Hour 1: NHL Deadline Reaction

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 1: NHL Deadline Reaction (March 6, 2026)

Podcast Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Theme: In-depth breakdown and local reaction to the NHL trade deadline, focusing on the New York teams (Rangers, Islanders, Devils) — their lack of headline-grabbing moves, what those decisions mean, and what the offseason now holds. Passionate, sometimes comedic New York sports talk, classic Don, Hahn & Rosenberg.

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Main Theme & Episode Overview

In this episode, Don, Hahn & Rosenberg provide a comprehensive reaction to the NHL trade deadline. The conversation centers on the relatively quiet deadline for the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils, the bold move the Islanders made to acquire Braden Schenn, and the implications for each franchise both immediately and heading into the offseason. The hosts dissect fan frustrations, front office intent, whether a true Rangers "rebuild" is coming, the NHL’s trade landscape, and compare New York hockey’s situation to other city teams. Along the way, there are tangents on lottery hopes, goaltending philosophy, and a touch of the show’s signature digressions and camaraderie.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Spring Fever and New York Sports Setting (00:52–02:25)

• Show opens with light banter about spring’s arrival in NYC and updates on show logistics.
• Alan jokes about the “full frontal” nature of today's show lineup and the shifting of fill-in hosts, setting the energetic tone.

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Islanders Swing Big at the Deadline (03:54–06:34)

• Key Move: Islanders trade for Braden Schenn (captain of the St. Louis Blues, Cup winner, veteran forward).
  • Analysis:
    • Schenn brings experience, leadership, and versatility (center/wing).
    • Trade cost is steep (first and third-round picks plus a prospect)—but justified for a team ready to make a playoff run.
    • The team’s window feels open—Eastern Conference is wide, “not locked in” but aggressive moves are welcomed.
  • Logistics Win: Schenn and the Blues were already in San Jose, so Schenn won’t miss time switching teams.

Don Hahn [05:24]:
"It's not a sexy move, but it's a sneaky good move... you get a guy who wears a C on his chest and has his name on the Cup, you're bringing somebody in with some stuff about him."

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Deadline Frustration & the Rangers’ Standstill (06:34–15:05)

• Rangers Do… Almost Nothing:
  • Minor prospect deal; rumors about trading Trocheck lead nowhere ("price was too high").
  • The team had telegraphed a potential “facelift” with a fan letter from management — yet at deadline, all stars (Fox, Shesterkin, Trocheck) remain.
  • Drury is “punting” major changes to the offseason; the only notable outgoing is Panarin, who was already not getting re-signed.
• Why Wait?
  • Big deals—especially for goalies or stars—rarely happen at the deadline; summer is more likely for blockbuster rebuilds.
  • Rangers fans “braced for goodbyes,” but now must wait for offseason movement.

Alan Hahn [08:43]:

"That's what you send a letter out for... moving a Fox, moving an Igor Shesterkin during the offseason. That's the sort of thing that changes the face of the organization."

Don Hahn [09:48]:

"This unofficially is the end of the Rangers' season right here. There's really nothing else going on other than watching your younger players..."

Insight:
Teams without expiring contracts (like the Rangers or Devils) rarely make significant deadline deals—those moves are offseason business. In contrast, teams eyeing playoff runs (like the Islanders) can justify paying bigger prices for veterans now.

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Cup Goaltending, Rebuild Philosophy, and Deadline Mechanics (15:05–21:44)

• The Igor Shesterkin Dilemma:
  • Emotional debate about whether you should ever trade an elite goalie.
  • Alan argues that winning the Cup doesn’t require drafting or holding onto a franchise goalie; many Cup winners get them elsewhere or cycle through.
  • Don is more skeptical: “It’s so hard to get to have a goalie. When you have a goalie, you have a chance." But, concedes: “...if it’s going to take three years [to rebuild], how old is Adam [Fox] going to be by the time you turn the corner?”
• Rebuild vs. Retool — It’s Semantics:
  • Both Don and Alan agree: No matter what GM Chris Drury says, the Rangers are looking at a full rebuild, not a “retool” or “reimagining.”
  • Who goes depends on (a) draft lottery luck (b) which core players waive their no-move clauses.

Notable Exchange [19:14]:

Don Hahn: "If you're a Ranger fan, that's the one where you probably would freak out. And the fact that she didn’t say no [to the idea of trading Shesterkin]... When they bring up a name and you go, 'No, no, no, that’s not happening.' That didn’t happen here."

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The Draft Lottery and Potential Quick Fix (13:11–14:18)

• Gavin McKenna Watch:
  • Rangers’ best hope to accelerate their future is “winning” the lottery for consensus #1 pick, Gavin McKenna.
  • If so, maybe you don’t trade away the other pieces (Shesterkin, Trocheck, Fox, etc.), similar to how snagging Artemi Panarin created a sudden upswing a few years ago.

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Fan Calls – Frustration, Denial, and Rational Takes (30:02–52:26)

• Fan Viewpoints:
  • Some criticize Drury for not trading Trocheck or Panarin for more than a “bag of pucks” [30:02–31:12]. Others defend the GM, blaming players’ playoff failings or no-move contracts.
  • Complaints about the “core” (Zibanejad, Kreider, Trocheck, etc.), no-trade clauses, and whether a full rebuild is really possible.
  • Listeners debate just how much blame Drury deserves for the Rangers’ predicament; hosts point out much of the roster construction predates him.
• Emotion Runs High:
  • The show explores the “grieving process” as beloved veterans and former hopefuls are pushed out, or fans mentally brace for their departure.
  • Alan [49:24]: “Sometimes it’s fool’s gold... just because you go on a run doesn’t mean you’re as close as you think.”
• Comparisons:
  • Don draws parallels to Mets GM David Stearns — sometimes you have to “pull the plug” on fan-favorite players who just aren’t winning at the highest level [49:07].

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The What's-Next for New York Hockey (52:26–53:30)

• Profound sense of transition and uncertainty for Rangers fans:
  • One caller draws a direct comparison between today’s Rangers and the perpetual “rebuild” state of the New York Jets:
    Rosenberg [52:47]: "For all intents and purposes, we're having a Jets conversation about the Rangers."
• The hosts reflect—what if the Knicks are in a similar spot in a few years? The reality of aging cores and the fleeting nature of windows looms large.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On trade philosophy:

  "At the end of the day, the Stanley Cup playoffs might be the most improbable, impossible thing to predict than in any other sport."
  — Don Hahn [11:45]

• On fan emotion:

  "This is the unofficial end of the season for the Rangers. This was the last thing to really pay attention to."
  — Don Hahn [21:01]

• On the no-move clause epidemic:

  "All these general managers pass these things out like Chiclets. You know why? Because we’re in a cap sport and players value the no move clause like money."
  — Alan Hahn [32:10]

• On the fleeting window:

  "Life comes at you fast."
  — Rosenberg [53:01]

• Trivia Humor:
  Don and Alan riff on Anthony Duclair playing for nine NHL teams by age 30 [45:49–46:58]; hockey diehards will chuckle at the Miroslav Šatan/Satan references [29:13–29:41].

