St. Louis is the reason the Rangers got to the finals. The Rangers have been rudderless since Messier left and that is over 20 years ago.
As a Ranger fan I have to take issue with your “rudderless” comment.
They missed the playoffs seven years in a row and then Jagr came in and single-handedly led them to the playoffs. He should have won the MVP.
Callahan was a great captain and led Tortorella’s hard banging Black and Blue Rangers to first place in the east two years ago and to the eastern finals. They were short a D when Sauer got hurt or would have gone to the finals.
Then there is Lundqvist who gives them a chance in every game.
The Ranger are obviously (unfortunately for me) better than the Islanders, who have been in “rebuild mode” for at least the passed 8 years.