The Sports Insanity Network

UNDER PRESSURE

BY MIKE RIFKIN

The next week or so is going to be hectic in the NHL. The draft is this Friday and Saturday and July first is the beginning of free agency. Here are five General Managers who need to be active and have an effective offseason otherwise they could find themselves unemployed soon.

KEVYN ADAMS – SABRES – The Sabres have the longest current playoff drought in the league at 14 years. A few seasons ago things looked bright in Buffalo as they missed the playoffs by a single point. Last season the team regressed and that has fans very steamed. The Sabres hired Jarmo Kekalainen to be a senior advisor to the club. If Adams has a subpar offseason and it shows on the ice, Kekalainen might take over before the trade deadline.

CHRIS DRURY – RANGERS – How many coaches can one GM get to pick? Mike Sullivan is the fourth coach in the Chris Drury era, and his hiring means the Rangers mean they want to win soon. The Rangers were the biggest disappointment in the league last year, after being two wins shy of reaching the Stanley Cup Final and winning the President’s Trophy. Drury has already started the retool with the trade of Chris Kreider, but he has to be able to right the wrongs of last season.

KYLE DUBAS – PENGUINS : Kyle Dubas takes a lot of heat, but he is in a very tough spot. He’s inherited a tough job of maintaining the Penguins wanting to win while Sidney Crosby is still one of the best players on the planet and with not a ton of resources. Well the second part of that changes this summer, as the Penguins have almost 23 million dollars in cap space and six picks in the top 100 including two in the first round, and they have 18 picks in the first three rounds over the next three drafts. With Penguins ownership up in the air, Dubas has to show that he can balance the want to be competitive while also building for the future.

KYLE DAVIDSON – BLACKHAWKS – The Blackhawks, unlike the Penguins, recognized when it was time to tear it down. They’re in the midst of a rebuild and this is a critical time for them. The Hawks have already made some changes adding Andre Burakovsky to generate more offense, but with 23 million in cap space and with nine picks in the first two rounds of the next two drafts, can Kyle Davidson add some more impactful players to put around Connor Bedard.

STAN BOWMAN – OILERS – I know what you’re thinking, how can the guy in charge of the two time defending Western Conference Champs be under pressure? Well, the answer is quite simple. The best player in the world has made it clear he needs to see some change before he signs an extension and when Connor McDavid speaks Stan Bowman better have been listening. Now the Oilers don’t have the cap space nor the draft capital, so Bowman is going to have to be creative on how to change things. But at the end of the day if he is able to keep McDavid it’s a successful offseason.

Honorable Mentions: Steve Yzerman (DET), Pat Verbeek (ANA), Patrick Allvin (VAN)

Connor’s Challenge

BY Mike Rifkin

Connor McDavid is without a doubt the best Hockey player on the planet. McDavid has led the Oilers to back to back Stanley Cup Final appearances, losing both to the Florida Panthers. When we judge athletes today, we usually judge them on the amount of championships they’ve won, not the individual accolades. McDavid has plenty of individual accolades including five Art Ross trophies (most points), Three Hart Trophies (League MVP), and the guy wan the Conn Smythe (Playoff MVP) in a losing effort. But McDavid knows his legacy is not complete without a Cup. Gretzky,Messier, Lemieux, Crosby, Ovechkin all great players but winning the Cup changed their legacies.

McDavid, who is eligible for a contract extension on July first, said at his end of season press conference he is in no rush to sign the extension with the Oilers. While the city of Edmonton went into panic over those comments, McDavid was sending a sign to the organization and in particular GM Stan Bowman. The message is improve this team or I could walk in free agency. So how should Bowman improve the Oilers?

The Oilers have about 12 million dollars in cap space entering the summer. We can expect a big chunk of their cap space to go to RFA defenseman Evan Bouchard. While Bouchard will get a big pay day the number one thing for the Oilers this summer has to be to find a legitimate number one goalie. Let’s not forget Stuart Skinner was pulled for Calvin Pickard in the first round, and if the Oilers stuck with Skinner who knows if they get back to the Final. I don’t care if it’s John Gibson of the Ducks, Tristan Jarry of the Penguins or someone else, Bowman’s top priority has to be goalie. The other priority has to be to get some balance on this team. McDavid had 100 points on the season, only trialing Leon Draisaitl, who had 106, the third leading scorer was Bouchard who had 67, but the third highest scoring forward was Ryan Nugent – Hopkins, who had 49 points. The Oilers need to find some balance to their lineup.

