Concerning reports have emerged that the New York Rangers have dismissed a staff member following a dinner with a player.
The Rangers’ struggles continue to escalate despite efforts to turn the season around. Initially, they traded their captain, Jacob Trouba, to the Anaheim Ducks. Just a few weeks later, they dealt former second overall pick Kaapo Kakko to the Seattle Kraken in exchange for William Borgen and two draft picks for the 2025 NHL Draft.
Currently sitting sixth in the Metropolitan Division, both fans and analysts thought things couldn’t deteriorate further—but they have. According to Vince Z. Mercogliano from Lohud.com, the Rangers informed their players and staff that Jim Ramsay had been let go for dining with a player after a team media event.
Mercogliano reported that staff were told they could not stay at the same hotel as any teams under the Madison Square Garden umbrella, including the minor-league Hartford Wolf Pack and Westchester Knicks, travel on team flights or buses, or attend team social events without written approval from an Executive Vice President or higher. The internal memo stressed that interactions between employees and players or coaches must be severely restricted, allowing exceptions only as necessary for an employee’s job role. Noncompliance could lead to disciplinary measures, including termination.
This incident certainly reflects poorly on a struggling organization. While a casual dinner between a player and staff member might typically enhance team morale, Chris Drury has deemed it unacceptable.
