Odds On Sidney Crosby And John Tavares Ever Becoming Rangers

1. The Maven's odds on Sidney Crosby ever becoming a Ranger are 30-1 against. (Even if The Pens captain re-signs with Pitt, he still could be traded. Ask Wayne Gretzky.)

2. As for John Tavares, the Leafs can't unload their defrocked captain fast enough. The Pyjama Boy is – unlike Crosby – rapidly losing it. Ods 75-1 against coming to New York.

3. Rangers training camp goalie to watch is Merrimack's Hugo Ollas. You won't be able to miss him. The Giraffe stands 6-7, 220; only topped by The Greater Matt Rempe.

4. Expect Will Cuylle to have the biggest breakout year of the Blueshirt sophomores. "Physical games bring my intensity up," Will warns, sounding like the Grand Remper.

5. Here's what Hall of Famer "Everything Ranger" Phil Esposito said about training camp: "When other players used to run, I'd hide in the bushes and throw water on my face to look as if I'd been sweating!"

6. Remember Tony DeAngelo as a Ranger? You should if you recall the 2019-20 season. The controversial defenseman had 15 goals and 53 points in 68 games.

7. Tony D is an unrestricted free agent looking for a team. I wonder whether the Isles would be interested. Demanding boss Lou Lamoriello has a history of such surprise signings.

8. Looking backward, I'd say that the most underrated Rangers on the 1994 Stanley Cup team was defenseman Kevin Lowe. Without him we'd still be hearing 1940!

9. The Maven's Most Underrated Non-Cup-Winning Ranger is Bob Nevin. Equally good on offense and defense, Nevvy once fought NHL Heavyweight Champion, John Ferguson, to a draw. (I have a photo of Nevvy about to deliver a roundhouse right!)

10. If Brennan Othmann doesn't make the big club out of training camp, my comment will simply be: "Enough Already!" Or, "Enough With The Patience!)

11. You have to give Matt Rempe credit. He's been traveling the summer circuit as if he's Connor McDavid and welcomed like The World's Greatest Hockey Player wherever he goes.

12. Rempe's "secret" – apart from his good looks – is that he's a natural good guy who appreciates his role and enjoys the fans as much as the vice versa.

13. Getting back to the my fantasy possibility of Sid Crosby becoming a Ranger, I consulted with my Vice-President In Charge Of Trade Possibilities, author George Grimm. His verdict: "Drury would have to dump salaries on Pittsburgh and give up Zibanejad and Trouba. If it ever happened, Sid would be the top line center."

14. Was it semi-genius Elliotte Freidman who wrote that Igor Shesterkin will be the highest-paid netminder since Pop Kenesky invented the modern goalie pads?

15. If Iggy wants to be a really nice guy, he'll cut his retired baby-sitter, Benny (The Dip) Allaire, a slight nominal piece of his new action.

16. When you think about it, without Allaire, Czar Iggy would be as average as James Reimer!