New York Rangers face heavy backlash following unveiling of new banner
Photo credit: Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports
The New York Rangers have raised a banner to the rafters of Madison Square Garden that congratulates the team for being regular season champions.
This was considered a pretty extreme move, and it undoubtedly got the hockey world abuzz, especially the Spittin' Chiclets, now that the New York Rangers decided to raise a banner that reads, "Regular Season Champions." Normally, division championships, conference titles, or most importantly, a Stanley Cup win is how banners are usually raised in the NHL. Celebrating a regular-season win on the ice in this manner is very unconventional and perhaps missing the bigger picture: success in the postseason.
With that said, by no means is it worthless to acknowledge a successful regular season. For instance, European football gives a trophy, along with huge fanfare, to the team that finishes first after many months of games. Often, a regular season reflects a team's consistency, talent, and endurance over a long period. In the playoff-centric culture of the NHL, though, such a banner may be considered a consolation prize rather than a true accomplishment, which is why the team is now facing heat.
With it being the Rangers, one of the more historic and beloved franchises in the NHL, raising a "Regular Season Champions" banner may be sending some mixed signals. For an organization that last claimed a Stanley Cup in 1994, with their dedicated fanbase awaiting another for several decades now, placing an emphasis on regular-season milestones may be perceived as lesser accomplishments that would take away from what really matters: winning the Cup.
However, if the Rangers dominated the league to the point where their regular season was unmatched, which is exactly what they did last season, some could say that this feat should be recognized. Without a deep playoff run or a Stanley Cup to go with it, though, the banner is now an invitation for criticism rather than pride. To have just regular-season success is rather precariously close to being labeled as prematurely celebrating in a league whose mantra is truly centered around the postseason. Fans have not hesitated to bash the team online.
The definition of ultimate success for the New York Rangers, just like with every other NHL team, comes through playoff success as much as one might enjoy a regular season, true greatness in hockey comes via post-season success, namely Stanley Cup title pursuits. They will likely be focusing on that goal this season.
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