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 03:54 — Islanders trade for Schenn, detailed analysis of the deal.
• 06:34 — The reality of the NHL trade deadline and the Rangers’ inaction.
• 08:43 — What the Rangers’ vague front office “facelift” letter really implies.
• 15:05–19:41 — Can/should you trade Igor Shesterkin? The philosophy debate.
• 21:44 — Fan call-ins begin, with emotional reactions, trade suggestions, and GM blame game.
• 30:02 — Callers dissect the Trocheck/Panarin situations and Drury’s job.
• 46:49 — Odd stat: Anthony Duclair’s 9-team career at age 30.
• 52:26 — “The Rangers are now the Jets” — comparing franchise inertia and fan despair.

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Tone & Style Highlights

• Lively, acerbic, passionate — completely New York.
• Alan and Don provide deep hockey analysis but keep it accessible and colored with team history, market context, and fan sentiment.
• Rosenberg’s interjections bring comic relief and connect the conversation to general sports fandom and city-wide sports context.
• Frequent playful ribbing between hosts and a rapport that makes the show engaging even when unpacking frustrating news.

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Final Notes

Bottom line:
The hosts clearly articulate the NHL deadline’s impact: The Islanders are pushing in for a playoff run, while the Rangers and Devils are waiting until summer for seismic roster changes. Expectation management, the cruelty of the lottery, and the harsh realities of sports business — all are covered with heartfelt analysis and a few laughs. If you’re a New York hockey fan, the message is: Buckle up for a transformative, uncertain offseason.

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Transcript

[Rich Eisen]

From 30 for 30 podcasts.

[Peter]

Did you say someone got shot?

[Caller/Listener]

Brian Pata, senior defensive lineman from Miami, gunned down.

[Don Hahn]

The key to this case.

[Alan Hahn]

It's Brian.

[Rich Eisen]

An hour before he died, he was

[Alan Hahn]

on the phone arguing with somebody.

[Caller/Listener]

This might be a hit.

[Don Hahn]

You want the truth? They just want a conviction.

[Peter]

Being placed under arrest.

[Alan Hahn]

We had a killer amongst us.

[Rich Eisen]

Murder at the U.

[Alan Hahn]

Listen now, Don, give me a piece of wood, I'll eat it.

[Don Hahn]

Han, Peter, the most used sweat is at a buffet. And Rosenberg.

[Rosenberg]

I'll be honest, the one thing I miss about having an office is the taste of Steve Hart's nuts.

[Alan Hahn]

This isn't North Dakota, this is New York.

[Don Hahn]

This is Don, Han and Rosenberg. The best threesome I've ever heard on ESPN New York. And streaming live on YouTube.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, hello, everybody. Welcome. It is 3:00 clock in the big city. It's a Friday. Don, Han and Rosenberg closing out the weekend. Ready for a weekend in which we're gonna see 60 degree temperatures. It's not gonna be gorgeous, but compared to what we've been through. I'll take it.

[Don Hahn]

I'm taking it.

[Alan Hahn]

It's gonna be a lot of fun. Boy, did it rain yesterday. But you know what the great thing about that was? Got rid a lot of this snow. We're getting closer and closer, fellas. We're almost there. You can smell it.

[Rosenberg]

Sniff it.

[Alan Hahn]

Spring.

[Don Hahn]

No, that was me, sorry.

[Alan Hahn]

Is right around the corner. Now, this is not where you sniff dead, you sniff alive.

[Rosenberg]

You sniff it to life is what you're saying.

[Alan Hahn]

Sniff it to life? Absolutely. You can sniff tiger dead, you sniff spring alive, you make it work for you. And that's what we're trying to do here on Don Hanna. Rosenberg. Hopefully everybody is having a great day. And thanks for hanging with us to close it out. Your work week. We appreciate that. Take you right up to 7 o'. Clock. We got a full frontal show today. Right up to Ty Butler, who's filling in for Dan Grasso, who filled in for Rick DiPietro today. Wait, hold on. The dominoes fell into place.

[Rosenberg]

All right, got it.

[Don Hahn]

You said it was.

[Alan Hahn]

You said it was. It was.

[Rosenberg]

Dan was for Rick.

[Alan Hahn]

Right?

[Rosenberg]

And Ty is in for Dan.

[Don Hahn]

That's right.

[Alan Hahn]

All right, we got it all settled. Lead you up in some Knicks basketball. That's why Allen's got the. The suit and tie on. Because the Knicks begin their road trip in Denver against the Nuggets as the gauntlet is just down to two games. Denver and. And the Lakers to see if they can't close this thing out at 6 and 4. Right, Allen? And you take that and run.

[Don Hahn]

Yes, you would. You certainly would.

[Alan Hahn]

So we've got that on the table. The World Baseball Classic is underway.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, like you dream about. I mean, how are we even on

[Alan Hahn]

the air right now considering 2/3 of the. The show didn't realize that until Anthony said it. Tells me.

[Peter]

Sure.

[Rosenberg]

We didn't.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, I think we're good.

[Don Hahn]

Two thirds.

[Rosenberg]

Wait, you're not going with three thirds.

[Alan Hahn]

You know, the whole show just sounded. It's like. It's like 98 sounds higher than 100%. Like there's just something about being close to 100. It's almost like he gave up and said the whole show didn't care, but. No, the whole show didn't care, but does not care. We'll keep an eye out. Listen, I'm sure.

[Rosenberg]

I'm not saying. I'm not saying I won't care.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, no.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm saying.

[Don Hahn]

Right. Currently with you, that's the best way to put it. Not that I don't care or won't care. Just right now I'm out.

[Peter]

No.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, we sure it'll momentum as it gets going here.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah, that's Alan. Alan took my beautiful phrase and he. And he fumbled it.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

Because it is. The difference is between won't and don't. I'm not saying that I won't care. I'm saying that currently I don't care. But by Monday, Tuesday, Alan, by next Thursday, we may be saying, hey, throw it on. We're talking about it during the show. We're like, who knows?