Here’s the thing even if the Oilers address their goaltending and balance it might not lead them to a third consecutive Final appearance. The West is a gauntlet, with teams like the Stars, Jets, Avalanche, Kings, etc… all in the fold the West will be fun, and maybe that impacts McDavid’s decision, but now that’s in the hands of Stan Bowman.

UGLY WEEK

BY MIKE RIFKIN

Thursday marked one week since the Mets lost ace Kodai Senga to a hamstring injury. Since the injury, it feels like a dark cloud has hovered over the Mets. Last Thursday was also the last time the Mets won a game. After back to back sweeps against the Rays and arch rival Braves, the Mets find themselves in a tie for first place in the NL East against the team they will play three against this weekend, the Philadelphia Phillies. But, without Senga who can the Mets trust in this rotation?

The Mets rotation has carried them the bulk of the season thus far. But the last few turns in the rotation have not been pretty. Griffin Canning was awesome his first nine starts (5-1 2.47 ERA, 1.29 WHIP), but over his last four starts he’s come down to earth (1-1 5.29 ERA, 1.53 WHIP). Tylor Megill, who was just put on the IL has struggled over hist last few starts. Clay Holmes, who is being converted into a starter has already thrown the most innings in his career. Frankie Montas and Sean Manea have not thrown a pitch yet this season due to injuries. Manager Carlos Mendoza said he expects Montas to join the rotation next week, Montas got roughed up during his rehab assignment, he had an ERA of 13 in his Triple A starts. Manea is still probably a few weeks away from a return. So, right now the only guy in the Mets rotation that has trust is David Peterson. Over the last year and a half, Peterson has turned into the guy the Mets hoped when they drafted him in the first round in 2017 out of Oregon.

With guys either hitting a wall, or just having to make adjustments all eyes for the Mets are on one person. That person is David Stearns, Stearns pieced together this rotation and let’s be honest it’s worked for the most part. But eventually some of these guys were going to come down to earth. We are still about a month away from the trade deadline, but Stearns may want to think about addressing the rotation early. Even if he doesn’t want to do something now, this ugly week has to show Stearns that he has to add to this rotation, especially if he doesn’t want to rush one of his young starters in Triple A.

Sweep And Sour

By Mike Rifkin

Sunday was a bittersweet day for the Boston Red Sox and their fans. In the afternoon the Red Sox defeated their arch rivals the New York Yankees 2-0 to complete the three game sweep. Over the last two weekends the Red Sox won five of six meetings against the Yankees, and are 6.5 games behind in the AL East and a ½ game back in the Wild Card. So, a sweep of the Yankees, and going over .500 and being in the thick of a playoff race is what people in Boston are going to talk about for the next few days? No, it’s what the Red Sox did Sunday night that has people talking.

On Sunday night the Red Sox shocked the Baseball world by trading All- Star Third Baseman Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for Right Handed Pitcher Jordan Hicks(28 years old) (9 starts, 13 games 1-5 6.47 ERA), Left Handed Pitcher Kyle Harrison (23) ( 4 starts, 8 games 1-1 4.56 ERA),1B/OF James Tibbs (22) (playing in A+), Right Handed Pitcher (20) Jose Bello (2.00 ERA in Rookie Ball) . Devers was in the second year of a 10 year 313.5 Million Dollar Contract.

Devers made headlines earlier this season when he said he didn’t want to play first base when Triston Casas went down with injury, or replace Alex Bregman at third when he got hurt. But, is it Devers fault? No, the Red Sox are the ones who decided to sign Bregman and move Devers to DH, so this is the fault of the organization. But here’s the thing: this is very reminiscent of the Luka Doncic trade in the NBA, with one massive difference: the Red Sox didn’t acquire Anthony Davis. They acquired two kids in their twenties, who haven’t moved past A ball, Kyle Harrison has only made 35 starts across three seasons, and Jordan Hicks, has a great arm, but doesn’t know if he’s a starter or reliever, but inconsistencies and injuries have plagued his career.

