Frank Franklin II - AP

3 days ago: New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) deflects a shot on the goal as teammate Daniel Girardi (5) helps defend against Montreal Canadiens' Brian Gionta during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 16, 2010 in New York. The Canadiens won the game 3-1. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

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The season is over.

That's not an angry statement, or a bias one. It's not a judgment call or even a guess. Even if the Rangers manage to scrape their way into the playoffs, the year is done. When you look at the big picture-which would be winning the Stanley Cup-you realize that there is no chance for success. Not with this team, they don't have the life.

There is a famous quote in the movie The Replacements. During the final game of the regular season where the Washington Senitals were playing Dallas to make the playoffs, Washington is down 17-0 going into the half. Walking off the field the coach, played by Gean Hackman, is asked what he thinks his team needs to get back into the game. His response is simply "heart." When asked to elaborate he says: "heart, miles and miles of heart."

The Rangers don't have that heart, and no changes they make this year are going to fix that problem. I don't care what lines John Tortorella feeds you, I don't care what the players say. "Talk is cheap," "actions speak louder than words," take your pick of the corny cliché phrase you want to use; but regardless of which one you choose they are all true. The Rangers have been talking all year ... with their mouths. When they bring their talk to the ice we get results like the one against St. Louis, listless efforts that result in a loss.

This isn't a post asking for John Tortorella's head. This isn't a post asking for Glen Sather's head. We have outlined those issues, you know the problems, and you don't need me to remind you. (How many times have I said that this year?)

Here is what I will outline for you, and what it is, is a basic idea of how to make this season worth something.

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Jeff Roberson - AP

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Earlier in the season, Marian Gaborik was contending with Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby for the scoring title in the National Hockey League. Most often, Marian was between first and fifth in scoring in the league, even when the team went through rough stretches. Now, though, several months later, Gaborik has dropped to tenth in scoring with 73 points. Obviously that is not horrible or anything, but when you consider where Gaborik was in November to where he is now in March, there have been some drastic changes in the star winger's game.

I truly believe Gaborik is playing with an injury of some sort. Maybe he is still suffering from the groin issue that acted up while he was in Vancouver for the Olympic Games, or maybe not. We will not be finding out anytime soon, as the coaching staff has such a strict policy when it comes to leaking information to the public. Anyway, if it is an injury from the Olympics, our greatest fear has become reality.

If you watch Gaborik now, and then watch clips of him during a game in November, there is a very noticeable change in his speed and explosiveness. Gaborik's game is built around his superior speed, and when that weapon in his arsenal is not available to him, his entire game will be thrown off. With a groin injury, it would only make sense that he would have trouble skating at top speed, and like I said, I truly feel that is the case.

When Gaborik is not scoring, the New York Rangers are not scoring. This saying may be getting old by now because we have been hearing it over and over again since the start of the regular season, but when you think about it, it adds up. Marian accounts for just under fifty percent of this team's offense afterall.

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More photos » Gene J. Puskar - AP

5 months ago: New York Rangers coach John Tortorella, center, stands behind Rangers' Enver Lisin, left, and Christopher Higgins (21) during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh Friday, Oct. 2, 2009. The Penguins won 3-2. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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When John Tortorella took up his post as Head Coach of the New York Rangers, he promised to bring changes to the scene. He promised us a more up-tempo and offensive system while demanding a harder working attitude by his players on the ice. But most importantly he promised to hold players accountable for their actions; no matter how long they have been in the league or how many "zeros" are on the end of their checks.

Thus far we have seen very little of what we have been promised. Tortorella has implemented a go-go offensive system, but it can't produce shots, let alone quality scoring chances, or even goals on a nightly basis. Blame seems to fall on everyone, yet no one seems to actually be held accountable for their actions. The old Tortorella who would bench Vincent Lacavalier for not back checking on a goal seems unwilling to do the same with anyone on the Rangers. Instead Tortorella turns his fury to the media, where he has had various blow-ups and blow-offs, fire we would have expected to see behind the bench.

Blame can fall in a ton of places, and it does. The defense is too weak in front of Henrik Lundqvist, giving opposing players clear and clean lanes to deflect shots or bowl him over. They are soft in the corners, can't seem to keep pucks out of the slot, and they never punish anyone for skating in the zone with their heads down. The offense can't score goals, not too much more to say here. You all know the problems, you don't need me to highlight them.

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More photos » Paul J. Bereswill - AP

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I know it may be early, but the way in which Vinny Prospal has been playing for this New York Rangers team all season long has been stunning, and I think it is about time the front office begins to talk with Prospal's agent in hopes to re-sign him for the next season. I say his performance this season has been stunning because a 35-year-old free agent making $1.1 million usually is not expected to contribute all that much, and most often the fans do not have high expectations. After being bought out by the Tampa Bay Lightning at the conclusion of last season, Vinny had something to prove and he made it clear that was determined. Apparently determination can take you very far.

