Buying Out Drury (Updated)
Update, 11:33 a.m.:One additional thought on Drury. I do think that if the Rangers are lucky enough to make the playoffs he could play a valuable role similar to the Olympics last year. Can't underestimate the value of experience in the playoffs.
Original Post:
Dave Shapiro over at Blueshirt Banter gives us the run down of what it will cost to buy out Chris Drury...
"Buying out Drury during the summer of 2011 would result in a $3.7 million cap hit for the 2011-2012 season (saving the Rangers $3.35 million in cap space), and a $1.67 million cap hit for the 2012-2013 season, a season where Drury's initial contract would have expired. The $3.35 million in cap space saved goes a long way, especially considering Wade Redden and his $6.5 million cap hit will be on the summer cap. During a summer when the Rangers will look to sign Brad Richards, every dollar in cap space is important."
...i think last night might have been Drury's last chance to prove he can still play and he failed miserably. It was so bad for him a CT Whale callup took his spot on a line with Boyle & Prust.
...Jesse Spector over at the Daily News has talked recently about how important Drury is in the locker room, but I think the Rangers have enough young leaders (Cally, Dubi & Staal) to make up for the loss of Drury.
...sure he's great on the pk and can block shots, but so is almost everyone on the team.
...while the Rangers would take a cap hit for an extra year if they were to buy out Drury, I think it may be worth it.
...thoughts?
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Yeah, unfortunetly, I am not in the keeping Drury camp. I think he's never had a set role on this team and is reduced to a 4th liner. A 7 million dollar 4th liner. I like his demeanor and lead by example style, but as captain he has to be prepared to answer for his team and not say " ask the PP guys." Its still his team. However, I think he would be invaluable during the playoffs, and you have to wonder if we keep him for this season and then bag him.
Usually the captain of a team is a semi-focal point or very much in the mix. Dru seems to be an afterthought and when he missed the start of the season we seemed to have turned the page and have christened, rightfully, the Callahan's and Dubinsky's as the future leaders. I do not think this is simply due to his playing on the 4th line. For the most part, Torts has demonstarted that if you play well, your time increases. Dru has not done anything to deserve that type of recognition.
A tad more worrisoe was his comment to one of the NY writers (Carp or Gross) earlier this week when asked about the failing powerplay. Apparently he responded to ask the 10 guys who are on the powerplay as he is not on it. As the writer said, "This is our captain." Beyond his poor play, Dru lost m,y confidence with that statement. A captain is not supposed to react i such a way...he is supposed to be a leader and speak on behalf of the team.
@skev303 @CraiginCanada In his January 16th post-game notes Carp says he heard from other reporters that when asked about the power play Drury said (and Carp paraphrased here), 'I don't play the power play. There are 10 other guys in this room who do. Ask them.' Carp then says, 'This s the captain.'
Second hand info but Carp is usually reliable, IMHO.
@CraiginCanada Wow I never saw that interview! If true then I too have lost all interest in Drury staying on past the current injury problems. Maybe he knows he is on the way out hence the attitude?
im a fan of drury, not of his contract but the type of player he is. but after seeing what we have depth wise in hartford you have to wonder where i will fit in next year. i think if he cap hit was somewhere around 1-2 million hed be on the roster and team next year but its not and in a salary cap league and the talent and youth we have coming through our system you have to figure he is going to be the odd man out next year, to be honest same might go for avery and christiansen. only thing working in christiansens favor is the low cap it.
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I think a buyout of Drury's contract would be good after the season is over. He clearly isn't what he used to be. But we need for the rest of the season, as half the team is on ir.
they benefit inasmuch as they see him play, he sucks, and they're like, "Oh I can do that, and prolly better," and then he gets relegated to the 4th line again. so i guess he's a confidence booster.
as for the intangibles he brings in the locker room, obviously we're not privy to that. but, as far as im concerned, that card gets played way too goddamn often for somebody who's annual salary approaches a fifth of the cap.
@Billy_Beeman Exactly. I mean, if you base leadership on "leading by example" this team would be in last place if the Captain's players played like him. What he does in the locker room no one knows. All the leadership comes from Hank, Callahan and Dubinsky. Someone on another blog equated Drury's post game video interviews to an interned POW video.
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We need Dru right now, out of shear numbers if anything, yeah he's not the offensive player he was but I'm sure all the kids & AHL'ers coming up from the Whale benefit from having Drury around.
wow, sounds pretty reasonable considering Drury is miserable. wouldn't even consider him to be more than adequate on the PK too.
Truth is, we are less screwed now that Rozsival's contract is off the books. Its not signing FA's that worries me, its the ability to resign our own guys. Dubinsky and Callahan (despite injuries this season) are due big raises, and a lot of young guys contracts are set to kick in. You have to wonder if buying out Drury would set us, and would it be more or less than a 7mil 4th liner?
Oh, and did you see Torts' post game after the 7-0 win when someone asked him about Drury? Please go back and listen to what he had to say. Something about Drury having a new role on the team etc. I feel like every season he's been on the team it's been a "new role" scenario. Dude, create your own roll. Not even the coach knows what to do with him. Ok, we know everyone respects Drury so I don't think he'll ever be called out but... he's basically role-less and has been for some time.
He won't be missed. I guess I don't mind him in the lineup but there's no way he should be making that kinda money. Obviously I can't speak on his locker room presence but he looks so lost out there. Gauge his play, drive and effort if he wasn't "Chris Drury." Where does it put him? Nowhere.
I don't mind chris in the lineup as much as I mind his salary. Kind of how Gomez is for the habs- hes not playing a good standard of hockey when his contract pretty much demands it. I do think his leadership is important, you need some veteran experience in the room, but when you don't help offensively and you hurt the team with your play- it doesn't matter who you are, you become a negative factor for the team. Torts always said nobody is safe from losing a roster spot- let's see if he holds that up with the captain.
I think he is a plus on penalty killing and face offs. Keep him at least till Calahan gets back
@aronmantoo He'll be here for the remainder of the year (probably in the press box), but this offseason he may be gone. If the Rangers can hold on to make the playoffs he may become valuable again.
Hate to say it, but Drury is a waste of a roster spot. Don't see any contribution from Dru in any department. For sure he'll be the odd man out when players return from IR. I believe Rangers will buy him out at season end. Or maybe he'll waive his NMC and agree to play in the AHL. Either way, he won't be wearing a Rangers jersey beyond this season.
@KCinMN98 With Drury being a Ranegr fan growing up I would have loved to have seen this work. And the first two years it did. But he has lost his game real quick here.
