Rangers GM Drury Tells Fans Team Will Retool Roster

New York Rangers general manager Chris Drury sent a letter to fans on Friday, January 16, laying out plans to retool the team's roster. The move comes as the Rangers sit dead last in the Eastern Conference with a poor record and key injuries holding them back. Drury met with team leaders and the full squad earlier that day to explain the direction.

Background

The Rangers have struggled this season. They hold the fewest points in the East and recently lost six games in a row. Their home record stands at 5-13-4 after an 8-4 defeat to the Ottawa Senators at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday. A 10-2 loss in Boston last weekend added to the woes.

Fans have grown restless. Chants of 'Fire Drury' echoed through the arena during recent home games. The team missed the playoffs last year after winning the Presidents' Trophy the season before that. Drury fired coach Peter Laviolette and brought in Mike Sullivan from the Pittsburgh Penguins last off-season. Results have not turned around.

Injuries have hit hard. Goalie Igor Shesterkin and defenseman Adam Fox, both key pieces, are out right now. The team has allowed more than six goals per game in their recent skid. No one in the organization is happy, from management to players.

Drury knows the history here. He finished his playing days with the Rangers in 2011 and joined the front office in 2015. He took over as president and GM in 2021. Under him, the team reached the Eastern Conference Final twice in the first three years. But this year feels different.

This letter brings back memories of 2018. Back then, team president Glen Sather and GM Jeff Gorton wrote to fans about changes ahead. Weeks later, they traded stars like Rick Nash to the Boston Bruins, captain Ryan McDonagh, and others. That started a youth movement after deep playoff runs in 2012, 2014, and 2015.

Key Details

Drury's letter went out on the team's social media. He spoke directly to the fans' frustration.

"We know and feel your disappointment with how the season has gone to this point. We are just as frustrated and want nothing more than to deliver an on-ice product you can be proud of — it drives us every day."

• Chris Drury, Rangers GM

He laid out the plan clearly. With the standings and injuries, the team must face facts. They will not sit still.

"With our position in the standings and injuries to key players this season, we must be honest and realistic about our situation. We are not going to stand pat — a shift will give us the ability to be smart and opportunistic as we retool the team. This will not be a rebuild. This will be a retool built around our core players and prospects."

• Chris Drury, Rangers GM

The focus will be on players with tenacity, skill, speed, and winning experience. They aim to pick up young talent, draft picks, and cap space for more moves later. That could mean trading away some fan favorites who have given a lot to the team.

"That may mean saying goodbye to players who have brought us and our fans great moments over the years. These players represented the Rangers with pride and class and will always be a part of our family."

• Chris Drury, Rangers GM

Drury held candid talks with the team's leadership group and the full roster on Friday. The Rangers plan to shop players before the March 6 trade deadline. Their minus-21 goal differential shows how far they have fallen.

Recent Performance

The slide has been steep. After the Presidents' Trophy win two years ago, last year's playoff miss led to changes. This season started rough and got worse. Five straight losses before the Senators game capped a home stretch that exposed defensive issues. Sullivan's arrival was meant to fix things, but the goals against keep piling up.

What This Means

A retool shifts the Rangers away from a playoff push this year. Their spot in the standings makes that tough anyway. Instead, they will build flexibility for the future. Core players and prospects stay, but others may go to bring in youth and assets.

Fans face tough goodbyes. Players who wore the sweater with pride could land elsewhere. The organization wants a Stanley Cup, the first since 1994. Past successes fell short of that goal.

Drury ended the letter with thanks and a promise.

"As we start on this new strategic plan, we will continue to play with pride and passion for our fans. We appreciate your unwavering support for the Rangers more than we can describe and thank you for all that you do for our organization. You will begin to see some of our plans come to light in the coming weeks and months."

• Chris Drury, Rangers GM

Eyes now turn to the trade market. Teams looking for help before the deadline may call on New York. Drury's moves will shape the next era. The Rangers play on with heart, even as change looms. Their fans, known for loyalty, will watch closely.