Prospal's 17 goals and 35 assists for 52 points are good for second on the team in scoring behind Marian Gaborik. In fact, the Czech native is in the top fifty in the National Hockey in scoring and has already surpassed his point totals from last season by seven with fourteen games still to be played. And his goal scoring, which Vinny is not particularly known for, has been timely to put it best, and he has more goals scored than Scott Gomez did as a Ranger just a year ago.

Offense is not the only area of Prospal's game that has been sharp as he has been stellar in the defensive zone as well. Vinny has a plus nine rating on the season, which is excellent for a player that is sent out onto the ice everytime his club is shorthanded. And of course, his energy, enthusiasm, and intensity are present every night, which not only benefits him, but his teammates, especially the youngsters, around him.

Obviously Prospal's numbers will only go up from this point on, especially if he continues to put on performances such as last night's in Atlanta. So now the decisions lie in general manager Glen Sather's lap. Prospal should, and deserves to be, re-signed for the 2010-11 season. However, taking his age into account, you do not want to lock him up for an extended amount of time, nor do you want to give him a paycheck that will come back to bite you in the behind later in the year.

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More photos » Bill Kostroun - AP

9 days ago: New Jersey Devils' Dainius Zubrus, left, of Lithuania, goes after the puck with teammate Zach Paise, right, as New York Rangers' Sean Avery looks on during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, March 10, 2010 in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

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Dear New York Rangers Fans,

With another listless and embarrassing loss tonight, at the hands of the New Jersey Devils, I think it is safe to say that the season is over for the Rangers and that there will be no playoffs come April. The Rangers desperately needed the win tonight over their arch rivals. They had lost three in a row and needed to find a spark and some energy. Tonight, the Rangers, yet again, leave their fans at a loss for words. Tonight, players like Brandon Prust and Erik Christensen outplayed the stars like Prospal and Gaborik. Lundqvist was absolutely brutal and the defense was like a sieve.

The Rangers must look to the very bleak future, and pray they can be bad enough for a good draft pick. It is that sad time when it is time to root for the Rangers to lose and teams like the Hurricanes, Islanders, and Maple Leafs to keep on winning.

There is so much wrong with this Rangers team that it cannot all be covered in just one article. I don't know where to begin. I was never on the Fire Sather bandwagon, and I'm still not--under one condition, and that is everyone going. Sather and the entire front office need to go, as does the coaching staff. The entire crop of personnel should also be shopped this summer. Girardi has to walk when the season ends. Words can not describe now atrocious he has played. I would say the same for Gilroy as well, and would not renew his contract. As for Wade Redden, does it even need to be said?

I would also hope that the Rangers seriously contemplate trading Gaborik and Lundqvist, more so the former than the latter, but both could fetch a very exciting return. Fans will not like it, but can you imagine what could be had for players of that caliber?

As for Tortorella, I would hope his tenure ends before this season ends. I don't care what anyone says about the roster being bad or whatever the excuse is. Fact of the matter is, he is not the right coach for this team. Never was, never will be. His tenure here has been a joke. His mantra of being tough has been a joke. His antics, both on the bench and in the press room, have been a joke. I don't like clowns, and if I did, I would go see the circus, which as of right now, calls Madison Square Garden it's home.

This article is really too short to describe what I really want to say, especially with a slew of expletives needing to be held back. What is yet to come will not be pretty and we must hold fast. Wanting the Rangers to just bow out and tank does not mean you are not a true fan. To all of you out there, I ask that you remain supportive of the team, but from a distance. Don't buy into what you hear from MSG Network or any Rangers related official. Don't buy the fact that Gaborik is healthy, and that all is well in the locker room; you are smarter than that.

We must now stand together and acknowledge that this season is over, and hopefully in a season or two, a new era of Rangers hockey can be ushered in. I will leave you now with this quote from George Orwell's 1984, because I think it pretty much sums up what the upcoming months will hold: "If you want a vision of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face, forever."

Sincerely,
Greg Caggiano

More photos » Paul Beaty - AP

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There is so much that goes along with the name Sean Avery, both on and off the ice. He may be more popular for his antics against rival goaltender Martin Brodeur, or for his "sloppy seconds" remark last season, but all of that aside, he is a solid hockey player that knows the sport well. However, something has changed this season that is holding back arguably the league’s biggest pest, and I have a feeling that has to do a lot with head coach John Tortorella.

When Tortorella was hired in 2009, a big question upon his arrival would be how he would work with Sean Avery after making a comment on television earlier that season, stating Avery does not deserve to be in the league. It took a while until the two ran into a conflict here in New York, which resulted in Avery sitting in the press box as a healthy scratch for game four of the Quarterfinal Series against the Washington Capitals.

