Recently fired Rangers GM Jeff Gorton was an analyst for ESPN’s NHL Draft coverage, which made for some awkward moments when New York’s state of the franchise was consistently dicussed. But Gorton leaned into it with a joke that delighted hockey Twitter on Friday night.
Speaking on the Blueshirts, who, in a questionable move, traded Pavel Buchnevich for Sammy Blais and a 2022 second-round pick, Gorton had some fun at his own expense, while also taking a shot at the franchise that recently let him go, when discussing the Rangers’ plan of action in a new era for the team.
“I don’t know, you might have heard a rumor that the Rangers are trying to play a little harder,” Gorton said on the broadcast, prompting a laugh from the rest of the panel.
The Rangers also recently signed Tampa’s Barclay Goodrow to a six-year deal, further cementing the idea that New York and current GM Chris Drury are going for toughness, something that Gorton’s teams were criticized for lacking in recent seasons. Drury’s recent moves seem like a blatant tactic to address those concerns, which Gorton didn’t let slip through the cracks on the broadcast.
Gorton was removed from his role back in May, along with former team president John Davidson, who was also brought on during Friday’s broadcast. It made for some awkward moments, but Gorton’s joke helped lighten the mood.
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