[Don Hahn]

We might right now.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, it's like. It's like the NBA regular season. It doesn't matter until you all of a sudden care. That decided matters, you know, and we haven't gotten to that point yet.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

But because it's right now. 303. We are in the big city, technically. Sure. Past the trade deadline of the NHL and there hasn't been a lot of movement. The Devils didn't do anything. The Islanders did. The Islanders traded for Braden Shen, captain of The Blues forward, 34 years old, but he was on the championship team in 20 contributed. So he's a cup winner. He's a leader. He's a versatile forward. They can play a bunch of lines. He goes center. He can play wing. And with Anthony Duclair in the doghouse, this. This makes a lot of sense. Now, first and a third is a lot to give up and a prospect. But I have to assume the prospect isn't anything that's Going to hurt Islander fans. We'll wait and see on that. But guys, you have a team that feels like they might be able to make a run. It feels wide open in the NHL. It does. I know Tampa has been unbelievable, but they've had some ups and downs. Carolina has not proven they can get past the second round. I think you match up well with the Penguins. I know the Islanders lost a couple of games out west, but that's coming off a five game winning streak. So to me, when you've got a chance to do something, you do it. And this is a move for the postseason. This is a veteran guy that can kind of replace Kyle Palmeri's veteran leadership. And I like it. And I'm not worried about picks right now. I'm a brand new general manager that's trying to make a splash with a team that looks like it might have a shot here to at least get to the conference final. And if I'm the Islanders, I don't spit at that. So I like this deal. It's a lot to give up, but I like it.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, look down middle defense is important. If you're not going to get a top line guy, which is really hard to do. The Islanders like a lot of their top prospects. They don't want to give up those guys. They had a great draft last year.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

And so what you're trying to do is invest in right now with also a player that's a vet that can look it give brings character to the room, leadership, all the stuff that you want. So it's, it's, not, it's not a sexy move, but it's a sneaky good move. And we'll see if it, if it turns into something like later on where you go, hey, wow, that was a great pickup. Hey, you get a guy with, who was. Wears a C on his chest and he also has his name on the cup. I mean you're bringing somebody into the room that's got, that's got some stuff about him. But how about this? Don Peter. So the Islanders played last night in la, flew to San Jose because they're gonna play the Sharks this weekend. Who plays the Sharks tonight? The Blues. They're in the same hotel. So that was pretty easy deal to do and not much movement. You're gonna have your guy in uniform. I mean, you don't have to worry about it. So it actually worked out?

[Alan Hahn]

No, it did. I don't know if that had anything to do with it, but it did.

[Don Hahn]

I don't know, but it's just a coincidence of it. How about that, though? You don't have to really worry about it flying and all that stuff. He's right there.

[Alan Hahn]

But unlike the NBA deadline and Major League baseball's deadline, the NHL's deadline is late in the year. I mean, we're down to teens as far as games left are concerned for a lot of teams. So you don't want guys that, oh, they're going to miss a game because they're traveling, trying to get there, get acclimated. Man, you got to hit the ground running now. The Islanders know they're a playoff team, but it's not locked in yet. They don't want to throw games away. They just made a move. They want this guy to be able to play now. Banking should be able to play against San Jose and, and get going. NBA's deadline felt like it was a year ago, right? Baseball has theirs at the end of July with still all of August, September, you know, to play hockey. Season is down to a month left and so they're making these deals. And the reason we're jumping off here though is the one team that was relatively quiet, the Rangers. They made a prospect deal. Carrick got moved for a pick. Nothing really from. From the Rangers. Susie was dealt a couple of weeks ago. So Chris Drury sent out a letter saying they were going to reimagine this thing and they haven't done it yet. And it looks like no deals at the deadline. TRO checks not going anywhere. Apparently the price was too high for Minnesota. I think Trocheck would have been a perfect fit for the Islanders, but that's not kind of the deal that the Islanders and the Rangers are going to make. So it looks like they're punting till the summer. But you sent out a letter so you obviously felt like something big was gonna happen that was gonna really change the face of this organization. Yet Zibanet is still here, Fox is still here. Like nobody of Trocheck is still here. There's. There's still the only thing. Panarin. That was it. But Panarin wasn't gonna get re signed anyway. So that wasn't the facelift that was suggested by Dolan and Drury when they sent out the letter. So what could happen that couldn't happen now but could happen in the summer? Well, here's our very own Emily Kaplan on TSN earlier today. You know, breaking the Trocheck's not going anywhere. And what might be happening for the blue shirts during the course of the

[Peter]

offseason, I know a lot of you are wondering, okay, what about Adam Fox,

[Alan Hahn]

maybe even Igor Shusturkin.

[Peter]

Those aren't going to happen until at

[Alan Hahn]

least this summer, if at all. And Braden Schneider is another guy that I know a lot of teams are interested in. Sounds like they want to punt that decision to the summer as well.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Tell you what, if Shusturkin is on

[Don Hahn]

the market in the summer, that is going be big game hunting. There's no disputing that. Who do you have your eye on

[Alan Hahn]

in terms of big if? Now listen, let's not ignore what the last thing she said, big if. But that's what you're talking about. Moving a Fox, moving an Igor Shusturkin during the off season. That's what you send a letter out for. Now you're not moving Shusturkin. Now. Teams don't make big deals for goaltenders at the deadline. Bennington's available, still at blue. Bobrovsky's available. He's a free agent at the end of the year, still a Panther. And both of those teams are out of it. Bringing a goaltender of that significance, that's an off season move. So are you ready as a Ranger fan to see that? Because I think a lot of Ranger fans are like, no, we build around Shisterkin, we build around Fox. Well, if you really are going to make a turn here, unfortunately, those are the names that have to, that have to be sent out there. Otherwise, really, what are you doing?

[Don Hahn]

That's what it feels like. I think that what are you doing is if you're a Ranger fan, that's what you're feeling as the deadline passed is you were maybe bracing for the goodbyes. Right. I mean, you saw, was it Will Cooley who talked about what Trocheck meant to him? And he, you know, in a postgame interview last night was interesting for the Rangers when it comes to, you know, like it's, it's now you're starting to see the younger players and see if they can pop off the screen to finish the season. That's your reason now to watch the rest of the year. But this unofficially, Don, is the end of the Ranger season right here. Like there's really nothing else going on other than watching your younger players. And, and, and, and here's the other weird part. It's the frustration or the angst of winning games now that you don't want to because of the stupid lottery, which we, we've talked about, of course, before. So this is all you got left. So there was something at least to be, maybe some closure at the deadline. If a couple of these names that you saw circulating, you saw Fox in that interview a couple of games ago where he clearly is miserable, clearly is down and clearly thought he was on his way out. And now this all has to get pushed to a summer. And I'm telling you, the bloodletting is not over. You could, if you're talking about rebuilding a team, you know what the pieces you have to move and you have to get more for. And I think, and I've said this about the NBA trade deadline too, you'll get more in the off season a lot of times than you will at the deadline. You try to do shotgun weddings at the deadline. Desperate teams who know they desperately need something and are willing to go all in. But there's less of that these days than there used to be. Back in the old days. You don't normally see that kind of chips to the middle of the table. I'm giving up, you know, future drafts because I'm going for it this year because there's no other sport that where I feel like, and I don't want to use the word crapshoot, but the Stanley cup playoffs might be the most improbable, impossible thing to predict than in any other sport. Would you agree?

[Alan Hahn]

Yes.

[Don Hahn]

Like, you just don't know. So I don't know if you can at a trade deadline. If you're another team, make a bold move at the deadline. Feeling like this guarantees us a run to the Cup. But in the summer, when you know what your team is and you have a whole training camp to build your team, I think there's a better chance that you'll see more movement. And maybe that's what Drew. He's waiting for better offers.

[Alan Hahn]

Because in, in all sports, bad teams move guys that have expiring contracts out at the deadline. That's what you do. I'm going to lose this guy. Like what happened with Panarin. I'm going to lose this guy. I'm not re signing him. Let me get something.

[Don Hahn]

That's true.