After that occurrence, I think Tortorella then made the decision that he is going to keep a leash on Sean, and keep it very tight to boot. The fact that we no longer see Avery’s antics as often as we did while Renney was coach is a clear sign Avery has been warned about how far he is allowed to go, and that Tortorella has made sure it is known who is in control here.

If you think back to mid-January when the Blueshirts took on the Montreal Canadiens at Madison Square Garden, Avery was called for roughing as he cross-checked a player to the ice after the whistle for no apparent reason. Upon returning to the bench after serving the two minute minor, Avery quickly attempted to explain himself but was cut short by Torts, who sent him to the end of the bench where he would sit until the end of the period. Yes, it was an unnecessary penalty and yes, his benching was lifted later that night, but this once again was another example of how Tortorella means no bones about who is boss.

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More photos » Kathy Kmonicek - AP

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14-15-6 is the New York Rangers record while playing in front of their home crowd at Madison Square Garden this season. Below .500 while playing in the World's Most Famous Arena. Below .500 while playing before some of the most passionate hockey fans here in the United States. It goes without saying that the Blueshirts have no excuses for the drought on home ice in 2009-10, in fact, the Rangers are the one of the only teams in the Eastern Conference, besides the Toronto Maple Leafs, that have such a horrific record at home. That is ironic since Toronto and New York are the number one and number two rated hockey markets in the National Hockey League.

There could be several explanations for the Rangers failure while playing at MSG. The first and most obvious that comes to mind is pressure. This crowd may be passionate, but along with passion comes honesty, and they, by all means, do not hold back from letting this team know how they feel. As we saw yesterday, they are not even afraid to let the organization know how they feel. That could definitely destroy the self-esteem of these players, but at the same time, they should use it as momentum. They are "professionals" after all.

The other factor, that many do not take into account, is the fact that opponents look forward to playing at Madison Square Garden. Now I am going to have to put you in the player's mind for a moment in order for you to understand this. Picture yourself as a rookie looking for an opportunity to remain in the lineup. You enter MSG, the atmosphere is electric and somehow you have the ability to silence 18,200 screaming maniacs with just one shot, hit, or altercation. To me, that is pretty damn motivational and a meaningful way to get your coach's attention.

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This will be the third time I will have had a chance to sit down and chat with Chris Kotsopoulos, who spent one season with the Rangers back in 1980/81. He has always been good to me when I've needed an interview, so before I get to the main body of this article, I just want to tell everyone to check out his blog where he covers the Rangers, called "Kotsy's Korner".

GC: With the deadline ending Wednesday, are you surprised that the Rangers didn't make a trade? Do you think they would have gotten Souray had he not been injured?

CK: Surprised? Not really. Although they did make a minor deal a major trade is a lot tougher to complete because you have to have willing and equal trading partners today with the Cap situation. As for Souray, Yes.

GC: Last time we talked, you mentioned how this team needed to get tougher. Do you think the acquisitions of Brandon Prust and Jody Shelley will help this? And what was your immediate reaction to Donald Brashear getting sent to Hartford?

CK: Absolutely. With the acquisitions of Prust and Shelley you have instant deterants to any liberties being taken with the Ranger players. It was a must to acquire them. Don't want to beat up on Brashear and I won't. He's been a tough guy for a long time in the NHL and I think his longevity has caught up to him. It simply didn't work for the Rangers.

GC: With the acquisition of Alex Auld, do you think the Rangers will rest Henrik Lundqvist more?

CK: First off, Auld was a good pick up. It's all up to "King" himself. He should be the one that decides as to when he needs a break or not.

GC: Marian Gaborik is injured again and no one knows how severe it is. What do you think the situation is? And can the Rangers make the playoffs without him?

CK: Lower Body injury, so your guess is as good as mine. (Laughs). You know anything can happen in hockey, but my answer is no.

GC: For the Rangers to make the playoffs, what are the most important things that need to happen for this team, besides improving offense?

CK: Lundqvist has to be spectacular, the defense needs to tighten up in all areas of the ice, special teams need to be special, and they must be physical and make it hard for teams to play against you. Essentially, realize that as a team, you are in playoff mode now!

GC: As a Canadian, how much did you enjoy the gold medal game on Sunday? Do you think it helped to boost hockey popularity in the US?

CK: It was great to watch. Obviously I enjoyed the victory by Canada. The USA team was an admirable opponent and my hat's off to them. Canada in the end earned it. But more importantly to me it's a huge win for "North American Hockey". The USA has closed the gap on the world big time and hopefully America will take advantage and showcase this great game of hockey. Are you listening NHL?

Chris Kotsopoulos was a veteran of 479 games with the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, and Hartford Whalers.