At this point, New Jersey Devils fans should ignore New York Rangers fans entirely

Tensions between New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils fans are at an all-time high. When the Devils beat up on the Rangers on December 2nd, it caused a complete meltdown with the Rangers fanbase. However, it was more apathy towards the front office, the coaching staff, and the players. National media made the Rangers a constant talking point for weeks after that loss, as the losses piled up after it. It has been a bad December for that franchise.

After that loss, the Rangers did go in full meltdown mode. They traded their captain Jacob Trouba to the Anaheim Ducks. Then, they traded Kaapo Kakko to the Seattle Kraken. On Monday, prior to the Devils game, the Rangers announced they would make Chris Kreider a healthy scratch. That was a shock, but it made it even more surprising since Kreider had the only goal against the Devils on December 2nd and has a habit of playing really well against his rival.

When the Devils came back and beat the bricks off the Rangers this past week, the discourse changed. There was a vitriol, but it wasn't towards the Rangers front office or the players. Rangers fans decided that the Devils were somehow at fault for... something?

To be completely honest, the complaints were hard to follow. Some said the team was disrespectful, which in turn caused some to say the announcers were disrespectful, which then had people attacking the fanbase.

It all started with the Devils' social media admin sharing a gif of a dumpster with a Rangers logo on it. Not only is this a famous GIF that literally anyone on the internet has seen, but it's also a tactic the Devils' social media team has used after every single game. The pearl-clutching seemed disingenuous at best.

At this point, there's no real reason to engage with Rangers fans on this issue. Their beef is not with the team, even if they might want to say that it is. Their real issue is with the team they root for and the fact they've been a dumpster fire this entire month.

Discourse between New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers fans has gotten out of hand.

Devils fans have been there. We understand what it's like to stare at your team as it swirls its season down the toilet. It's a terrible feeling. And often, it's easier to get mad at other fanbases than it is your own team.

Let's treat this for what it is: misguided anger. Rangers fans want their team to be better. Unfortunately, nothing the team is doing is working. Well, fortunately for Devils fans. This is quickly becoming a lost season for New York, just like last season was lost for New Jersey. The Rangers coach will likely be fired one year removed from taking them to the Eastern Conference Finals. Multiple veterans will be traded away. The core could go the way of the dodo bird. Things are bad in New York. Let's let them deal with that on our own while we enjoy the rest of the holiday season.