[Alan Hahn]

But you know, that's not Fox, that's not Igor Shusturkin, that's not Vincent Trocheck. These guys are under contract. Those are the ones that get moved during the off season. Guys at the Dead. That's why the Devils didn't make any moves, because they didn't have any unrestricted free agents to move. So that's why they didn't make a deal. Teams that are in a position to make a run, that's a different story. They're looking to take on salary, they're looking to, to be better and then the future be damned. But the teams that are thinking down the road, they're thinking, I got to move expiring contracts. Rangers didn't have that. Devils didn't have that. That's why they didn't make a move. But during the off season, I think both the Devils and the Rangers are going to be very active to reimagine their teams. Emily. Molly, Excuse me, Molly. Walker confirms no Trojek deal. TRO check still here.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, that jury had a price. Nobody would meet it. So that price will stick for the

[Alan Hahn]

off season because again, he's under contract, so I don't have to worry about losing him. And here's, here's the little thing, and if you want to jump in on this 1-800-919-3776 is that Gavin McKenna is the consensus first overall pick in the draft. Now, he made news back in February because of punching out some guy outside a bar. You know, he hasn't been cleared of all charges, but it was originally should be all right.

[Don Hahn]

But this kid's a, for those who don't know, he's at Penn State. This kid's a show. He is an absolute show.

[Alan Hahn]

So the Rangers are going to be in the lottery. Now, the NHL has a lottery system, so you don't have to be the worst team. We have seen you not be the worst team. When the Rangers got the pick, they weren't the worst team. Right. So they are going to be in the draft lottery, I believe. I haven't been told this, but it makes sense. If they were to win the draft lottery, then maybe you're keeping Trocheck, you're keeping Shusturky, you're keeping Fox, and you're hoping that McKenna could be this year's, next year's version of what Schneider Schaefer has been for the, for the Islanders

[Don Hahn]

or Celebrini or any of those guys

[Alan Hahn]

or celebrity in San Jose. It's like, hey, that, that is a quick fix where now I've got, you know, the consensus number one pick on my team. I got a past Norris Trophy winner, I got a Vesna Trophy winner. I got to go with me Face Off. Then I'm going to keep Schneider and I'm going to see if I can build around this kid. If you end up picking eighth, then you're like, you know what? I don't I'm not going to get an impact player in this draft. And now I can really Commence with the rebuild. So this allows them to kind of see, I think where they land in the draft lottery will depend on how aggressive they are with these guys. If they don't win the draft lottery, if they deepen the first round with the lottery, then I could see a lot of this getting moved during the off season. So prepare yourself. Wasn't going to happen now, but it does not mean it's not going to happen during the course of the summer. Very interesting off season for the New York Rangers.

[Don Hahn]

The Igor thing though, I know she did, she said if three times. To just clarify, Don, I can't. Like that's one piece. I don't know. It's so hard to get to have a goalie. When you have a goalie, you have a chance. Obviously. Everybody says that all the time. I can't imagine that that's the one where I'm like, wait, there's a lot of pieces you can move. He's in his prime. He's under contract. The Rangers have had this lineage of goaltenders from Van Beesbrook to Richter to obviously to Hank now to this guy. Like you've always. That's what you've been known for. I don't know. Igor can't possibly be somebody now. Teams might call, but I can't. It would. You'd have to give me a boatload.

[Alan Hahn]

But I'm telling you, take a look at guys that have won Cups. All right, Bobrovsky's won back to back cups. Florida didn't draft him. You know, matter of fact, you got to go back to Philadelphia, right? He was in Philadelphia, he was in Columbus. And now he finally finds himself in Florida. And I was on his way to the hall of Fame. Bennington was a guy that was not anybody's radar. They called him up the year they won the Cup. As a matter of fact, he's a really big money goaltender, but I'm not really exactly sure how great he is, you know, and now he's. Now he's on a team that's. That's an also rant.

[Don Hahn]

Last place.

[Alan Hahn]

Too many guys like, like Javi Boulin and Niemi and Kemper and Hill have won Stanley Cups. If I've got a boat. Listen, is Colorado going to win the cup because who their goaltender is or are they going to win the cup because they've got a world class defenseman? They got two or three world class forward, you know, having a great. The Rangers had Henrik Lundqvist and they rode him all the way to the Stanley cup final and a couple of president's trophies. But at the end of the day, this lineage you're talking about, it's not Montana de Young, that produced five championships. If you're going to go to Richter, Lundqvist, to Shusturkin, it's one championship and it was 32 years ago. So you don't think it's. If I can reimagine my team, Alan with him. Yeah, I'm going to think about that strongly.

[Don Hahn]

So it's really changed then, the whole. The whole mindset of having the goaltender changed. Right. Because it used to be built from the goal out. Right. And that's the set. So if you have one, you just hold on to them because it's harder to find. It's like a quarterback in the na. In the NFL. It's harder to find that piece. And you don't want that to now suddenly be the weakness. All right. We build this really good team and now we can't find the goal. Like, you'd have to. Like I said, you have to. You'd have to get a boatload back for somebody like this.

[Alan Hahn]

No, Course, I'm not telling you just to make the move. To make the move, but if you really want to change the specter of this franchise, this is what you have to do.

[Don Hahn]

Would you say that's your biggest piece when it comes to a rebuild?

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

You should get.

[Alan Hahn]

I love Adam. I think Adam Fox is a good kid.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

I think he's a great defenseman. But he won a Norris trophy in a 56 game season when all you did was play the Eastern Conference.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

All right. And he's a really. But. And it's somebody that you'd like to keep. But you gotta take the call. You gotta take the call on Shusturkin. You know, these are the. Because where are you. How long is this gonna take? All right. The first letter they sent out, they ended up going quicker because Panarin became available. And there was legitimate conversations in that room when Panarin became available. Do we really want to speed this process up or do we want to have it be a slow burn? And it was like 50, 50. And they decided to sign Panarin and it really worked out. They went to two conference finals with them in three years. Right. But most of the time is like, how long is this going to take? If it's going to take three years, how old is Adam going to be by the time you turn the corner? How old is Shisterkin going to be by the time you turn the corner? Now there's still, they're still relatively young guys. But the point is, is that I don't know if there's a quick fix where a year from now, they're going to be great unless McKenna comes in, because that's what turned. San Jose's now a playoff contender. Why? Because celebrating has been amazing.

[Don Hahn]

He's really good. Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Right. And Schaefer's been amazing. So if you get McKenna, maybe it changes. But if you end up with a seventh, eighth overall pick, I mean, how long is this going to take?

[Don Hahn]

Right. I mean, again, I see what you're saying. Igor at 30 is a different story than if it was Igor at 27 or 26. I completely understand that.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

But I also, like, it's still hurt for me. Yeah, that's it, Peter. Right. Like, that's it. There's certain players where, if you're a fan, like, you know the inevitable is coming. You're going to lose certain pieces, but that one feels like the one that if you're a Ranger fan, that's the one where you're. You probably would freak out. And the fact that she didn't say no. I know Emily said if. But there's certain players, when they bring up a name and you go, no, no, no, that's not happening. Right. There's certain players. You'll do that. That didn't happen there.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, I'm going to tell you why she said those two names, because they sent a letter out saying they're going to reimagine the roster. How do you do that and keep those guys?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

I mean, even if Sabana Jad lifted is no trade clause, what are you getting for Mika Sabanaja at this rate?