This is the second time in the last seven years where the Red Sox trade a franchise superstar for a subpar package. The first one was the Mookie Betts deal with the Dodgers, but with Devers under contract this one just feels so wrong. Devers is the face of the franchise, and in my opinion will win an MVP one day. Why trade him? Because he didn’t want to move positions or was he that bad of a guy? If either was the case then the Red Sox should’ve actually done some work and listened to what other offers could’ve been out there. They could’ve gotten a deal similar to what the Nationals got for Juan Soto, but this feels rushed and this is the kinda decision that gets someone fired.

If you are going to move a player like Devers, it’s a sign you’re going to start a rebuild. If that was the case why not shop him over the winter and why bring in a veteran like Alex Bregman? Are the Red Sox changing course on if they want to compete in 2025 and 26? Either way this trade of one of the best players in baseball is absolutely ridiculous and the Red Sox did this to themselves. Instead of celebrating a big weekend against their rivals, we have to figure out what the heck is going on in Boston? If I was a Red Sox fan, I’m not heading to Fenway until I hear the reason why the face of my franchise was traded.

End Of An Era

By Mike Rifkin

On Thursday the New York Rangers traded away their longest tenured player, as they sent Chris Kreider to the Anaheim Ducks for a prospect and a swap of draft picks. Kreider, the Rangers first round pick in 2009 (19th overall) ranks in the top 10 in franchise history in goals, points, Power Play Goals, Short handed goals, and game winning goals. Kreider also showed up when it mattered most in 123 playoff games he scored 48 goals and 76 points, which is third in Rangers history.

Chris Kreider, early in his career, got overshadowed by Rick Nash, and the Rangers pursuit of him. But as time went on Kreider was a true Blueshirt, because when the letter came out Kreider chose to stay. Kreider, was a real leader and it really sucks it ended the way it did. But with his numbers and what he has meant to the organization Kreider has earned the right to have his number 20 retired to the rafters, when he decides to retire.

Tough Decisions

By Mike Rifkin

It was an extremely difficult season for the New York Rangers, after getting within two games of competing for the Stanley Cup, they missed the playoffs entirely. Every Ranger fan knows change is on the way, well it’s already begun with Mike Sullivan replacing Peter Laviolette as the head coach. But what’s next for GM Chris Drury, as the Rangers look to right the ship.

On February 8th 2018, the New York Rangers wrote a letter to their fans about a rebuild that was about to take place.Two important pieces that the Rangers obtained during the rebuild were defenseman K’Andre Miller ( 2018 1st rd pick 22nd overall) and Winger Alexis Lafreniere ( 2020 1st rd pick first overall).

Both players have been developing for the Rangers, but both are coming off of a tough season, well quite frankly the whole team had a tough season. At the NHL combine this past week there have been reports that GM Chris Drury was listening to offers on both players. Miller, is a restricted free agent, so that’s not surprising. Lafreniere though signed a seven year 52.15 million dollar contract in October. So, why is Chris Drury listening on two guys who could be considered the future of his organization. Well, there’s two reasons : The first being the Rangers do need cap space if they’re going to make changes this summer. The other one and bigger than the first in my opinion this team has too many players with no trade clauses or no movement clauses it’s impossible to move some of them.

Both of these players are still in there early to mid twenties and haven’t hit their primes yet. The other downside is trading these players and watch them succeed with another team just like the Rangers saw with Kaapo Kakko, who scored 10 goals and 30 points in 49 games with the Kraken last season. With the Rangers looking to win their first cup since 1994, Chris Drury has to maintain this be a win-now team as opposed to what the future holds, but even coming off of down season, I wouldn’t give up on Lafreniere or Miller. But with Miller being an RFA, I understand listening on his availability. I think the Rangers GM needs to look at some of the veterans on this team to make the changes, not the younger players.

CLASSIC KNICKS

BY Mike Rifkin

The NBA world was shocked earlier this week when the Knicks fired coach Tom Thibodeau after the Knick lost in the Eastern Conference Finals to the Pacers. Thibodeau led the Knicks to the playoffs in four of his five seasons as coach, and had a record of 226-174.

