"If I'm going to be in a foxhole, these are the players I want to be in a foxhole with."

Those were the words of Colin Campbell just eight and a half months ago before having to excuse himself from a postgame podium beneath the stands of Philadelphia's CoreStates Center after the conclusion of last season's Eastern Conference finals. Now, somebody else will be leading this group into that hole, as Campbell was fired by the New York Rangers and replaced by former Edmonton and Buffalo coach/GM John Muckler.

Campbell survived the ax three times in the last two seasons alone - once in mid-November of last season and then in early December and early January of this season. However, his fate was sealed and delivered during and shortly after the recent six-game trip that completed the pre-Olympic schedule. After scrambling to try every possible coaching method to arouse his overpaid bunch, Campbell implemented a trapping system with a squad that for some reason believes it can play a skating game. That move was the final straw, as he saw his support within the Ranger locker room dwindle much like the team's respectability. That convinced GM Neil Smith to pull the plug on his longtime friend.

"I can't really criticize Neil," Campbell said. "He gave me a chance and he stuck with me and he gave me a good contract. And I understand he's stuck in a tough situation this season."

Despite presenting what was portrayed as a debilitating negative attitude over the last couple of weeks, Campbell never gave up trying to find the right words to say or drills to run to get the Rangers going. If there was one thing the guys in the locker room could never complain about, it had to be Campbell's work ethic or grasp of strategy. So some, desperate for an explanation for the team's recurring failures on the ice, wound up complaining about Campbell overpreparing them and overanalyzing performances.

Unfortunately, changing coaches won't solve the Rangers' many problems. Nowadays, NHL teams are winning games with size, speed and strength. Three things that the Rangers don't have very much of. The guys who are coming back from the Olympic break are either small, slow or soft. Neil Smith's job is by no means done.

"It's definitely, 'How much do we have to fix it?' Not, 'Do we have to fix it?'" the Rangers President and GM said. "I mean, this thing has to be fixed. This thing is broken. There's no doubt this is broken. This didn't work. This isn't the team that all of us thought it was when the season opened."

As we get closer to the trading deadline and the Rangers' playoff hopes fade, Smith must trade Mike Keane or Brian Skrudland, Jeff Beukeboom or Ulf Samuelsson, Kevin Stevens and possibly Pat LaFontaine and try to get as many prospects and draft picks as possible. Next, Smith can't let Mike Richter slip into July 1 as a free agent and end up with a another Mess-y situation. If Richter walks, this picture gets darker. And once it is clear the playoffs are no longer a possibility, RW Vladimir Vorobiev, C Marc Savard, C Christian Dube and D Ronnie Sundin should get called up from the AHL and given an early look.

This is where the 64-year-old Muckler comes in - and why he was signed to a two-year deal worth $800,000 per with annual club options thereafter. His is regarded by those who have played for him and worked with him as an excellent teacher with an upbeat attitude. Something which will be needed around here if the Rangers truly do want to get younger. His recent work as the GM in Buffalo showed that he could successfully turn over a team fairly quickly. And in addition to his coaching duties, he will be given input in player personnel decisions that should make him a virtual co-general manager.

"Obviously, John Muckler is a very capable hockey man. He's put together and been around very successful teams. He knows the game and his players well, so hopefully that will get us on the right track," Mike Richter said.

If the Rangers truly do want to become a younger team, Muckler is the right man for the gig. Look at the job he did in Buffalo. Sure, they fail to win a game that Dominik Hasek doesn't dominant, but they play with passion. They make you beat them. If Muckler can do that with these guys (who would have the sixth highest payroll in BASEBALL), then you have to say he did a good job.

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