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| Bruce Bennett/Getty Images |
It was only an optional for the New York Rangers this
morning, but there was a surprising participant on the ice in the form of team
captain Chris Drury. Drury who has only
played in 23 games this season and produced only four assists is trying to work
his way back from his third injury to cost him significant time this year.
After twice breaking his finger he is now rehabbing from knee surgery and while
many Rangers fans will focus on the salary and the lack of points he produces
for the money they should not discount the things he could add to the team in
the playoffs as a depth forward.
His role for us could be similar to the role he had with
Team USA in the Olympics last year where he was a role player who can add
faceoff skills, strong defensive play and penalty killing to his previous
playoff experience would be a boost to the team. Have to realize that in the playoffs the
bench will get shortened to three lines so having a role player who can do what
Drury can do likely makes him as or more valuable than any of Christensen,
Wolski or Avery, especially depending on the matchup. Drury is not going to add much of anything on
offense, but when every goal is critical in the playoffs preventing them can be
just as important to the team’s success.
While his high will certainly be lower than any of those other three he
is more consistent in what he does well and you need that in the extra season.