There are going to be rumors and reasons why Thibodeau was fired, but let’s be honest for a minute Tom Thibodeau was the best coach the Knicks have hired since Jeff Van Gundy. He put out a team that played with heart and effort and took the Knicks places they haven’t been in 25 years. Before Thibs got to New York the Knicks were a laughingstock of an organization, he changed the culture. The Knicks were two wins away from achieving something they haven’t in 30 years, go to the NBA Finals.

Now, while fans will proclaim this to be a classic Knicks move, there is one way in my mind they can change the narrative and it is NOT who they make the next coach. The Knicks this summer have to add one piece this summer. That piece is GIANNIS ANTETOKUNMPO, the man is a walking double-double and would be the biggest game changer for the Knicks since Carmelo Anthony. To acquire a player such as Giannis, you give up whatever and outside of Jalen Brunson, there is no untouchable on this roster.

Here’s the deal if you’re going to fire Thibs and not give a solid reason why, then there’s no reason to not try and alter the roster. But, if we went back in time to the roster of last season (no KAT), would they have performed better this season, we don’t know? If the Knicks want to change the narrative about this summer they have to get Giannis, otherwise whoever the next coach is has a lot of pressure on them.

HOW MUCH DOES GOING TO A GAME COST? AFFECTING REGULAR FAMILIES

BY MARK HALPERN

We all know that professional athletes make a lot of money once they make it. Over the last decade teams have been spending more on players and when you spend millions of dollars on a player the money has to be made up somewhere and unfortunately, it’s the fans who ultimately pay the price.

Over the past decade prices for tickets in the NOSEBLEED SECTION (otherwise known as sitting all they way at the top for usually a cheap price to see a game) have increased over 300% making those average tickets now close to $20-40 a ticket and well that might not seem like a lot for one person it’s usually the family with kids the costs start adding up.

If you decide to park at the stadium (instead of using mass transit) parking in stadiums has gone up 22% so you start out paying $25-30 just to park. If you have a family of four now you have spent $80 on tickets and now $25-30 on parking and you are down $100 before you enter the stadium. The moment you get in your kids want everything from a program to a shirt, jersey, hat or other team items and or and all of that is convenient as most of them are on the lower floors or right on the second level so you go in and limit it to thing each and you have spent at least $50. So before you’re in your seat you have spent $150. Next on the list kids get hungry and let’s face it, your significant other will also get hungry and thirsty and while some teams now have some basic family food programs, while plenty of others don’t. At the ballpark a bottle of water will cost you $5 (I can buy 3 24 packs at my local grocery store for $15), if you decide to have a soda add a Dollar to that or you decide to have a beer you pay the price of a six pack to have one and that’s $8 (minimum). Food prices are different at all stadiums because even though going to sports venue all of them have a special item or items such as the New York Mets have Shake Shack, the Yankees have Lobell’s and it’s one of the best sandwiches but will run you $20 and these are only two examples and I live in NY so I use the two teams. However, you decide to keep it for Hot Dogs and water and definitely you must get the $7 ice cream in a mini batting helmet or a cotton candy for each kid (so you can all share) so now by the end of eating add another $125-150. Also don’t forget you miss at least an inning or two waiting for the bathroom.

So by the end of it your realize you have spent a minimum of $500 on the day and for a family of 4 (unless you make Boku Bucks) it becomes prohibited and you realize that if you stayed at home, you could eat whatever you wanted, pause the game if you need the bathroom so you don’t miss a moment, you have no worry to fill the car with gas, or clean up a certain mess that when you’re a parent and they eaten that much the ride home you hope and pray they didn’t over eat. Yes, it is not the same as seeing up live in person of course but, when the economy is where it is, only people who really can afford to take their family to games are the ones with fatter pockets.

Note : Ballparks looked at Citi Field, Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, and Dodger Stadium

Righting A Wrong

By Mike Rifkin

The New York Rangers were the biggest disappointment of the 2024-25 NHL season. They went from two games away from going to the Stanley Cup Final to missing the playoffs altogether. This disaster of a season cost coach Peter Laviolette his job, and GM Chris Drury hired his dream coach, Mike Sullivan formerly of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Ranger fans and management alike both know there will be changes made to the roster as well. One major need for the Rangers is a top line Right Wing. This was a need last summer as well, and Chris Drury added veteran Reilly Smith. Smith, in 58 games had 10 goals and 29 points. But, because he was a pending UFA and the Rangers’ placement in the standings traded Smith to Vegas. But it wasn’t just Smith, Peter Laviolette had to consistently juggle his lines, and his best players’ numbers were all down from last season. But now Drury has a chance to right a wrong.

