How The Blockbuster Colorado, Carolina, Chicago 3-Way Deal Affects The Rangers

S.O.S. to Peter Laviolette and to his Rangers and Blueshirt fans wherever You are; Now Hear This:

The Colorado Avalanche team You thought you'd be seeing at MSG tomorrow afternoon won't be the same.

Avs GM Chris MacFarland is responsible for that. The three-way (Colorado, Carolina, Chicago) blockbuster deal cost the Avalanche their prize right wing Mikko Rantanen.

Check your programs before the opening face-off. The new Avs are ex-Hurricanes second line right wing Martin Necas and fourth-line center Jack Drury.

"It's a huge shakeup for Colorado," says The Old Scout. "Rantanan reached 100 points for the second straight season last year. He's a gain for the Canes but the Avs couldn't afford what he wanted."

Garden fans will see in Necas a speedy skill forward. For Jack Drury it will be like Old Home Week since his Uncle Chris happens to be Rangers GM.

"In a sense," adds The Old Scout, "the three-way deal would appear to pressure Chris Drury into making a trade. But, then again, with his Rangers streaking there's no need for him to rush a move."

The pressure has been on the Avs MacFarland whose club was a failed Cup contender last season.

Picked to finish second in the Central Division this season, the Avs currently are fourth at 28-19-2 for 58 points with 15-1 Cup odds while the Rangers are listed at 14-1.

On Tuesday the Canes will be visiting Seventh Avenue, fortified by Rantanen as well as left wing Taylor Hall who was obtained from Chicago in the three-way deal.

Despite the additions, neither Carolina nor Colorado can match New York in the most vital of areas – goaltending. Igor Shesterkin tops anyone who the Canes or Avs put between the pipes.

Plus, Shesty is getting help he never enjoyed during the black days of late November and December.

Fourth-liner Adam Edstrom – gradually working his way into key roles – calls it a "defensive mindset" which coordinates backchecking forwards with the blueliners.

Taking a line from Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs – "Mirror, Mirror On The Wall; Who's The Fairest Of Them All?" – Dman K'Andre Miller credits, "Everybody looked in the mirror and gave more."

Should Special K choose to peer in The Maven's Non-Snow Whitemirror, he just might – shall we say – be concerned.

After tomorrow's meet with Colorado, The Maven sees Rangers games with Carolina, Boston and Vegas – all potential toughies.

"For the moment," The Old Scout concludes, "Humpties like Philly are in the rear view mirror. "

"Starting tomorrow and through February 5th (vs. Boston at MSG) are games that'll tell us how good the Rangers really are."