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

But Adam Vox, Igor Shusturkin, even a Braden Schneider, who's a. Who's not Fox, but he's. He's younger and he's a really good. Like, who are we having the conversation about? Like, like trading good players and you're going to have to try to find a way to replace them. Well, if you want to rebuild, you know, this is what you have to do. You have to give up some guys that'll hurt, but speed up getting things back. They're a long way from being a contender for the second consecutive year. They're going to be the worst team in the Eastern Conference.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

You know, it's a little different with the Devils. They went to the playoffs last year. They're still mathematically alive. I think they've got way more talent right now than the Rangers do. So maybe the Devils can all of a sudden, in a one or two moves, get themselves back into the conversation. The Rangers, it feels like it's going to be a much bigger build. Unless you really going to start thinking about moving some significant pieces and honestly, looking at that roster, what are you going to get for Will Cooley? I like him. He's a nice player. What are you getting for him?

[Don Hahn]

But this is, this is really the, this is the unofficial end of the season for the Rangers. Like, this was the last thing to really pay close attention to, to see. All right, is Drury going to make some moves here at the deadline and really shake things up and really set them up? I don't want to say Tank, but if you take some, take some pieces away and play nothing, but you know, your Wolfpack team, your AHL guys, your young guys, you know, you're going to be deep in the lottery and have a great chance to win it with a pretty spectacular star quality player available in this coming draft. Like, that's what I'm. That's what I was curious about. And now you'll also see, like, who, who ends up, like getting scratched. I'm really curious to see how they handle the rest of this season.

[Caller/Listener]

Man, I just don't think that because Vincent Trocheck wasn't dealt that he can't get dealt and that this doesn't mean that the letter was for nothing.

[Don Hahn]

No, I don't think it's pushed to the off season. It's going to be in the summer draft night.

[Alan Hahn]

I am telling you, the letter was not for nothing.

[Don Hahn]

No, I agree.

[Alan Hahn]

So, you know, something's coming. So now it's just a question of what is coming. And there's only so many things that they can do. So I now Trocheck again. They could, they can get them for the. For maybe even more of a haul during the offseason, depending on what happens in the playoffs with these teams. Believe me, maybe Minnesota would give up more to get them if they get bounced in the first round, which is the distinct possibility based on the stupid NHL format they have, where they're gonna have to play Dallas in the first round. Right. So, no, I am not. Again, the only thing I will say that can make the letter disappear is if McKenna is drafted. That might be this year's version of Panarin where this speeds things up because

[Don Hahn]

now you feel like you have a dynamic, potentially top six guy that, that you would want to have vets and talent around as he grows up.

[Alan Hahn]

Right. But it's. That's going to be very, very difficult to do. So this is on the table at 1-800-919-3776. I know Ranger fans get excited about the deadline and as you said, it's really the last thing to get excited about. And now it's really over with. Nothing really too significant to talk about. But just like the New Jersey Devils protect their home ice, Viking Pest Control protects your home. I see what you did, and I

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[Alan Hahn]

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[Alan Hahn]

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[Peter]

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[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don Hahn]

Catch this show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.

[Alan Hahn]

Game time is brought to you by Tullimore Dew Irish Whiskey. Because when it's game time, fellas, it's tolly time.

[Don Hahn]

Yep.

[Alan Hahn]

Still don't know the next visit. The Nuggets. The Nuggets with coverage immediate on 8:80 at 8:30. And Satan John's close. Sorry. The regular season. The road against sea in a hall with coverage on 1050 at 8:40. Good job. Tullamore Dew. The original still triple blended and triple cast mature at Irish Whiskey or try to do Tullamore do honey during today's action. Glasses up to enjoying Tullamore Dew responsibly.

[Don Hahn]

Well, we found our new announcer.

[Alan Hahn]

There it is.

[Caller/Listener]

I don't know, Don.

[Don Hahn]

Sounds different that we found our new announcer. That's done.

[Alan Hahn]

He got a little shy, but I

[Don Hahn]

thought he did all right.

[Alan Hahn]

Wait, wait, wait.

[Rosenberg]

First of all, a lot. We have a lot to break down here.

[Don Hahn]

Yes.

[Rosenberg]

Number one, I would say that was the. In the years that I've been doing the program.

[Don Hahn]

Program.

[Rosenberg]

I think that was the best execution of let's have someone's kid do something that I've ever seen.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, wow.

[Rosenberg]

I mean, respectfully, every other time I've ever been a part of it, the said children that are asked to do it just completely go silent. I mean, you cannot get a word. I mean, Don, how many times between your kids and Michael's was there just dead air? Because we were hoping someone would talk. There was a little.

[Alan Hahn]

This.

[Rosenberg]

This was iconic right now. We just got it done.

[Alan Hahn]

I appreciate that it was a little dead air just because it was. He was slipping off of my lap and. And I also had to pivot away from immediately following Dan Grasse, which was on the script. And I didn't want him to be wrong because it's Ty Butler.

[Rosenberg]

Can't have that.

[Caller/Listener]

I did send an update.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, that's true. But I Printed the one from earlier because I do my due diligence, but at least I got the reads right. So that. Good job out of Marco. Now he's back playing his video games. But we've proven he can read now.

[Rosenberg]

It's unfortunate. Wasn't on YouTube. I don't think that was a YouTube vehicle.

[Alan Hahn]

It could have been people.

[Rosenberg]

I don't know what happened. There's no video right now. There's still bit. No video. But I will say this. There's video now. There's video.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

As of now. Now I will say this. We may have a drop that came from as well.

[Don Hahn]

Okay.

[Rosenberg]

He most certainly referred to the university as, I believe, Satan John's University, which

[Don Hahn]

really, I mean, he's into death metal.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, isn't it?

[Rosenberg]

Did you ever cross your mind until that moment how close the words saint and Satan are to one another?

[Don Hahn]

Crossed my mind, actually.

[Alan Hahn]

You know, it's like. It's love and hate. It's the Razor's edge. Right, Right.

[Rosenberg]

It's right on the line.

[Alan Hahn]

They're right. The line. But I don't know how familiar he is with, like, the abbreviation of saint at this point. Right.

[Rosenberg]

I thought he did a great job, but.

[Alan Hahn]

And, yeah, I don't think he's ever had to say Seton Hall. So that was a little bit of a struggle because there's no Seaton. There's no. Right.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

See, now that's the. That's the school. It's really. You know, if you. If he said Satan hall, that. That I can understand.

[Rosenberg]

You know, I'm not sure if maybe it was close.

[Alan Hahn]

All right. But, you know, I think you're right. I think that's what he probably said. Satan Hall. The Rhode Islander, Miroslav Shatan, who actually spelled his name S, a T, a N. Yeah. Pronounced it Shatan.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. You know what? Just go for life.

