Paul Bissonnette is changing his tune about the Rangers.
After the former NHLer and current hockey personality called the Blueshirts “fugazis” on Barstool Sports’ “Spittin’ Chiclets” podcast before the start of the season, the Rangers have jumped out to a 9-2-1 record and sit atop the Metropolitan Division.
The hot start forced Bissonnette to eat his words Tuesday night during the Rangers’ nationally televised 5-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings.
“The for realzies, not the fugazis,” said during the postgame studio show on TNT.
“Oh, you’re changing it?” host Liam McHugh joked with Bissonnette.
“Well, you have to,” Bissonnette responded. “To keep somewhat of my credibility — the little that I still have left of it. Just a little that I have left.”
Bissonnette heavily criticized the Rangers during an episode of the NHL podcast he co-hosts with Ryan Whitney.
He predicted the Rangers wouldn’t even make the playoffs during the preseason episode, questioning the team’s depth and labeling the fanbase as “frauds.”
“I think [goaltender Igor] Shesterkin is tired of saving their F–king bacon,” Bissonnette said during the episode. “I think they’re all frauds. I don’t like their depth at all. Their fanbase are frauds, their team are frauds. They’re done. The [Metropolitan Division] is too strong. F–k the fugazis. No playoffs for you, and then [Rangers owner James] Dolan’s going to have a meltdown.
“Exactly how I want the season to end.”
But the TNT panelist ate his words and continued to get picked on during Tuesday’s TNT postgame show.
Later, when Rangers forward Vincent Trocheck joined the program, McHugh made sure to let him know that Bissonnette had changed his opinion of the Rangers.
“Before you go, I just wanted to let you know that before you joined us Biz here has changed his tune,” McHugh told Trocheck on air. “He says that you’re no longer fugazis, you’re now for realsies.”
Trocheck felt the change of heart was overdue.
“It’s about time,” he said with a smile. “He’s been all over us.”
The Rangers, who are playing without Adam Fox and Filip Chytil, used their strong depth to down the Red Wings on Tuesday, putting up five goals through the first 40 minutes.
Trocheck notched a pair of goals, including scoring on the power play 44 seconds after Chris Kreider had found the back of the net on a prior man-advantage chance.
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