from Larry Brooks of the New York Post,

It is important for an NHL head coach to have assistants in whom he has utmost trust, both personally and professionally. Peter Laviolette deserves to have a staff largely of his choosing when he steps behind the bench for the Rangers.

But I also believe the Blueshirts are in need of a young presence and voice on the staff even if not necessarily a member of the head coach’s retinue. This is a veteran team with a veteran head coach, but there is a critical youthful component to the mix, too. Staff diversity is required. There is no reason for same-old, same-old. This is not a time for cronyism.

In addition, the Rangers’ power play became stagnant last season, and no, that was not because of Patrick Kane. The unit underachieved all season. Pass, pass, pass, one-timer by Mika. Pass, pass, pass, one-timer by Mika. Pass, pass, pass, the first unit staying on for 1:25 regardless.

The OHL Windsor Spitfires have had a dynamic power play the last two seasons. They are coached by the dynamic offensive former player, Marc Savard, originally a Ranger before he was unfortunately sent away to Calgary at age 21 in the deal that yielded Jamie Lundmark and Jan Hlavac in June 1999.

Nearly a quarter of a century later, it is time to explore bringing Savard back to New York as an assistant coach to preside over the power play and work with the forwards. In two years a head coach in the OHL, in which he had Will Cuylle for a spell, Savard’s team won the West both seasons while finishing second overall in the league.

continued plus more topics including this...

Finally, I’d like to see Steve Larmer be elected to the HHOF, I’d like to see Butch Goring gain induction, I’d be happy if Claude Provost were recognized. And I wonder if Matthew Tkachuk’s dramatic rise to prominence will invite another look at the candidacy of his dad, Keith “Big Walt” Tkachuk.