Previewing the Top Candidates for Next Giants Head Coach

Six years ago, the Giants found themselves in the exact same position they are in now. They had just fired Pat Shurmur and were looking for his replacement. They interviewed several candidates, including Mike McCarthy and Matt Rhule, but elected to go with Joe Judge.

We all know what happened, so there's no need rehashing it. Suffice to say that this time around, the Giants are hoping, praying, that they get the right man. Thankfully, there are three eminently qualified candidates available, along with a few potential dark horses. 

Given the stakes, I doubt that Joe Schoen and John Mara will seriously consider any of the dark horses, but with this franchise, you never know. Remember, it was Mara who was absolutely smitten with Judge during his interview and couldn't wait to hire him. 

For our purposes, I'll concentrate on the front runners. To be clear, any of these three men would make an excellent choice and be considerably better than either Brian Daboll or Mike Kafka. Having said that, though, I do have a pecking order. So without further ado,

John Harbaugh: Without question, the best coaching free agent to hit the open market since Andy Reid was fired by the Eagles, Harbaugh checks all the boxes and would instantly become the best head coach the Jints have had since Tom Coughlin. In 18 seasons with the Ravens, he was 193-124, including the playoffs. He won a Super Bowl in 2012 with Joe Flacco as his quarterback, but with Lamar Jackson, his teams have underachieved in the postseason.

Kevin Stefanski: In six seasons with the Browns, he made the playoffs twice, winning eleven regular-season games and coach of the year both times. That's quite an accomplishment for a franchise that since 1999 has had four winning seasons. Stefanski's claim to fame is working with quarterbacks, which will be crucial for the development of Jaxson Dart.

Mike McCarthy: In hindsight, Mara should've hired him back in 2020 instead of Judge. But that's water under the bridge. McCarthy is one of six head coaches in the history of the NFL to win twelve or more games with multiple franchises. He won a Super Bowl in 2010 with the Packers and had three consecutive 12-5 seasons with the Cowboys. But his lack of playoff success in Dallas led to a falling out with Jerry Jones. 

Now for the sixty-four thousand dollar question. Who would I go with? Obviously, Harbaugh would be my first choice. But if it turns out that he wants too much control - i.e., Bill Belichick in New England - I could see the Giants pivoting to Stefanski. And to be honest, I wouldn't be disappointed, provided they hire the right assistants. Imagine a staff of Stefanski as head coach, Kliff Kingsbury as offensive coordinator, and Antonio Pierce as defensive coordinator. That would arguably be the best coaching staff the Giants have had since their last Super Bowl team. As for McCarthy, he would be the safe pick. I don't love him, but I don't hate him either. Like I said, all three would be improvements over Daboll and Kafka.

One thing to keep in mind: the Giants aren't the only team looking to fill a coaching vacancy. Aside from Baltimore and Cleveland, the Atlanta Falcons, Las Vegas Raiders and Tennessee Titans also have their lines in the water. And the Falcons are especially intriguing because, unlike the other teams, they fired their coach and GM. That means they're in position to give whoever they hire total control over football operations. While's there's no indication that Harbaugh is looking for that much power, it's hard to imagine him turning down such an offer if it came his way.

We know that the Giants have already met with Stefanski and McCarthy; they've also met with Raheem Morris - the former Flacons head coach - and have a meeting scheduled with Pierce later this week, so they're in full compliance with the Rooney Rule. If Mara and Schoen like what they see when they sit down with Harbaugh next week, it would behoove them to make him an offer right there on the spot. Under no circumstances should they allow him to leave the building. On the other hand, if they're not enamored of Harbaugh, their very next call has to be to Stefanski. Get him in as soon as possible before another team snatches him up.

Six years ago, the Giants let two very qualified coaches slip through their fingers. They cannot afford to make that same mistake again. Time waits for no man, or organization. If Mara screws this up, he'll have no one but himself to blame.

The problem with casting a wide net is that sometimes the big fish gets away.

Memo to the Knicks: "Hold Off On That Coronation"

The best thing I can say about last night's train wreck in Detroit was that I didn't see it. That's because I refuse to pony up any more of my money for a subscription just to watch games I thought I was getting through my cable provider. But I can sure as shit read a stat sheet, and all I can say is that if this was a preview of what we can expect from the Knicks in a best of seven playoff series against the Pistons, this will be the most lopsided sweep in Motown history since the days of Isiah Thomas and Bill Laimbeer. 

