NEW YORK -- Surrounded by a pack of reporters from across North America, Mike Keenan stood in front of the New York Rangers' Vancouver hotel yesterday morning and tried to summarize his and the team's outlook heading into Game 7.

About 15 feet away, Keenan's attorney, Rob Campbell, quietly tried to douse the brush fire caused by reports that Keenan has agreed to become the Detroit Red Wings' general manager-coach next year.

The visual distance between Keenan and his agent was striking, because it mirrored the psychological distance between Keenan and the band of Rangers who are one loss from the most horrendous collapse in the franchise's star-crossed history.

According to two sources who asked to remain anonymous, Keenan has lost control of the team. It is Mark Messier who is leading the players now.

Also, the Detroit News is reporting today that it was Keenan or Campbell who initiated the recent contact with Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch, and not the Wings who contacted Keenan.