The question now is how large a percentage of the cap can a team devote to buyouts and be a legitimate Cup contender? 

Vincent Trocheck has emerged as the Rangers’ public conscience in the wake of Jacob Trouba’s Dec. 13 exit to Anaheim.

Oh, the Devils kicked sand in the Rangers’ faces as if the tourists from the other side of the Hudson were weaklings at the beach.

Chris Kreider, a healthy scratch for the first time since John Tortorella’s reign behind the bench ended following 2012-13, is no victim.

Folks have been clamoring for Peter Laviolette to meaningfully reduce Mika Zibanejad’s minutes and that is what the Rangers head coach has done over the last week. 

So imagine Matt Boldy representing the Rangers and not the Wild when the 23-year-old winger skates for Team USA in the upcoming Four Nations tournament. 

The narrative that has been circulating for weeks is that the Rangers players do not like the way Drury does business.

Kaapo Kakko has not been close to being a singular problem through the Rangers’ slide, but head coach Peter Laviolette thought that scratching the Finn in St. Louis on Sunday would be a solution.

This is the first time since returning to the Rangers in 2022-23 that the 31-year-old winger has been scratched for more than a single game at a time.

Blackhawks forward Taylor Hall could be up at the top of available lend-lease properties coming up to the trade deadline.

Los Angeles captain Anze Kopitar had two assists as the Kings chased Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin in the second period.

The Rangers have had bad teams that missed the playoffs. They’ve had bad stretches. But never one quite like this.

If Peter Laviolette expects things to change from his perch behind the bench, then the head coach might want to do something differently.

Understand that the Rangers’ best game in weeks came at the expense of a bad team’s worst game in weeks. This is not life in the fast lane.

At age 29, Tony DeAngelo, an American Hockey Player in Exile, has accepted the fact his NHL career is likely over.

At the end of the day — literally — the Rangers are in a far better position than when the sun came up Friday. 

The Rangers have made a commitment to Igor Shesterkin. And Igor Shesterkin has made a commitment to the Rangers.

Excising Trouba takes care of one issue but Drury has spent the week in trade talks with The Post learning that Ottawa’s Brady Tkachuk has become the Rangers’ primary target.

The Rangers have essentially no personality. Playing against them is kind of like a day in the park.

There is only one topic, and that is the team spiral that threatens to send the 2024-25 Blueshirts into a very dark place.