Now that I think about it, calling what happened last night a train wreck would be doing a disservice to the term train wreck. At least a train wreck started out as a train going somewhere. This game was ostensibly over 30 seconds after the opening tip off. That's when Duncan Robinson buried a three pointer to put the Pistons ahead for good. New York kept it close in the first quarter before the wheels came off in the second.

It's hard to believe that this is the same Knicks team that won the NBA Cup just three weeks ago. On December 13, they were 18-7, two games behind the first place Pistons in the Eastern Conference. They were averaging 121 points per game, while limiting opponents to just 112.2 points per game. Both were fourth best in the NBA. Yours truly wrote on December 17 that they had sent a message. 

Well apparently that message was postdated, because since then, the Knicks have gone 5-6 and have lost four in a row. They now trail the Pistons by four games and are in third place in the East.

What is most disturbing about this slump is how badly they have defended. Over their last three games, their opponents have outscored them by an average of 18 points. The Sixers shot 54 percent from the field and 47 percent from three, while the Pistons shot 55 and 52 percent respectively. Against both teams the Knicks were out-rebounded and outscored in the paint, despite having both Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson in the starting lineup.

Towns and Jalen Brunson were the main culprits against the Pistons. According to Tommy Beer, this was the first time in 728 games as a pro that KAT attempted less than five shots and five free throws in the same game. Brunson wasn't much better. Though the captain scored 25 points, he had zero assists on the night. Both players committed six turnovers.

OG Anunoby is also becoming a concern of late. In his last four games, the man Leon Rose signed to a five-year, $212.5 million contract is 4-18 from beyond the arc. Even worse, he is a minus 78 over that span. There is no way to sugar coat this. If these three players don't dramatically improve their game, and soon, this team will not only fail to reach the finals, it may well fail to reach the playoffs.

Is Mike Brown partly to blame here? Yes. His offense relies heavily on taking three-point shots, and when they don't go in, and the Knicks don't control the boards, like they did earlier in the season, they are susceptible to fast breaks the other way. In the month of January, New York is literally being dominated in every facet of the game: scoring, shooting percentage and rebounding.

This whole thing started with a fourth-quarter collapse in San Antonio, and it has now snow-balled into a full-fledged crisis. The Knicks aren't just struggling, they are getting outworked and out-hustled. Brown, in his post-game presser, didn't mince his words. "It's pretty simple, they just physically kicked our ass." As if to add insult to injury, the Pistons were without Jalen Duren and Tobias Harris, two of their most dominant players, while the Knicks were without Josh Hart.

Losing streaks are part of the game, I know, and even the best of teams occasionally sputter. While the Orange and Blue were shitting the bed in Detroit, the Oklahoma City Thunder were being throttled by the lowly Charlotte Hornets. Indeed, last season's champions are 5-5 in their last ten games.

But it's the manner in which the Knicks are losing that is alarming. Much as it pains me to admit, this team may have gotten caught up in all the hoopla of the pre-season prognostications. The trouble with being the prohibitive favorites to advance to the finals is that the other teams in the conference aren't all that impressed. If anything, they seem extra motivated when playing them, as evidenced by the beatdown in Detroit. The Pistons sent a message loud and clear, and the message was "Hold off on that coronation."

The Knicks need to snap out of this funk fast before the season unravels on them. And trust me, it can, quicker than Mike Breen can yell "Bang!"

Why Jaxson Dart Is the Offensive Rookie of the Year

Just to be clear, Tyler Shough is a good quarterback. The New Orleans Saints made the right choice when they selected him with the 40th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Choosing a quarterback to lead your franchise is not, contrary to popular opinion, a slam dunk. Even the best have a learning curve. Peyton Manning, in his rookie season, led the league in interceptions. But as good as Shough has been this season, Jaxson Dart has been better.

This is not a subjective opinion; it's an objective analysis. In virtually every metric that matters, Dart is the better quarterback. Below is a comparison of both players stats.

While Shough has a slightly higher completion percentage and a few more passing yards, Dart has more overall yards, more passing touchdowns, more total touchdowns, fewer interceptions, a higher QBR and a higher passer rating. But the biggest thing that stands out is his passer rating against elite teams. No team in the NFL had a tougher strength of schedule this season than the Giants. Dart had to play the Eagles (twice) the Chargers, the Broncos, the Bears, the Patriots and the 49ers - all teams that have a legitimate shot of going deep in the postseason - and he had a passer rating of 98.5 against them. 

