The Jacob Trouba Situation Turning Into Nightmare For Rangers

1. The Jacob Trouba Follies is turning into a soap opera worthy of a season's series. (The Captain plays himself.)

2. Trouble is we're not sure which is more important; Jake The Rake being sent bye-bye by Chris Drury or he stays so Mrs. Trouba can finish her medical residency. (Good news: MSG checks don't bounce)

3. The Trouba tug-of-war has become a massive melodrama with a mystery-ending that only Rangers sleuth Chris Drury knows. (For the sake of the franchise, at least I hope he does.)

4. The beauty part is – no matter what happens – Zac Jones will be among the Top Four D-men. (Believe it or not, Zack is from Dixie, Richmond, Virginia, to be precise.)

5. Then again, if Troubs stays, he'll make the bottom six whether it's managerial punishment or not. (The Old Boy has to prove himself whether he likes it or not.)

6. A far out – against popular opinion – Maven prediction is that the season's surprise will be Kappo Kakko's reawakening. (That's assuming, of course, that he won't be dealt – and I, for one, do not believe that Drury has given up on the guy.)

7. I wish it were otherwise, but I can't get too optimistic about Filip Chytil's future on Seventh Avenue. (Can you?)

8. After what he accomplished this past season Jimmy Vesey deserves a shot at getting off the fourth line. (There's more offense and savvy in JV than most people think.)

9. Not to put the knock on him but Barclay Goodrow is looking smaller and smaller in my rearview mirror. (He shouldn't beef, Sharks checks don't bounce either.)

10. Zdeno Chara was a lousy skater when he came to Long Island. But he practiced to beat the band and became a star. (My skating expert, Andy Meier, says, "If Matt Rempe has the will and desire, he might make it like Chara did.")

11. My updated choices for next Rangers captain: 1. Vinnie Trocheck; 2. Adam Fox; 3. Chris Kreider. (Trocheck is the "engine" Fox has the brains; and Kreider is the eternal Ranger.)

12. Trouba's other issue: When his timing is off on a hit, he uses his elbow. (Refs know it and won't give him a pass.)

13. Assuming, as I do, that Drury eventually will make a huge deal, The Maven figures that Mika Zibanejad will be the one to go. (Drury will want a young power forward who can score 25 a year.)