Regarding the Rangers, whose playoff elimination tragic number was 15 points (Columbus) and 14 points (New Jersey) prior to Blue Jackets-Flyers in Philadelphia on Thursday:
1. Of course and absolutely the Rangers should and will pursue Ilya Kovalchuk when the scoring machine hits the open market as a 35-year-old unrestricted free agent July 1.
He would have been the right guy this year for the intended retool had the Devils been more amenable to shipping his rights across the Hudson for less than a first-rounder, and he is the right guy for next year’s rebuild/rebound season in which the Blueshirts should be able to compete for a playoff spot with some fortification.