[Alan Hahn]

Yep. Should have been a devil. Never. Never happened. All right, 1-800-91937.

[Don Hahn]

Strange poll.

[Alan Hahn]

Not when you're talking about Satan.

[Caller/Listener]

Not for me. I know who he is.

[Alan Hahn]

But if you're talking about Satan, Miroslav Shatan is not a strange poll.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

If we were talking about the Knicks chances of making it to the final, I pulled him here. Slav Shatan. Well, then it's a strange poll. All right. 1-800-9193776. Let's start the conversation off with Peter and Sandy Hook. You're on ESPN New York. What is up, Peter?

[Peter]

I think you did a great job, guys.

[Don Hahn]

Thank you.

[Peter]

Maybe. Maybe you can become GM of The Rangers. Listen, can we get a bag of pucks for jury? Because you don't trade Trocheck. I'm glad he didn't because you need a veteran who happens to be one of his face off defensive forwards in league if you're gonna bring young kids in. He's decimated this team. Got a bag of pucks for Panarin.

[Alan Hahn]

Who? Yes.

[Peter]

A great player. Was he the number one player? No.

[Alan Hahn]

What were you gonna get?

[Peter]

What do you resign for?

[Alan Hahn]

Wait a minute, Peter. What were you gonna get for Panarin? He did. He did not want to go anywhere but the Los Angeles Kings. What are you going to do?

[Peter]

Keep them in the line for Nothing? Resigned for $11 million. Not 13 for two years. You couldn't have done that.

[Caller/Listener]

No, they didn't want to.

[Alan Hahn]

They didn't want to. What are you going to have?

[Peter]

That's what I'm talking about. Their thinking is wrong. You need players like that to build around if you're going to tear the team down.

[Alan Hahn]

Ranger fans killed. That did outside of the goal in Game 7 against the Penguins, which is on the power play that he doesn't do anything in the playoffs. Most Ranger fans don't know why Ranger.

[Caller/Listener]

I have underwear.

[Peter]

I have underwear older than most Ranger fans. Panarin was not a playoff guy. But he's a guy that gets you to the playoffs.

[Don Hahn]

You know.

[Alan Hahn]

But what do you. They don't. They were not going to. Why would you resign Artemi Panarin on a team that's in a rebuild?

[Caller/Listener]

Peter wants to keep the same core.

[Alan Hahn]

Well through this. We've been all through this. I don't. Everybody hates Drury for not making deals. He didn't give the no movement clause to Zibanajad, did he? Did he give it to Kreider? Did he give it to all these guys? And I got news for you. I found this out there. I didn't even realize it. That Jonathan Kovacevich of the Devils talking about this strange poll and he's playing for the team right now, has a no movement clause. All these general managers pass these things out like Chiclets. You know why? Because we're in a cap sport and players value the no moving clause like money. So if I want to get a team under the cap, you throw him a no movement clause and hope he waives it. Mika Zabanejad's the one guy on the face of the earth, him and Parenko that won't do it. Otherwise most of these guys will do it.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, Shen did. He had no move, no Exactly.

[Alan Hahn]

So they hate Drury because the team is not winning. But a lot of the problems happened before Drury got here. He's trying to clean it up. And you had to clean it up. Why does everybody want to hold on to the team? And then they killed the players when they hold on to him. They were killing Truba, they were killing Kreider, they were killing Panarin. Now you're crying in your pillow, they're

[Peter]

gone,

[Alan Hahn]

you're mad, they're losing, and you want somebody's head on a platter. It's not Chris.

[Don Hahn]

The worst thing, Don Peter is when a team is bad because fans don't know what to do and they always want to blame someone. So when you're watching, you blame players and then you blame the GM for building the team. You blame the coach. You don't know, really, like, that's the. I think that's what you're going to start seeing now. Rangers fans have no idea who to be mad at because it's just like you've changed the coach three times. Well, it can't be the coach.

[Alan Hahn]

And I love Peter too. Where he. He's killed. Get a bag of pucks for Jury and then compliments him on not trading Truva.

[Don Hahn]

That's right.

[Alan Hahn]

Because you don't have to give away a player that's got two years left on his contract. You give away a player who has a contract that's expiring at the end of the year. Yeah, he dangled him out there, wanted a certain price, didn't get it, pulled him back. That's smart.

[Caller/Listener]

They were. Fans are angry. Understandably. This is not. I have not had an enjoyable year. Okay. This has not been fun. And I watch every game.

[Don Hahn]

You love it.

[Alan Hahn]

You watch it. I watch a cigarette butt out in your palm.

[Caller/Listener]

But it's what he's doing if he's holding his price. And the report, rumor, whatever you want to call it, is Bill Garon offered Charlie Strammel, who was not the Wild's number one prospect, maybe a first round pick and other things.

[Alan Hahn]

And.

[Caller/Listener]

And Drury said not good enough, dangled it to everybody else. And Trocheck did not want to go west. And he has a 12 team, no trade list. So everybody could say, look at what Nick Roy got for going to Colorado. He wasn't going to Colorado. So that deal wasn't on the table for Jury. He didn't have the opportunity to trade him west. And everybody hated the Panarin return and he had no choice. So you didn't like the Panarin deal. Jury stuck to his guns and he said, I don't want to move Trocheck for this. Let's kick the can down the road. Because why not? You have a center. They need one now with J.T. miller on the IR. Johnny Brudzinski, God love him, was playing second line center last night. So I don't think this is a bad thing. Is it going to be the best return now? No, but it is what it is.

[Alan Hahn]

I'll tell you this. Anthony too. You know, I don't know what Panarin's ulterior motive was. I don't know. The Kings are going to be very good while he's under contract there. Kopitar's leaving, the team's not very good. Mm. So. But he wanted out and he only wanted to go to the cake. What kind of general managers be able to get a hole when a guy tells you, I only want to go to one place.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Can you use leverage? And bringing him back for $22 million over two years is not helping the situation any. Nick at Ocean Grove. You're on ESPN New York. What's up, Nick? Hey, Nick.

[Don Hahn]

Hey.

[Peter]

So I want to take a little bit more of a rational approach, even though it's hard to contain my emotions with the Rangers now, but I just think Drury has a history of mismanagement here, so I understand the point. He didn't give out the no movement clauses, all that, so the core of the team was not him. But the core of the team got them the two conference finals and a President's trophy. So we got to judge him on his deadline moves, off season moves and drafts. None of the draft prospects have really shown too many great signs. And then you go back to 24 when they didn't make the big splash. Well, they needed a right wing. They know Frank Vetrano was apparently the only person who could play between Ryder and Mika, and they had the offer there for Kako and a first he didn't want to give up. Kako was fine with the first for Henrique and Vetrano. Then the next year, a few months later, he gives up Kako. So that just seems like mismanagement to me right there.

[Alan Hahn]

And.

[Peter]

And now we're being sold on a retool. But then the conversation we're having is, well, in the summer, we got it. Maybe look at Shusterkin, maybe look at Fox. It's not a retail. It's a full blown breakdown.

