Rangers Daily: Neil Smith insight; NHL trade season heats up
When the New York Knicks won the NBA championship last week, I knew immediately who I’d line up to be my guest on the next Rink Rap podcast. That’s Neil Smith, the architect of the 1994 Stanley Cup champion New York Rangers.
In these parts, there’s no one more qualified to discuss what the Knicks just did, the similarities between the long championship droughts for each franchise, and just how darn difficult it is to win a championship in New York City — despite many thinking the opposite, that New York teams have all the advantages.
“There’s always been that love/hate for New York,” Smith explained to Forever Blueshirts on the lates Rink Rap podcast. “There’s this whole thing about New York. It’s the richest. It’s the best. It’s the Frank Sinatra song. And I guess that wears on you when you live in a smaller place.
“I remember when people thought the NBA fixed the whole Patrick Ewing draft lottery so that Patrick Ewing would go to the Knicks. The fix was in! I never believed in those conspiracy theories ever. And I’ve lived it knowing that the [NHL] didn’t do us any favors when I was with the Rangers. And I’m sure that the NBA’s not doing the Knicks any favors. But that’s the way some people see it. They see that the League office is in New York, that New York is the biggest money-making place. So, of course, the NBA wants New York to win and will fix it that way.”
Smith said that actually it’s harder in a way, not easier, to win in New York. That’s because the pressure to win is so great. Especially if you’re in a 54-year Cup drought like the Rangers before 1994, or a 53-year championship dry spell like the Knicks finally ended this spring.
“It’s absolutely different [in New York],” he said. “The tickets cost more. Concessions cost more. The transportation to get there is more tedious. Everything’s harder and everything is more money. So, the expectation of the person that’s on the other end of those payments is going to expect more.
“And it’s not all just money. Part of it’s New York — if you can do it here, you can do it anywhere. … Your expectations are higher. That’s just what you face in New York.”
Trust me, Smith had plenty more to say, and so many terrific stories from 1994, including his relationship with the Knicks’ Dave Checketts, and how he was “overwhelmed” by the championship parade and how he expects the Knicks to be, as well, on Thursday.
But Neil, who also co-hosts the NHL Wraparound podcast, also discussed the current state of the Rangers and how he “doesn’t understand” what the current plan is under GM Chris Drury and how the Blueshirts “can’t be retooled.” He also breaks down the Stanley Cup Final, and why the Carolina Hurricanes took it in six games over the Vegas Golden Knights.
There’s some great conversation, hockey talk, and analysis here from Neil Smith. Make sure to check it out on YouTube or on Apple podcasts.
New York Rangers news and analysis
Here’s a detailed breakdown of the Rangers’ offseason to-do list, schedule, and outlook.
Is Rangers GM Chris Drury changing his ways? Our Ryan McInerney chronicles how Drury’s handling of players being traded or moved is improving, after his first botched handling of the 2021 trade involving Pavel Buchnevich.
The Rangers are moving on up! They have the 22nd best early odds to win the 2027 Stanley Cup, per FanDuel, despite finishing 30th out of 32 teams in the NHL standings this past season.
ICYMI: Our John Kreiser celebrated the Rangers’ 32nd anniversary of their most recent Stanley Cup championship with a personal remembrance of covering that epic Game 7 on June 14, 1994.
NHL news and rumors
The Athletic ($$): Pierre LeBrun broke the news that veteran defenseman John Carlson informed the Anaheim Ducks that he plans on testing the free agent market July 1 and wishes to return to the East Coast.
Sportsnet: The Toronto Maple Leafs hired Jim Hiller as coach, replacing the fired Craig Berube on Wednesday morning.
Forever Blueshirts: Former Rangers coach John Tortorella is back on the job market. He was informed that the Vegas Golden Knights won’t offer him a contract for next season, after he stepped in late this season and guided them to within two victories of a Stanley Cup championship.
TSN: Mark Masters reports how the Maple Leafs created salary cap flexibility and got a bit younger on the back end by trading Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit to the Philadelphia Flyers for Samuel Ersson and Emil Andrae.
Philly Hockey Now: William James breaks down the trade with the Maple Leafs from the Flyers point of view.
Colorado Hockey Now: The Avalanche needed cap space, so they traded disappointing forward Ross Colton to the Nashville Predators for draft picks. Aarif Deen breaks it all down.
ESPN: Golden Knights star Mitch Marner opened up about “dark days” with the Maple Leafs, and his mental health battles.
New Jersey Hockey Now: In an exclusive chat with James Nichols, New Jersey Devils head scout Mark Denehey raved about 2024 first-rounder Anton Silayev, a 6-foot-7 “unicorn” defenseman who appears ready for full-time NHL duty.
NHL.com: Former NHL forward Kyle Calder died at the age of 47.
