaps paradoxically, though, the only way for the Rangers to accomplish their objective is for incoming head coach Peter Laviolette not to take the mission statement literally the way that Gerard Gallant, his predecessor, did.

This means that Laviolette must allow Filip Chytil, Kaapo Kakko and Alexis Lafreniere — the only three forwards younger than 30 projected to make the opening roster, if you can believe that five-plus years after The Letter — to breathe and make mistakes even if that approach could cost a point or three early.

Look, I get it. The pressure to make the playoffs is immense. Every game matters. But you have to be willing to risk taking a baby step back in order to be in position take two giant steps forward down the line. This is something Gallant would not do.

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