[Alan Hahn]

Make no mistake, Nick. That's all. That's all hogwash. You know, Re Re tool reimagining. They're going to rebuild.

[Don Hahn]

It's a.

[Alan Hahn]

But nobody wants to say rebuild in New York. So they're going to tell you that they're going to reimagine it. They're going to retool it is going to be a rebuild. Make no mistake about that.

[Caller/Listener]

Well, that's semantics. And here's why it's semantics. Because the last time that he, that jury did stuff that involved guys with no move clauses and no trade clauses, the locker room got upset because guys got moved. And so he didn't want to move. He can't call this a rebuild until he gets confirmation from guys with no move clauses that he'd like to move. That would make it a complete rebuild that they're ready to move. Adam Fox, based on his last two postgame press conferences, doesn't sound all that enthused about staying. That could change.

[Alan Hahn]

Right?

[Caller/Listener]

Igor Shusturkin hasn't said anything because he says, I don't speak English. I didn't read the letter in English.

[Alan Hahn]

Right?

[Caller/Listener]

So until those guys, if he sits down with them, and apparently he did when he wrote the letter and all the norm, no move clause guys, which I mentioned a couple times on this show, said, we're sticking through this. If by the off season they say, you know what, Chris, I don't want to be here anymore. Guess what? Now the letter could be from a rebuild, from a retool to a rebuild. But he's not going to call it a rebuild because he's not going to put himself in a situation where he moves guys that don't want to get moved.

[Don Hahn]

What Anthony's saying, everybody needs to understand then. Because you laid that out really well, Anthony. Because that does explain now because I keep saying the fans don't know who to be mad at now. You know, if you want to see things change, it's the players who have to say, I'll remove my no move clause because the general manager's hands are tied. If all these players that aren't performing anymore to the level that you would expect them to perform if they all are refusing to be traded and they have the power to do that. So how can you be mad at a general manager whose hands are tied when he can't move certain pieces?

[Alan Hahn]

And also, you know, he makes, he flippantly says, well, you know, you could have traded Coco. He was the second overall pick in the draft.

[Don Hahn]

They wanted to give him more time.

[Alan Hahn]

You want to be able to give him some Runway. Then he ran out of Runway. And then they got. Then they traded him and they also they traded him for a defenseman in Borgen who they resigned. Now, I'm not saying that that's equal value for the second overall pick in the draft, but they did find a defenseman that they immediately resigned. So. And Kako hasn't found it yet in Seattle. He's been better, but whatever. You're going to give a little latitude. They gave the latitude to Lafreniere. He took that, got a contract, and we haven't seen him since. I. So a lot of these things fall on the players, too. But I'm not just getting rid of a second overall pick in the draft until I find out there's no place else for this kid to go. And they did. They gave him some Runway and he didn't take advantage of it. And they eventually dealt him, but they got something back in return for him anyway. You want to kill him for the draft picks? Okay, no general manager is perfect. But to say that he keeps changing coaches to try to give this team a chance to do it. And you talk about, oh well, they went to the conference finals, they won a President's trophy, and then the same guys are gonna miss the playoffs back to back years.

[Caller/Listener]

How long have I said I didn't agree with that decision, by the way?

[Don Hahn]

Well, I.

[Alan Hahn]

But still, I mean, again, I'm not sitting here telling you that he's the perfect general manager, but to make him the sole reason why they're in this situation just seems a little unfair to me.

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[Rich Eisen]

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[Don Hahn]

thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don Hahn]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.

[Alan Hahn]

It doesn't get any more New York than this. Wild Turkey Bourbon is giving you the chance to score the ultimate New York game day. One lucky winner scores a pair of tickets to opening day in the Bronx and New York Nick tickets, Both on Friday, April 3rd. Two games, one epic day. No compromises. To enter, find the contest tile on the ESPN York app and submit your entry or sign up in person at select Wild Turkey events happening around the city. Brought to you by Wild Turkey Bourbon. When you know it's right, don't change a damn thing. Must be 20 winner over. Enjoy Wild Turkey responsibly. Talk some jets coming up at the top of the hour. You ready for fraud alert Friday?

[Don Hahn]

Oh, yeah.

[Rich Eisen]

Are you kidding me?

[Don Hahn]

Who isn't ready?

[Alan Hahn]

Do you have any in house stuff to clean up?

[Don Hahn]

That's I know of.

[Alan Hahn]

Did Jefferson do something embarrassing?

[Don Hahn]

Wow.

[Alan Hahn]

You think you know somebody and then you find out you're working with a fraud. Right.

[Rosenberg]

You know, I have a check. You know what, Let me. Let me start digging in. In the old email here.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Believe anything email bin. Sure.

[Alan Hahn]

It's a Friday like no other.

[Don Hahn]

Don, do you have. Do you have the details of the Islanders trade though for Shen?

[Alan Hahn]

Do you know the first to third and a prospect.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, the prospect is a goalie. Goalie prospect. Which they obviously don't have. Pretty locked up there, right?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

The first is Colorado's first and 32.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Caller/Listener]

I believe ruins in that deal too.

[Don Hahn]

Alan and Jonathan Druin. Who fans would. I don't know. Fans I know would. Would drive him.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, he hasn't go the last. The last game that I did before the Olympic break was against the Islanders and I believe he hadn't scored in like 32 games.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. So you know, this is. This is a. I mean you're adding a captain, a leader, a guy with his name on the cup. A solid player. He's had 20 goal seasons the last couple of years. Like you're adding a good piece here and you didn't. What'd you give up and you get, you know, like honestly, it's not your first.

[Alan Hahn]

It's not your first. Third Brown pick. Whatever. Prospect. Goalie. Good luck playing.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Taking the job away from Sorokin. Right?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

So And Anthony Duclair is not playing. Druin's not scoring. So that's what's the second time I think declare has been in the doghouse with wa.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, it's amazing.

[Alan Hahn]

And oh, by the way, how old is he? Like, I don't even think. Is he. Is he 30 yet? Peter, Anthony Duclair has played on nine teams. Nine.

[Don Hahn]

That's. Is that like. Wait, is it. Wait, wait, wait.

[Alan Hahn]

Count it.

[Rosenberg]

He's like Paul Coffey at 30.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, these. Paul Coffey was a Hall of Famer.

[Don Hahn]

He. He's played on nine teams.

[Alan Hahn]

You got it up there?

[Don Hahn]

I got it. Ready?

[Caller/Listener]

The other Shen has 10.

[Alan Hahn]

Now, see, if I'm wrong. The.

[Don Hahn]

The. The now defunct Arizona, Florida Islanders, Ottawa Sharks, Blue Jackets, Blackhawks, of course, Rangers and Tampa.

[Alan Hahn]

That's not.

[Don Hahn]

I told you.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Geez.

[Alan Hahn]

But. But Paul Coffee was on nine, Peter, because everybody wanted to.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, he was so good.

[Rosenberg]

He was valuable for each.

[Don Hahn]

And even when he was older, people were still bringing him in because they thought he could. Yeah. Oh, my God.

[Alan Hahn]

And it was also before the cap, so it's like, we can't pay.