By comparison, the only team Shough had to face that has a legitimate shot of going deep in the postseason is the Rams, and he had a passer rating of 81.2 against them. Most of his success has come against the likes of the Tennessee Titans, Carolina Panthers, Miami Dolphins and the Jets; the latter was dead last in the NFL with an opponent passer rating of 110.9.

Fans of Shough bring up his wins, passing yards per game and passing yards per attempt. Anyone who's watched even one football game knows full well that no one player determines wins and losses. It's the ultimate team sport. The Giants lost five games this season in which they led by double digits; four of those losses came in the fourth quarter. If they had any kind of defense at all, they'd have at least four more wins. Putting that squarely on Dart's shoulders is not only unfair, it's stupid.

As for passing yards per game and passing yards per attempt, the former is a direct result of the game plan implemented by the offensive coordinator; the latter can be very easily manipulated. For instance, a QB can complete 20 passes for an average of six yards per completion; then pop two for 60 yards a piece. That comes out to 10.9 yards per catch. But is that really an honest way to evaluate his talent? I hardly think so.

Dart has other accolades in his favor. He's the first rookie quarterback in NFL history to register 1,800 passing yards, 400 rushing yards and 20 total touchdowns in his first nine regular-season starts. Unlike so many rookies, he doesn't wilt under pressure. Indeed, the better the competition, the better he plays. He's the perfect fit for a New York market that chews up and spits out lesser athletes. Just imagine what he could've done had Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo not been lost to season-ending injuries.

This is not about bashing Tyler Shough. As I mentioned above, he's a good quarterback. After years of searching for Drew Brees' replacement, the Saints appear to have found him. This is about acknowledging the obvious: Jaxson Dart is the better player. He deserves to win the offensive rookie of the year award.

If he doesn't, there should be an investigation.

Five Losses That Defined the Giants Season

Before we get to the main topic, I wanted to say a few words about yesterday's win in Vegas. If nothing else, we now know for certain that the Giants are NOT the worst team in the NFL. Quite the contrary, the team I saw on that field executed on offense and made enough plays defensively to convince me that with the right coaching staff in place, they could have a winning record next season. 

Yes, I know it was only the Raiders, who, along with the Jets, are two of the worst teams in all of sports, but Big Blue has shown throughout this season that they can hang with the best in the league. Now that they no longer have the number one pick to worry about, we can put this whole Fernando Mendoza nonsense to bed. The Giants have their quarterback and he put on quite a show yesterday. Hopefully, Joe Schoen, or whoever the next GM winds up being, will realize that and use next year's draft to fortify the many needs this team has.

As for the fans who were hoping they would lose to secure that number one pick, I honestly don't know what to say. Imagine being so bitter that you root against your team. I've been a fan of the Giants since the days of Joe Pisarcik, which means I've endured a lot of losing seasons. Not once did I ever root for them to lose. Winning these last two games would mean the world for a roster that is still relatively young and has some pretty good talent on it. If you can't see that, I feel sorry for you.

Now onto the main course. I will list each loss in chronological order, but you don't have to be a rocket scientist to know which one was the worst.

Week Two at Dallas: Coming off a lackluster performance in Washington, the Giants, with Russell Wilson under center, had their most impressive offensive performance in over a year. Wilson threw for 450 yards and three touchdowns; the last one a 48 yard strike to Malik Nabers to put the Jints up 37-34 with 25 seconds left in regulation. All New York had to do was stop the Cowboys from getting into field goal range.

But in what would become a pattern all season long, Defensive Coordinator Shane Bowen elected to rush only three, and Dak Prescott navigated his team to the Giants 46 yard line, where Brandon Aubrey kicked a game-tying 64-yard field goal to send it into overtime. Dallas eventually would win on another Aubrey field goal.

Week Five at New Orleans: This was Jaxson Dart's second career start. The previous week he had beaten the Chargers at MetLife 21-18. Two touchdown passes from Dart to Theo Johnson put New York ahead 14-3 with 13 minutes left in the second quarter. Victory seemed inevitable.

That's when the wheels came off. Dart threw two picks. The Giants as a team turned the ball over five times; the last one resulting in an 86-yard fumble recovery that put the Saints up 26-14. It was a painful reminder that counting your chickens before they hatch is not a good strategy for winning. 

Week Seven at Denver: The pièce de résistance of the 2025 season. Fortunately, I was at a wedding when this travesty happened or I would've thrown something at my TV. Dart had arguably his best game as a pro, throwing for 283 yards and three touchdowns against one of the best defenses in the NFL. 

New York led 19-0 after the third quarter, and 26-8 with ten minutes to go in the fourth. The Broncos scored 22 unanswered points to take a 30-26 lead with 1:51 left in regulation. Dart then drove the Giants downfield and put them ahead 32-30 with 37 seconds remaining. 

Once again, Bowen elected not to pressure Bo Nix, who managed to get his team into Giants territory, where Will Lutz kicked a 39 yard field goal to win the game as time expired. That Bowen wasn't fired immediately after the game just underscores how incompetent this franchise is.

Week Ten at Chicago: The Giants had lost three games in a row going into the Windy City, but that didn't stop them form taking a 17-7 lead over the Bears two minutes into the third quarter. Once again, Dart was impressive, going 19-29 for 242 yards and two rushing touchdowns. 

However, with just over five minutes to go in the third and the Giants deep in Bears territory, Dart was hit and fumbled the ball at the Chicago 21 yard line. He suffered a concussion on the play and would not return. With Wilson at the helm, New York's offense stalled and the Bears rallied for a 24-20 win. This was Brian Daboll's last game as head coach.

Week Twelve at Detroit: The final nail in this hellscape of a season. With Dart still in concussion protocol and Mike Kafka replacing the fired Daboll, the G-Men jumped out to a 27-17 lead over the Lions early in the fourth quarter, thanks to Jameis Winston throwing for 366 yards and two touchdowns.

But, and stop me if this sounds familiar, the Giants defense couldn't hold the lead. Jahmyr Gibbs had the game of his life, rushing for 219 yards and two touchdowns; the latter coming in overtime. Not one Giant defender touched him as he raced 69 yards for the winning score.

There you have it: five losses that defined the Giants season. While it's unlikely that New York would've swept all five of those games, with a competent defensive coordinator, who knows, maybe they could've won four of them. They certainly played well enough to go 4-1. While 7-10 is nothing to brag about, it's a helluva lot better than 3-14. And honestly, it's where I thought they'd finish before the season started.

A Very Merry Knicksmas

With just over ten minutes to go in the fourth quarter, the New York Knicks were trailing the Cleveland Cavaliers 103-86 on Christmas Day at the Garden. Things were not looking so good for the men in orange and blue. It certainly appeared as though the fans were going to go home with a lump of coal in their stockings. 

Oh well, you can't win them all. 

That's when the Knicks said "No so fast." Jordan Clarkson made a layup; then Tyler Kolek sank a three-pointer. In all, New York would go on a 40-21 run to beat the Cavs 126-124 in what was without question the weirdest, wildest game of the season. 

Overcoming huge fourth-quarter deficits is nothing new for the Knicks. They did it twice against the Boston Celtics in last year's playoffs. What is new, at least for this team, is that it was the bench that played a major role in the comeback. Kolek had 11 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter and had a huge block on what would've been a Donovan Mitchell layup with 1:45 left in regulation; Mitchell Robinson had eight of his 13 rebounds in the final quarter, including two key offensive boards that led to three pointers by Brunson and Kolek; and Clarkson led all bench scorers with 25 points.

The evolution of Kolek has been something to behold. With the exception of the game against the Sixers, in winch he scored only two points and committed four turnovers, he has been, by far, the biggest surprise. Under Mike Brown, the 2024 second-round pick from Marquette has blossomed into a reliable backup to Brunson. With 2:29 left in the Cup game against the Spurs, when Brown needed another ball handler to take the heat off Brunson, he didn't hesitate to send Kolek into the game, even though Mikal Bridges was available. Kolek responded with two assists, two rebounds and four points. 

That is an example of the kind of trust Brown has shown in his players, and it has paid off handsomely. With OG Anunoby and Brunson both missing games due to injury, the bench, which was often an afterthought under Tom Thobodeau, has become an integral part of the success of this team. Clarkson, the man Leon Rose signed for $2.2 million during the offseason, has averaged 10.4 points per game coming off the bench. He has 17 double-digit point games this season. Deuce McBride is averaging 11.6 points per game, and has 10 double-digit point games. 

