Rangers Daily: Knicks provide inspiration; Maple Leafs meet with Matthews
Of course, it’d be really cool to see the New York Rangers making a big postseason splash this spring, as opposed to watching from the sidelines after failing to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second straight year. But it’s been really special to watch Madison Square Garden’s other tenants, the Knicks, play championship-level basketball en-route to their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999.
The Knicks are on the kind of heater we don’t get to see that often in these parts. They’re 12-2 in the playoffs, and carry an 11-game winning streak into the final round. They haven’t lost since Game 3 of the first round against the Atlanta Hawks, and their two losses in that opening series each were by one point. The Knicks not only closed out the Hawks with three straight wins, they advanced with a 51-point victory (!) in Game Six.
What followed was a four game sweep against the Philadelphia 76’ers and then a four-game sweep over the Cleveland Cavaliers, a pair of series littered with blowout Knicks victories., though there was that amazing gut-check comeback victory in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Cavs.
You gotta hope that the Rangers are watching the Knicks closely this spring. How teamwork and sacrifice — and having the right pieces to the puzzle — are the backbone of this incredible run few, if any, saw coming.
Mark Messier told me after Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final in 1994 that teams and players must lose first to understand just how difficult it is to win a championship. Those ’94 Rangers carried the weight of a 54-year championship drought. But more specifically to Messier’s point — they lost in the second round of the playoffs in 1992 after winning the Presidents’ Trophy that season, and then missed the playoffs altogether the following season. Then they won the Cup in 1994, though if you watched those final two rounds, you know nothing was guaranteed and it didn’t come easily.
Kevin Lowe told me after that most recent Rangers championship that individual and collective sacrifice is paramount to winning a championship. That always stayed with me, as did Messier’s words. And they ring true this spring for the Knicks, who haven’t won a championship in 53 years.
They’ve been climbing the ladder of contention ever since Jalen Brunson arrived ahead of the 2022-23 season. There was plenty of success, great moments, and also heartbreak, missed opportunities, and failure. Major personnel and coaching changes, along with minor tweaks, were made along the way. Depth was built and trusted, which really is a huge part of the Knicks success in these playoffs.
Brunson is key. But the team-first play this spring, embraced by Brunson –who doesn’t always need the ball in his hands all the time — is most important. Everyone’s involved. Everyone’s buying in. Everyone’s part of the success. Check the egos at the door.
Loved how Karl Anthony Towns told ESPN after the conference final clincher in Cleveland on Monday that there was no champagne nor beer celebration in the visitor’s dressing room. All business. Still have work to do. Four more games to win.
All of this is a future blueprint for the Rangers — from how the front office goes about its business to the coaches and players. Let’s hope the Rangers are watching — and are inspired by — their MSG brethren.
And let the Rangers see and feel again what New York City is like when absolutely captivated by a legit championship contender on a run.
New York Rangers news and analysis
Checking in on the five Rangers players/prospects taking part in the IIHF World Championship, including Jaroslav Chmelar, who scored his first goal for Czechia.
Jess Rubenstein breaks down the best options when the Rangers are on the clock in the second and third rounds of this year’s NHL Draft.
End-of-season report cards: final grades and analysis for Vincent Trocheck and Braden Schneider.
If Mario Ferraro becomes a UFA on July 1, should that matter to the Rangers?
NHL news and rumors
Sportsnet: The Toronto Maple Leafs and star center Auston Matthews had a “positive” meeting on a Zoom call, regarding his future with the organization, Elliotte Friedman reported.
TSN: Chris Pronger told TSN 1050 that he interviewed for a top front office role with the Toronto Maple Leafs after previously saying that he did not meet with the team before it hired John Chayka as general manger and Mats Sundin as special adviser.
New Jersey Hockey Now: James NIchols dives into the latest reports that the Devils and Nico Hischier started talks on a contract extension.
NHL.com: Nathan MacKinnon’s status is unclear due to a lower-body injury heading into Game 4 of the Western Conference Final, with the Colorado Avalanche facing elimination against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Forever Blueshirts: Former Rangers coach John Tortorella and center Brett Howden are two big reasons why the Golden Knights are on the verge of reaching the Stanley Cup Final.
Carolina Hockey Now: Rachel Barkley breaks down the Hurricanes’ 3-2 overtime win over the Montreal Canadiens in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final.
Montreal Hockey Now: On the flip side, Marc Dumont provides his key Canadiens takeaways after Game 3, including how a familiar script played out and why the League allows other teams to consistently crash into Montreal goalie Jakub Dobes during this postseason run.
Sportsnet: Elliotte Friedman gets into why the Nashville Predators are taking so long to name their new general manager, and dives into rumors that they may be waiting to speak with Avalanche GM Chris McFarlane about being their head of hockey operations.
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Dan Kingerski breaks down why the Pittsburgh Penguins should embrace a full-on youth movement, what with their AHL farm team full of top prospects and on a nice run in the Calder Cup Playoffs.
