Rangers President and GM Chris Drury Sends a Letter and Has a Leadership Meeting

Quieting Damage Control

New York, NY- After another disastrous start for the New York Rangers on Wednesday Night against the Ottawa Senators, the fans were chanting Chris Drury’s name to be fired by owner James Dolan. Since the off-season of the 2024-25 season, which started with releasing and dumping Barclay Goodrow’s salary, the downfall from the Pacific Northwest and Alberta road trip in November till now has shown this team hasn’t improved and is currently in last place in the Eastern Conference.

The constant yo-yoing of players from Hartford to Broadway

While there have been some positives from players like the rookies in Noah Laba, Gabe Perreault, and Matthew Robertson, the continued bouncing back and forth of players from the AHL Hartford Wolf Pack, like Brett Berard, Anton Bildh, Jason Dowling, Conor Mackey, Brennen Othmann, and Scott Morrow, is tiresome, and trying to fix this situation is impossible.

The signing of veterans like Conor Sheary and Taylor Raddysh has been a waste of time, and while Raddysh has been a bit more productive than Sheary, these two are currently taking up two roster spots that should be given to other rookies or those in Hartford to have a place for the future of the team and a better chance for a possible run to make the playoffs.

Injuries are also a problem

When you are missing key players on your fourth line, the blue line, special teams on the power play, and penalty killing, including your all-star and Vezina-winning goaltender, the quality of the team does go down several notches. Without Igor Shesterkin, Adam Fox, Adam Edstrom, and even though Matt Rempe has returned, he’s still nursing his left thumb after hurting it in the fight with Ryan Reaves.

That means Rempe can’t be his extreme physical self, and he can’t drop the gloves to tussle with the opposition’s best battler. That’s why Sam Carrick has taken it upon himself to handle those duties until Rempe is back at 100%.

Drury’s letter to the fans

Chris Drury is now feeling the heat from the fans, and he put out a letter on social media and all channels to inform them of what changes he is looking to make.

Goaltending has become questionable

With Shesterkin out, the reliable backup Jonathan Quick, who has won three Stanley Cups with the Los Angeles Kings and Vegas Golden Knights, has been a fantastic player, and he will go to the Hockey Hall of Fame, but at the age of 40, it’s plain to see that he is not that goaltender anymore. The last time he was able to ride the wave when Shesterkin was injured was two seasons ago. He doesn’t have it anymore.

While Spencer Martin has been used in relief in two of the last three games, the truth is Dylan Garand is not ready to make the jump, and Louie Domingue left for the KHL in the offseason. That protection in goal for Shesterkin and the Rangers is gone. Next season’s preseason should be about who will replace Jonathan Quick as the full-time backup to Shesterkin, or whether they will go to free agency.

Drury talked to the leadership group on the team

Drury has also spoken to the players’ leadership group individually about the season. What he is trying to do is make the changes possible, and what he is looking for is for them to stay the course. He may find a trade partner if these players remove their no-trade clause, but as of now, the red light is on, and it’s not signalling a goal has been scored.

Rumors of Panarin not getting an extension

Through multiple reports, the Rangers have spoken to Artemi Panarin as he will not get a new extension to remain on Broadway. That would mean the club is looking to trade him at the deadline, or if not, then he goes on the market as a free agent at the end of the season.

Drury is over his head

This situation is all on the plate of the President and General Manager, Chris Drury. After the firing of David Quinn at the end of the COVID seasons, hiring and firing Gerard Galant for two seasons, hiring and firing Peter Laviolette after two seasons, and now hiring Mike Sullivan, and we don’t know if he will have a second season after this one, it has been a recipe for disaster.

Since Sullivan won his two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins, with the likes of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Chris Letang, and Marc-Andre Fleury, he has done absolutely nothing since the back-to-back years of 2016 and 2017. His last playoff win was the final game of the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals, and he hasn’t been back since.

The trades of Chris Kreider and Jacob Trouba were warranted; the issues have been the return of value for those players, along with the other two trades he should’ve made to keep the Rangers as a Stanley Cup-contending team, which are his downfalls and further proof of why it’s time for the Chris Drury era to end.

One season, become a Stanley Cup contender, the next an ultimate failure, the new season breaks records, then all of a sudden, last season, create drama from within the organization and have the team go into a complete collapse and miss the playoffs. Now win on the road, lose at home, and then get demolished in the last two of three in Boston and at home against Ottawa.

The fans have had enough right now, and the truth is, does Drury know what he’s doing under pressure as the Olympic Break and the trading deadline are fast approaching? Even though James Dolan said on WFAN that he has full confidence and belief in Drury, the way they have played these last five games after the Winter Classic has been abysmal. They have been outscored 30 to 12.

Only earning one point out of the last five games, and when they had that great start against the Kraken, they turtled in the second period, and then lost it in the third. That comeback was led by former Rangers, Kappo Kakko & Ryan Lindgren. Something needs to happen and happen fast. This weekend, they start in the afternoon in Philadelphia, before their three-game California road trip.

Then return to the Garden for a home game against the Bruins, a home-and-home back-to-back against the Islanders, then a trip to Pittsburgh before coming home to play the Hurricanes, then the Olympic break begins.

If I were Dolan, I wouldn’t wait for the Olympic break to end and have Drury make any moves. Drury has been over his head for these two to three seasons, and by sheer luck, the Rangers haven’t had any major issues until last season. Drury should be issued his walking paper right away. If he does remain till the end of the season, send him out then as well. It’s time for a new voice at the GM position and to calm the waters to get back to real Rangers hockey, not this hot temperamental mess.

New York Rangers News:

• Disgraceful Performance by the Rangers at MSG against the Senators
• Rangers with a Good Start, Bent in the middle, Lost it late as they fall to the Kraken
• The Rangers Get Destroyed by The Bruins After Scoring First

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