Accountability has become a hallmark of this coach; that and tough love. When his players make mistakes, instead of benching them, he points out what they did wrong and then challenges them to do better. Against the Timberwolves, Kolek shot only 3 for 10 in the first half and was chided by his coach. He responded by going 6 for 12 in the second half. On the flip side, Brown has shown that he isn't afraid to bench a player when it's warranted. Going back to that Cup game, it was clear Bridges wasn't shooting the ball well, so he sat the final 6:22 of the game. Can you imagine Thibs doing that?

The more I see of this team, the more excited I get about their chances. With McBride and Landry Shamet due back soon, they seem to have everything they need to make another deep run in the playoffs. They have the best clutch player in the NBA in Brunson, a duel threat at center in Karl-Anthony Towns and Robinson, one of the best defensive forwards in the game in Anunoby, and a budding young star coming off the bench in Kolek. There's only one team that's deeper and more talented than the Knicks, and that team - the Oklahoma City Thunder - plays in the other conference.

Yes, it was a Very Merry Knicksmas at MSG yesterday. And if the Basketball gods continue to smile on them, 2026 could well be a Very Happy New Year. 

Knicks Send A Message

Normally, I don't get all that excited about exhibition games. My rule has always been if it doesn't count in the standings, it doesn't count. Period.

However, last night's win by the Knicks over the San Antonio Spurs in Las Vegas was much more than an exhibition game. In case you haven't noticed, New York sports fans haven't had a whole lot to celebrate lately. Both area football teams are an embarrassment; the Rangers window has apparently been nailed shut; the Mets front office seems determined to transform the franchise into the Milwaukee Brewers; and the Yankees front office isn't much better. The Knicks are about the only serious sports team in town right now; and with the exception of the Jets, no fanbase has suffered more. It was nice to celebrate a win, even an exhibition one.

But aside from the celebratory mood, the Knicks, in winning, sent a message to their front office; a very strong message. They're for real, and they don't need any help. Trailing 94-89 going into the fourth quarter, New York outscored San Antonio 35-19 to capture the NBA Cup Championship 124-113. While the win may have been symbolic, it was far from meaningless. Mitchell Robinson, who has been the subject of trade talks, out rebounded the entire Spurs team 8 to 6 in the fourth quarter; Tyler Kolek - another possible trade chip - scored 6 of his 14 points in the quarter and also picked up an assist on a beautiful pass to O.G. Anunoby, who drilled a three pointer with 1:56 left in the game to put the Knicks up 118-110; and Jordan Clarkson hit back-to-back threes early in the fourth to put the Orange and Blue ahead for good.

Sending a message is one thing; whether it got through to the folks who work at 4 Penn Plaza, specifically James Dolan, is another. For those who may have been living under a rock the last few weeks, Giannis Antetokounmpo's name keeps popping up in trade talks. And the number one destination appears to be the Knicks. To listen to the supposed "experts," it's not a question of if Giannis becomes a Knick, but when.

What last night's victory proved was that this team doesn't need a superstar, even one as great as Giannis, to rescue it. The Knicks are 18-7; 9-1 in their last ten. Over that stretch, they are second in the NBA in defensive rating, first in points allowed per game, and first in opponent three-point percentage. They are on pace to have their best regular season since 1996-97, when they went 57-25. If Leon Rose wants to tweak the roster, that's fine, but under no circumstance should he make any serious alterations to it, and that includes moving Robinson, or anyone in the starting five, in a package for Giannis.

I confess, I was one of those "experts" who was ready to ship him off to the Milwaukee Bucks for Bobby Portis, but after watching him last night, I am convinced that his presence will prove invaluable to this team come the playoffs. The Knicks had 32 second-chance points on 23 offensive rebounds against the Spurs; ten of those offensive rebounds came from Robinson. The man was an absolute beast on the glass. And to think, he only played 18 minutes. Imagine what he could do if he played 25 minutes per game. Yes I know he can't hit a free throw to save his life, but there are few players in the league who can do what he does on the boards. The Knicks are stronger with him than without him.

Fourteen years ago, Dolan by-passed his GM and overpaid to get Carmelo Anthony. That trade screwed up the Knicks for the next eight years. It has taken Rose five years to assemble this roster; five years of methodical trades and signings. When healthy, only the Oklahoma City Thunder are deeper. 

This franchise is knocking on the door of what could well be its first title since 1973. The last thing it needs is for its owner to fuck things up again. 

Get the message, Jim? 

