Where to begin? On a chaotic day full of free agent signings that totaled over $1 billion, the Rangers’ silence was deafening.

Unless you actually believe adding depth pieces, Sam Carrick and Reilly Smith are earth-shattering moves for a team that likes to think they’re Stanley Cup contenders. It went about as badly and sadly as the final three games of the Eastern Conference Final did.

Much like how quiet Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, and Artemi Panarin were, that certainly applies to Chris Drury on July 1. When asked why Smith for one year over committing longer on a free agent, he said, “I’m not going to comment on other deals that other teams & players made, but this just fit for us now & I think sets us up well in the future to have some flexibility.”

Whether or not you can take him at his word is another story. The one player Drury added for three years at a cheap $1 million per year is Carrick. He’s a fourth line center who brings some grit and physical play. He finished 2023-24 with the Oilers who lost to the Panthers for the Cup.

If the goal was to spend as little money as possible, mission accomplished. In sending the Penguins a 2027 second round pick along with a conditional 2025 fifth for Smith, the Rangers added $3.75 million on the cap. At least it’s only for a year.

A former member of the Cup champion Golden Knights in 2022-23, Smith is a solid complementary forward who can put up between 15 to 20 goals and 40-plus points. He can kill penalties. The only question is why the Pens were so desperate to get rid of him. He had a down year finishing with 13 goals and 27 assists. He’ll have something to prove on a new team.

If you were one of those fans hoping for Drury to land a big name, you were left hanging. Or by now, probably hungover from the lack of activity. Like a game of dominoes, player after player fell.

Jonathan Marchessault went to the suddenly emerging Predators, who added former Lightning captain Steven Stamkos and Brady Skjei. They also extended Juuse Saros for an affordable $7.74 million through 2033. We’ll see how that impacts Igor Shesterkin, who wants the moon if you read the NY Post.

Jake DeBrusk landed in Vancouver. Tyler Bertuzzi decided to take the money from the Blackhawks, who also brought back Teuvo Teravainen. They improved.

Most teams did except for the Rangers and Hurricanes, with the latter losing both Skjei and Brett Pesce. They also picked up a third round pick from the Lightning, who went to $9 million on Jake Guentzel. He isn’t worth it. But how many players are? There were some crazy deals. They seemed to happen at lightning speed.

Even Jeff Skinner found a new home in Edmonton for one year at $2.5 million. Vladimir Tarasenko is one player who didn’t. He reportedly wants to return to the Panthers after helping them win. Who can blame him. They lost Brandon Montour to the Kraken for big money. Oliver Ekman-Larsson left for Toronto. But they kept Sam Reinhart for $8.63 million AAV over eight years.

The big reason for the Rangers’ inability to sign someone who can help their chances is due to the mishandling of Jacob Trouba. By leaking the info to Larry Brooks over the weekend, it turned into a three-ring circus. The Rangers captain was hurt when he found out he could be traded.

The lack of communication backfired. This is how the organization operates. Barclay Goodrow had to learn that he was waived in a prearranged agreement so the Sharks could pick him up. It was underhanded. He had the Sharks on his 15-team no-trade list. Drury worked around it to get rid of the $3.64 million salary over the remaining three years.

Coming off a great season that included a run to the Final Four, Goodrow and Trouba were treated like second-class citizens. It’s almost as if the Rangers don’t appreciate what they brought. That’s no way to handle two veterans who were leaders for the team.

Now, they’re stuck. What will happen with Trouba? With $8.94 million in cap space remaining, most of it will be used to re-sign restricted free agents Ryan Lindgren and Braden Schneider. Drury was hoping to offload most of Trouba’s remaining contract ($8 million AAV over two years) to free up room to add a scoring right wing. Instead, it’s a guessing game.

You have to wonder if a few of those players who signed elsewhere decided not to come to New York City. The mitigating circumstances haven’t helped. It isn’t good.

There are consequences. Drury’s arrogance got in the way of doing the right thing by Trouba and Goodrow. They are people with families. You wouldn’t know it by how Drury operates.

Once, Brian Leetch learned that he was traded on his birthday to the Maple Leafs. Glen Sather never even approached him about it. Arguably the greatest New York Ranger, Leetch was sent packing in pathetic fashion 20 years earlier. Even the way Henrik Lundqvist was handled at the end wasn’t memorable. At least he was brought back as a studio analyst. He remains the best dressed man in the room with that charm.

Why do these things happen? Some will point out that it’s just business, which is true. The business side of sports isn’t pretty. Sometimes, things end badly. You don’t expect that to happen to two players who’ve bled as Blueshirts.

It’s different. Most agree that the cost is too much for Trouba. Especially if he’s a third pair defenseman at this point of his career.  He’s 30 and played on a bum ankle. Somehow, he was called “selfish” for playing hurt. Amazing.

If you were a big name free agent, would you sign with the Rangers when there’s uncertainty? It’s an unstable situation. Until they settle things with Trouba, a dark cloud will hang over Madison Square Garden.