After weeks of speculation about what would happen with
Chris Drury and the final year of his contract, the speculation ends today as does his New York Rangers career. Larry Brooks at the New
York Post reports the Rangers will officially buy Drury out of the final
season of his five-year, $35.05 million contract and save $3.33 million against
the 2011-12 salary cap. Players with
no-movement clauses have the ability to reject waivers and that is what Drury
did, so he will not be waived today and instead head straight to buyout
process. The Rangers will still carry
$3.7 million against the cap this season and $1.67 million during the 2012-13
season.
Drury sent a statement to the NY Post as well.
"It was a great honor and privilege to be a New York Ranger for the past four years, and I will always be grateful for the opportunity to fulfill that childhood dream. The Rangers are a first-class organization with great people in the hockey, public relations, team services and community relations departments.
"I would also like to thank Ranger fans. They always inspired me to do the best I could in whatever role I was asked to play. Playing before them in the Garden was a thrill of a lifetime. I wish all the fans and the entire Ranger organization the best of luck in the future."
The fact that Drury could never live up to the expectations
of the contract he was given by Glen Sather was not his fault and it is sad to
see it end this way. Due to Drury being bought
out instead of retiring or spending the season on LTIR, he will have the
opportunity to sign with another team and keep his career going. Either way today ends his career with the
Rangers.