Don't Blame Sullivan for Mika Benching

The big story at Madison Square Garden last night wasn't that the New York Rangers lost to the much-improved Anaheim Ducks 4-1; their 12th loss in 16 home games and the ninth time this season they've been held to one goal or less on their own ice.

The big story was that Mike Sullivan benched Mika Zibanejad for being late to a team meeting and that was the reason they lost. Yes, Mika Zibanejad, who we're now supposed to believe is the second coming of Guy Lafleur, was so vital to his team's chances that without his presence, they did pretty much what they've been doing all year long: they shit the bed. Had it not been for a fluke gaol by Matthew Robertson, they would've suffered their sixth shutout of the season. And it's not even Christmas yet. 

I'm sorry, but did Mika play in the season opener against the Penguins? Did he play against the Capitals or the Oilers or the Wild or the Hurricanes or the Islanders or the Red Wings or the Lightning? Let me save you the trouble of looking it up: he did. Wanna know what the Rangers record was in those games? 0-8.

That the beat writers of this team would even suggest that Zibanejad's absence had any bearing on the outcome of this game is embarrassing. For the record, the reason the Blueshirts lost last night was because they surrendered a shorthanded goal while on a 5v3 power play and Igor Shesterkin whiffed on a shot by Cutter Gauthier to put the Ducks up 2-1 in the third period that nine times out of ten he stops. If you're going to grill Sullivan over anything how about his stubbornness in sticking with five forwards on the first power play unit, which is now 0-21 and has allowed two shorthanded goals? That would be a good place to start, don't you think? If anything, I applaud Sullivan for holding his players accountable. If Brian Daboll had handled his players as well as Sullivan handles his, he might still have his job.

Face it: no team in the NHL works harder at being mediocre than the Rangers. They bring new meaning to the word underwhelming. According to Steve Valiquette, New York had eleven high-danger scoring chances to Anaheim's six, and yet they couldn't convert on one of those chances. The Robertson goal was a mid-danger chance. Unusual? No, just standard operating procedure at the world's most famous arena. I swear these players would have a hard time finishing at a whore house. 

Want to hear something crazy? This team has less talent than the one Jeff Gorton decided to tear down in 2018. Just take a look at the numbers below. These are the adjusted point totals for the top six plus Adam Fox:

As you can see, Panarin is the only player scoring at around a point per game. To quote the great Dean Wormer of Faber College, "Congratulations, Bread, you're at the top of the Delta pledge class."

This isn't a top six; hell, it's barely a middle six. And it's why the Rangers are a middling team that if the season were to end today would miss the playoffs for the second straight year.

Nothing about this roster excites you; nothing in the pipeline excites you. The most encouraging thing you can say about this franchise is that if they continue at the pace they're on, they have a half-way decent shot of getting a lottery pick in next year's draft; that's assuming Drury doesn't do something stupid and trade it away. 

Seriously, I don't know how anybody looks at this team and says, "Oh, yeah, they're good." Good for what? If the word disappointment could be trademarked, the Rangers would be the General Motors of the NHL.

Over the last 50 years, I've had a front-row seat to four rebuilds: the mid-'70s; the late '80s; the late '90s to the early '00s; and the late 2010s. I've seen players come and go. And that's why I'm imploring Chris Drury to do the right thing and start another one.

Please spare me all the "But they're only two points out of a wild card spot" drivel. So in two years we've gone from winning the Presidents' trophy to possibly being the eight seed? If that's your argument, I don't want to hear it. Look at what the Knicks are doing. Now that's a team with a real shot at winning a championship. By comparison, the Rangers look like the guy who stayed too long at the bar and now can't get a ride home.

I'd love to be a fly on the wall when Drury tells Dolan this team, as currently constructed, can't win, especially since he's the principal architect of it. He won't be a happy camper, I can assure you of that, It isn't every day that you see a franchise have two rebuilds in less than a decade. Drury will be lucky if he isn't fired. And if you think Dolan wouldn't fire his GM, guess again. The man's paying Tom Thibodeau $30 million to NOT coach the Knicks. Somehow I don't think money is going to influence him one way or the other. 

But while doing a rebuild is risky, not doing it is far riskier. Every team in the Eastern Conference not named the Buffalo Sabres is deeper and younger than the Rangers, including a certain team that plays in Elmont. The longer Drury waits, the worse this situation will get.

Neil Smith waited too long to start his rebuild, and the Rangers went seven years without qualifying for the postseason.