There are multiple big time scoring wingers available whether it be through free agency or trade that Chris Drury should look into acquiring.

Brock Boeser (Canucks) – Boeser, an unrestricted free agent had 25 goals in 75 games last season on a Canuck team filled with drama, but he is a year removed from scoring 40 goals. Boeser already has chemistry with current Ranger JT Miller, whom the Rangers acquired during the season.

Jason Robertson (Stars) – This is the player for me the Rangers should go out and trade for. With Dallas’s cap situation being what it is, there have been rumors Robertson can be had. And let me be brutally honest the only untouchable on the Rangers is Igor Shesterkin (Who Dallas won’t ask for), so whoever Dallas wants for Robertson, Drury should drive them to the airport. Robertson scored 35 goals this season and will be 26 years old by the start of next season. Robertson also has 18 goals and 44 points in the playoffs.

Jonathan Marchessault (Preds) – The Nashville Predators won the offseason last summer bringing in Steven Stamkos, Brady Skjei and Marchessault. It didn’t work as the Preds missed the playoffs. Marchessault had 21 goals and 56 points last season. Marchessault will be 35 in December, but is an offensive dynamo especially in the playoffs where he won a Conn Smythe trophy with the Golden Knights.

Whether it’s one of these three players, or someone not mentioned the Rangers core is going to be shaken a bit and Chris Drury has a chance to right a wrong after not adding a bonafide top six winger last summer.

ONE STEP CLOSER

BY MARK HALPERN

If you are expecting an article having to do with stats then this isn’t for you. The New York Knicks improved exceptionally this season as they made it to the Eastern Conference Finals only to be sent packing by the same team who ended their playoff run last season, the Indiana Pacers.

After the Knicks eliminated the Celtics, which became easier after the Tatum injury (hopefully he recovers) in the second round and poised to keep this magical run alive heading into the Eastern Conference Finals. The Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks don’t really have that much love for each other as the teams has been in more memorable history than any other team that has played against the Knicks including the Miami Heat and the Chicago Bulls. When these two teams play whether it is in the regular season or playoffs something historical is probably going to happen.

There have been many moments but I want to focus on two. Back in 1994, Reggie Miller went on one of the craziest runs in the fourth quarter scoring 25pts during that quarter. After leading the Pacers to an unbelievable comeback Miller turned to long life Knicks fan and put up the “choke symbol” to him saying the Knicks blew it. IN the first game of this ECF the Knicks led by double digits and the Pacers did their thing with hitting several threes in the waning the final minutes upsetting the Knicks once again and Tyrese Haliburton turned to Spike Lee and did the same thing that Miller di by symbolizing the Knicks choked again.

In 1999 with 11.2 seconds left in the game and the Knicks trailing by three you couldn’t find a Knick who wasn’t by the 3 pt line. The ball was inbounded and moved around and finally was in the hands of Larry “Grandmama” Johnson and he made a turnaround three to tie the game but, he was also fouled and gave the Knicks a 4-point play to win ad very competitive game that went down to the final seconds yet again to these two teams.

Yes, there are more like Miller’s 9 points in 8 seconds, to the John Starks head butt, Ewing blocking a miller three at the end of a game and so many more. I chose these two the first one for the fact history plays a huge factor and I was there during the 8 seconds and I was there for the Larry Johnson play. Whether you knew the person next to you or not we were hugging high fiving it didn’t matter because we are all New Yorkers.

This was tough to swallow but the Knicks didn’t regress in their play. They got better and made one step closer to the finals. The Knicks need help off the Bench. The biggest loss from last season was not keeping Donte DiVincenzo who was clearly their biggest threat not only from the 3pt line but a great passer and team player. I hope somehow, we can get him back but, that’s just me. In conclusion I am truly excited for next season as the Knicks keep progressing to the next stop THE NBA FINALS.