[Don Hahn]

Done.

[Alan Hahn]

Move them.

[Don Hahn]

Done. Nine in 12 seasons, though.

[Alan Hahn]

How old is he?

[Don Hahn]

That's what's crazy. Is he 30?

[Alan Hahn]

Yes, that's how old he is.

[Don Hahn]

He's 30. He'll be. He'll be 31 in August. So he's. He's 30.

[Alan Hahn]

All right. So he's like, wow. Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

So nine and 12 years.

[Alan Hahn]

Good for Puck. Doku, the Island. Yeah, exactly. He's like the cylinder of that. If. When you run that many teams. I don't. I don't. I think there's eight other teams can sympathize with what the Islanders are going through with Anthony. He's a good player, too. He just. I don't know. He just.

[Don Hahn]

It's so inconsistent with him. It's so inconsistent. Like, you'll see a night where it just flashes and then it just disappears again. Compete level.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Not consistent enough.

[Alan Hahn]

Problem?

[Don Hahn]

No.

[Alan Hahn]

Rob, in the car. You're on espn New York. What's up, Rob?

[Peter]

Hey, guys. First time caller. Been a fan for a while now.

[Don Hahn]

Great.

[Alan Hahn]

Thank you for finally joining us.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, yeah. Okay.

[Peter]

About this whole Ranger thing.

[Don Hahn]

The.

[Peter]

I can't stand the fans and the Instagram accounts all saying, what happened to my team. Jury ruined this team. That team just wasn't good enough to win us the ultimate goal of ward Stanley Cup. And you have to get rid of players. You have to make tough decisions. Getting rid of Kreider was tough. Even getting Rid of Barkley Goodrow was tough. I felt like that really hurt the team. But the whole Panarin thing, you have to get rid of him. He just wasn't a playoff performer. Yes, he got us there, but at the end of the day, you have to make tough decisions. And I back jury 100%.

[Don Hahn]

100%. I'm sorry, Don. All I'm going to say is you're. You are what your record says you are. And if you're one of the better players on a team that's in last place, then it's on you. Like, you could argue all you want about the gm. The GM signed all these guys, gave him extensions, gave them no moves, like, thought he had a core. And those guys let him and the team and the fans down. And then you reach a point where you're like, all right, you know what? I see what's happening here. One by one, you all got to go. That's what happened. It's as simple as that. Like, this is the. Like, what is the GM supposed to do? I built this team. We went as far as we could. And I know. My eyes tell me this is as far as it goes. Fans are mad at the wrong people.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, this is what. This is what David Stearns is doing, too. I don't think I've got a team. You know what?

[Don Hahn]

That's a great comp, Don, but, yeah,

[Alan Hahn]

And they won 83 games amidst the playoffs. And then he started to pull in the plug on the guys that he felt like weren't going to get him there. So. Bye, bye, Alonzo. Bye bye, nimmo. Bye bye, McClain. These were McNeil. These were good players. But you know what? Can't get a job done. It's fool's gold. A lot of times, man, I keep telling you, I don't want to take away from those runs. I was a part of every single one of those runs. Matter of fact, I got emotional last night driving home. They did the ceremony for the modern era of the Rangers for the 100th anniversary. Yeah, the modern year began in 05. That's when I started doing Ranger games in 05, doing pre and post. So I know all those guys. I was a part of all those runs. I was at every one of those playoff games that were home, and there was a lot of them on the road. It was great. It was a fantastic run. But sometimes it's fool's gold against Pittsburgh. If Truba doesn't knock out Sidney Crosby, you lose in the first round in five games. All you had to do was throw your helmet on the ice, beat Carolina. You always beat Carolina. And then you lost the Tampa and you lost to Florida. I don't want to take away from those runs, but that doesn't mean you're as close as you think. Let's go to Chris and Bay Shore. You're on espn, New York.

[Don Hahn]

Very good.

[Peter]

Yeah. Hey, guys, it's a pleasure to talk to you. I think that I, you know, I don't know, I mean, maybe it's. It's not said very often, but I think there's a J.T. miller thing going on here. I don't know if he's the kind of guy you want to build your team around. I mean, obviously there's been some. Some talk this year about him being hurt and I mean, the effort is not always there and I just don't know him. And young guys, if that's the mix you want, you know, I. What's your thoughts on that?

[Alan Hahn]

Well, it's a, you know, what it. There was. There was that it went viral. Anthony probably remembers the game. They gave up a goal. He's like floating. I will defend J.T. miller to this point, and it's not even really a defense. I just think it's a reality. He came here in the hopes that he'd be the missing piece to a run, and now he's the best player in a rebuild and that's probably not what he bargained for, but hey, you know, suck it up, play play hard. I truly believe he's hurt, so I don't think he's doing that. But when he came here, it was, hey, Drury trying to see if he can't find something. And Dave Maloney said as soon as they make this J.T. miller's team, they'll be better for it. It hasn't been the case, but is it JT's fault or is it just. There isn't anything to work around J.T. miller, but I can understand a fan's frustration. This is a hundred point scorer in Vancouver and it wasn't like Vancouver was all that great.

[Don Hahn]

Right. And maybe that's the part of it I think maybe what the Call is suggesting is like, you know, he hasn't really been around a lot of winning.

[Alan Hahn]

No. And listen, but he was here then. But when they got him, it looked like. I just think everything has just been. And it's been a mess because you. They obviously wouldn't have brought in J.T. miller if they thought that this was going to be what hap. What would happen. Is it his fault, or was it just, you know, what we got to try to build off of, you know, going to the conference final? One time is fool's gold. Can two times be fool's gold? I guess so, right? Because turned out they weren't as close as people thought. Jets. I'm sorry, Peter, Please.

[Rosenberg]

No. I was gonna say, it almost makes me just want to play the sad music again, because the Rangers fans, a few years ago, they didn't think that they'd be sitting in March 2026 having a conversation that essentially, for all intents and purposes, is a Jets conversation. We're having a Jets conversation about the Rangers.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, no.

[Rosenberg]

Ripping it down to the studs. Getting rid of the only players that have any sort of cachet with the fans. And Don, a couple of years ago, we were sitting there at the beach bash saying they could be the closest team to winning a championship.

[Alan Hahn]

They felt like it.

[Don Hahn]

It sure did.

[Rosenberg]

Now they're the Jets. Life comes at you fast.

[Alan Hahn]

Listen.

[Don Hahn]

It sure does when you have an older team.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. You throw a kid into the mix and Covid. It's like the last five years, you know, it just like. Link.

[Don Hahn]

It's unreal. I still live. I still. And you know what I'm worried about with this conversation is I don't want this to be the Knicks in, like, two years. Where that's as far, you know, Indiana, that conference final, that. That was it.

[Alan Hahn]

That was the peak. It's a great comp. It's right there, man.

[Don Hahn]

It's right there because these guys are all 29, 30 years old now. Josh Hart just turned 31. Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast. I don't want to know how the sausage is made, man. I just want to know. It's good. Hear more of Don Allen and Peter weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers.