Alot of your comments are totally on point about Sator. What's so ironic is somehow someway the Rangers channeled all of that anger and frustration about Sator, somehow dealt with Pavelich quitting on the team and had one of the most fun and exciting playoff runs in their history.
I recall it like yesterday as it was just about as much fun as I have ever had as a fan as that 85-86 Ranger club came from absolute ****ing nowhere, barely squeaked into the playoffs and yet we ended up beating both the heavily favored Flyers and Capitals to get to the ECF.
As you said, Larouche went nuts once he got to the MSG as he, Mike Ridley, Bob Brooke, Rejo, Sandstrom broke out some cans of whup ass on the Caps and Flyers until the magic finally ran out as we lost to the eventual Cup champs that year the Canadians. One of the most memorable things about that playoff run was when our little tough guy George McPhee bloodied up Rick Tocchet and kicked his ass during the Flyer series. It was just an amazing site to see.
But yeah, Sator was big time hated but the team overcame it to give us one hell of a memorable season.