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NHL legend Mark Messier makes his thoughts extremely clear on the major reason behind the New York Rangers current slump. The Rangers won the Presidents' Trophy last year and began this season strong, winning seven out of first 10 games, but have since fallen into a terrible slump.
According to Messier, a former Rangers captain, the core issue is a fractured relationship between management and the coaching staff.
"I think right now the core of the Rangers is fractured. And I don't think they're fractured internally, but I think there's a disconnect between management and the coaching staff, there's a lack of trust and loyalty right now." Messier said to ESPN on Saturday.
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Since November 21, the Rangers have a 5-16-0 record. The trading away of captain Jacob Trouba in December was a move that frustrated players, and Messier compared it to his experience as an Edmonton Oilers when Wayne Gretzky was traded to Los Angeles in 1988.
Messier acknowledged that he and his teammates were angry at management over the Gretzky trade, but they channeled that emotion into winning the Stanley Cup in 1990.
In Messier's view, the Rangers don't look like a championship team currently.
"They can overcome it, we were able to overcome it in Edmonton. As mad as we were at the ownership and the management and everything else at trading away one of our brothers. It takes a lot of work, a lot of trust, and I think the Rangers can but it's not going to be easy for them."
As a former Rangers captain who led the team to its 1994 Stanley Cup victory, Messier's perspective on resolving those internal issues will be key to New York breaking this slump.
Marty Biron believes New York Rangers' season is over
NHL analyst Marty Biron believes the New York Rangers' season is effectively over after recent injuries to star goalie Igor Shesterkin. Appearing on TSN's Hockey show, Biron bluntly stated:
"They are done," Biron stated. "I was always thinking the last couple of weeks, they're gonna make a push. They're gonna make a push and they did have Igor Shesterkin, no Shesterkin, no playoffs."
He mentioned the absence of Shesterkin, who was recently placed on injured reserve due to an upper-body injury.
Biron believes changes could be coming for the Rangers. Forwards Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider have surfaced in trade rumors, potentially signaling towards rebuilding.
