What makes the comments worse – to me, at least – is Duguay’s non-apology apology. He’s not sorry about what he said, he’s sorry you are offended by his comments. He meant what he said and he said what he meant.
Now, I’m also not going to sit here and pass judgement on what kind of person Ron Duguay is. I don’t know him personally. I’ve never had a conversation with him either online or through email. He could easily be a sweet, charming man when he’s talking with you one-on-one, and someone others can hold in the highest regard.
What I do know is this: MSG Networks needs to take action, and the powers that be need to do so quickly. Those comments cannot be tolerated, and that hand-wave of an apology can not be enough for their standards.
What was said is unacceptable, and if MSG Networks chooses to do nothing, that’s equally unacceptable.
–Greg Kaplan[/text_output][custom_headline type=”left” level=”h4″ looks_like=”h4″ accent=”true” id=”” class=”” style=””]Shattenkirk’s Injury Revisited[/custom_headline][image type=”circle” float=”none” src=”1913″ alt=”” href=”” title=”” info_content=”” lightbox_caption=”” id=”” class=”aligncenter” style=””][text_output]Disappointing isn’t the right word. Relived? Maybe.
The news on Kevin Shattenkirk undergoing surgery on a torn meniscus that’s been bothering him since September explains a lot.
What it doesn’t explain is his head coach, Alain Vigneault, throwing him under the bus, then proceeding to push the driver out of the bus, only for Vigneault to run Shattenkirk over repeatedly before the Winter Classic.
There was no mystery that something was wrong. You could tell his normal explosiveness he had while skating up the ice wasn’t the same. He wasn’t able to cut quickly to get into position fast enough.
All this while his head coach wanted him to figure it out, wanted him to become better.
As much as I hate to defend Vigneault, while his wording wasn’t the best, was this a way he was trying to get Shattenkirk to admit that he needed to get surgery? Was this a way for Vigneault to extend his time as Ranger coach, something that has been my fear as all the injury news has come about for the Rangers?
So, with Shattenkirk out for what looks like six to eight weeks, it’s now time to see who can step up. Who will replace Shattenkirk? We saw Tony DeAngelo return to the lineup in Saturday’s loss to the Colorado Avalanche.
I absolutely liked what I saw. He was more confident in his own zone and made smart plays to save himself and get shifts continuously if he plays smart and simple in his own end.
He started to see some trust from Vigneault, finishing Saturday’s game with 16:07 of ice time. We’ll need to see continued trust from Vigneault and continued improvement from DeAngelo as the Rangers are beaten and battered.
–Shawn Taggart[/text_output][custom_headline type=”left” level=”h4″ looks_like=”h4″ accent=”true” id=”” class=”” style=””]About That Kings Game[/custom_headline][text_output]After the loss against the Kings last night, I went to my room and just laid on my bed. It was an all too familiar feeling. Rangers came out of the gate with guns blazing. The first period ended with them up 2-0.
Period 2 starts.
Kings score. 2-1 Rangers.
Kings score. 2-2 Rangers.
Kings score. 2-3 Rangers.[/text_output][image type=”none” float=”none” src=”1915″ alt=”” href=”” title=”” info_content=”” lightbox_caption=”” id=”” class=”aligncenter” style=””][text_output]It’s easy to point your fingers at one thing or another; maybe single out the coaching or specific players. But really, I think what we’re facing is a multifaceted issue.
Players are injured. We don’t have the right personnel. The defense is mediocre most nights. The offense lacks any kind of creativity, with coaching decisions equivalent to that of playing with checkers in a league full of chess players.
Despite our hopes for a better season, maybe it’s time to fully embrace changes this team will have to inevitably face in the months to come and throughout the off-season. I’ve grown incredibly attached to the many players that have come into this organization, but the reality is, without their moving, we’ll never see the team progress forward.
For instance: Derek Stepan.
He was and stills remains my favorite player; I was absolutely crushed when he was traded away. But likewise, without that trade, it would not have paved way for young and promising players like Lias Andersson and Filip Chytil.
New players. New coaches. It’s been quite obvious a turnover of a new Rangers core has been happening, and maybe it’s time to fully commit. Difficult decisions lie ahead for GM Jeff Gorton. I certainly do not envy him at all.
–JK[/text_output]
Author: Greg Kaplan
Greg Kaplan is a man of mystery. Did he write this? No. Was he asked to write this? Yes. But did he write this article? Maybe, do you like it?