Rangers GM Chris Drury Sends a Message-But the Time for Messaging Might Have Passed
Chris Drury has spoken. The New York Rangers president and general manager released a letter to fans outlining the organization’s intention to undergo a “retool”-not a rebuild-as the team finds itself languishing at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings.
On paper, it’s the kind of message that makes sense. The Rangers aren’t close to contending right now, and the logical step is to pivot toward the future by stockpiling young talent and draft capital.
But here’s the thing: this retool didn’t start today. It didn’t start with the letter. It’s been underway for months-maybe longer-which makes the timing of this public declaration feel more like a formality than a turning point.
Let’s rewind.
The First Domino: Goodrow's Exit
Not long after the Rangers captured the Presidents’ Trophy and made a deep run to the Eastern Conference Final in 2024, Drury’s patience with the roster began to wear thin. The first real shakeup came when Barclay Goodrow was suddenly placed on waivers and claimed by the San Jose Sharks-a team that just so happened to be on his 15-team no-trade list.
Goodrow, a respected veteran and assistant captain, was blindsided.
“It was just a surprise,” Goodrow said. “I was never given any inclination or whatever that I wouldn’t be back with the team and that happened.”
That move didn’t sit well in the locker room. Goodrow wasn’t just a role player-he was a glue guy, the kind of presence that holds a room together. His departure sent a message, intentional or not, that no one was safe.
The Trouba Tension
Over the summer, Drury began exploring trade options for team captain Jacob Trouba. The problem?
Trouba had a partial no-trade clause, and the news of those discussions quickly became public. When Trouba showed up at training camp, the tension was hard to ignore.
Then came a rough start to the 2024-25 season, and Drury responded by circulating a league-wide memo making it clear he was open for business. He even name-dropped Trouba and Chris Kreider-two franchise cornerstones-as potential trade chips.
The team spiraled, losing 15 of 19 games between late November and December.
By early December, Trouba had waived his no-trade clause and accepted a move to Anaheim, reportedly under pressure from the front office, with the threat of being placed on waivers looming.
“I wasn't really thrilled with how it went down,” Trouba admitted. “In my opinion, things could have been handled better.
It's unfortunate how it all happened. But it's a rite of passage to get fired from MSG.”
That’s a heavy quote from a former captain. And it underscores the emotional toll this retool has already taken on the locker room.
The Core Gets Dismantled
Trouba wasn’t the only major piece moved. Over the course of the season, Drury traded away Kaapo Kakko, Filip Chytil, Ryan Lindgren, Jimmy Vesey, Reilly Smith, and eventually Kreider-who reunited with Trouba in Anaheim during the offseason. At this point, the Rangers’ core from just two years ago has been thoroughly dismantled.
So when Drury releases a letter now, stating fans may have to “say goodbye to players that have brought us and our fans great moments over the years,” it feels like a statement that’s arriving after the fact. The goodbye tour already happened.
Mixed Messages at the Deadline
What complicates the narrative even further is that Drury hasn’t fully committed to a youth movement. At last year’s trade deadline, he made moves that felt more like patchwork than a plan-trading for J.T.
Miller and Carson Soucy to try and stabilize a crumbling roster. Then came the seven-year, $49 million deal handed to defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov this past summer.
Those aren’t the kind of moves you make if you're tearing it all down. They’re the kind of moves you make when you’re trying to stay competitive while quietly reshaping the roster. That’s not necessarily a bad strategy, but it makes the messaging around a “retool” feel murky.
Who's Actually on the Block?
Drury’s letter made it clear the Rangers aren’t going full rebuild, which raises an important question: who’s actually available?
We already know Artemi Panarin won’t be receiving a contract extension and is expected to be traded to a destination of his choosing. But beyond Panarin, the list of potential trade candidates gets thin.
Vincent Trocheck could be a name to watch. His $5.625 million cap hit is manageable, and he’s under contract through 2029. But there’s no indication a move is imminent.
According to reports, players with no-move clauses-Adam Fox, Gavrikov, Miller, Igor Shesterkin, and Mika Zibanejad-have all been consulted about the retool and expressed a desire to stay in New York. That’s a strong core of high-end talent who seem committed to riding out the transition.
Meanwhile, younger players like Alexis Lafrenière and Braden Schneider have been floated in trade rumors, but their current value doesn’t reflect their full potential. Trading them now would be selling low-something that doesn’t align with the goal of getting younger and building for the future.
The Bottom Line
Drury’s letter may have been well-intentioned, but for many around the team, it feels like a case of too little, too late. The Rangers’ retool is already in motion. The locker room shakeups, the trades, the mixed signals at the deadline-it’s all part of a process that’s been unfolding for months.
Now, the challenge isn’t about defining the plan. It’s about executing it with clarity and consistency.
The Rangers still have elite talent on the roster and a fan base that’s hungry for a return to contention. But if this retool is going to work, it has to be more than just a buzzword in a letter.
It has to be a clear, cohesive strategy that players, fans, and the front office can rally around.
Because the time for messaging is over. The time for action is now.