New York Rangers GM Chris Drury reveals inside scoop of issues he faced during free agency
Photo credit: New York Post
The New York Rangers retool continues for another week as GM Chris Drury has told reporters that the offseason has been "busy and exciting." Has it been that way, according to the fans? Are they really prepared for 2025-26, as the team has traded away K'Andre Miller, and Chris Kreider?
The New York Rangers' offseason has been "busy and exciting," according to GM Chris Drury.
The Rangers' offseason was primed to be an event that should've set the Rangers on the right path; however, from an outsider's perspective, it's difficult to see if that's how it truly played out.
GM Chris Drury believed that the team made the right moves prior to beginning the 2025-26 season.
He'd acquire forward Trey Fix-Wolansky from the Cleveland Monsters, defenseman Derick Pouliot, and forward Taylor Raddysh, along with re-signing Will Cuylle. Justin Dowling would be a depth signing during free agency as well.
They'd ship Chris Kreider to Anaheim and K'Andre Miller to Carolina. Anaheim wouldn't require Drury to retain any of Kreider's salary, as more or less the he was a salary dump, and Drury would find a way to gain talent and picks out of the deal all the while.
K'Andre Miller would be involved in a sign-and-trade in a move that gave the RFA the kind of contract he wanted and a fresh start. While this is a disappointing prospect for fans of Miller, who'd hoped he'd be a Bueshirt for life, this could've been the best option all along for both parties.
The Rangers would receive Scott Morrow and a 1st and 2nd round pick in return. Not too shabby.
Drury would explain how well he thought free agency went:
«It's not always the easiest thing to do,» Drury said about trading Kreider. I could tell you that Chris himself and his agent were terrific to deal with in trying to figure out a solution here A big piece of it was salary cap. There's only so much to go around in trying to figure out the pieces that fit under the cap as we tried to rework the roster.»
While the team freed up cap space and traded away their longest-tenured player, it's difficult to see the long-term vision with all of the depth moves while neglecting the top-six forward position.
The Rangers would sign defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov to a long-term deal, a $49 million deal for the next seven years. Likely the most exciting contract signing thus far.
The team would keep Will Cuylle, too, signing him at a $3.9 million AAV deal, over the next two years.
The team would draft Erie Otters forward Malcolm Spence in the 2nd-round of the 2025 NHL Draft. He is poised to be a future leader in the Rangers locker room, and could be an immediate impact player once he arrives in MSG.
For now, though the "exciting" part is doubtful, as Drury has neglected the top-six role in New York.
For now, it seems as if he plans on running it back, a terrifying prospect for an underachieving team.
Previously on NYRangersInsider
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 3 | 808 ANSWERS New York Rangers GM Chris Drury reveals inside scoop of issues he faced during free agency Do you think GM Chris Drury and the New York Rangers had a "busy and exciting" offseason? | ||
| Yes | 469 | 58 % |
| No | 339 | 42 % |
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