NHL Weekend Rankings: Rangers Continue the Statement Fun with a Sternly Worded Letter
The NHL season is often defined by the dominance of a select few teams, but this season, a new contender emerges: the Year of the PR Department Statement.
It began last week with the Ottawa Senators declaring war on trolls and sick people, and this week, it's the New York Rangers, writing open letters to their fans about their poor performance.
Here's a breakdown of the five most interesting passages from the Rangers' letter:
"Chris Drury, President and General Manager" - The letter reveals that Drury is indeed the project leader, despite initial doubts. This move is seen as a necessary step towards rebuilding the team.
"We will target players that bring tenacity, skill, speed and a winning pedigree" - The Rangers are looking for good players, but the letter doesn't specify which teams are considered weak, slow, and losing.
"Because that is what our fans deserve" - The letter suggests that the fans are the best, but it also implies that the team will lose on purpose for a few years to please the fans.
"That may mean saying goodbye to players that have brought us and our fans great moments over the years" - Artemi Panarin is reportedly packing his bags, as the Rangers are looking to rebuild and showcase their talents in the playoffs.
"LGR" - The last line of the letter, written without punctuation, is a mysterious shorthand for "Let's Go Rangers" or "Let's Get Rebuilding."
The Rangers have yet to appear in the bottom five this year, but the letter indicates a clear direction towards rebuilding. The team is now ranked 15th in the league, breaking the record for the most teams to appear in the rankings.
The rest of the rankings include the five teams with the best chances of winning the Stanley Cup, led by the Colorado Avalanche, and the five teams headed towards the bottom, with the Vancouver Canucks in last place.
