To some, the New York Rangers’ decision on top Veteran’s contract came across as tone-deaf following one of the most disappointing seasons in the team’s history.
However, ESPN hockey insider Greg Wyshynski believes it was a deliberate message from owner James Dolan, signaling his full support for him even after players like Mika Zibanejad publicly voiced frustrations about management’s role in the team’s downfall.
“The fact they did this sends a clear warning to the locker room: ‘Know who’s in charge. Fall in line. And those causing noise will be moved out before next season,’” Wyshynski said on the latest RINK RAP podcast with Forever Blueshirts.
Typically, under Dolan’s ownership, contract extensions for GMs or coaches are kept quiet and not publicly announced. Public statements usually only happen when there’s a major change, such as when Drury replaced Jeff Gorton and John Davidson in 2021, or when Peter Laviolette was recently fired.
Not this time. Instead, the Rangers made it very public, alerting the media and posting on social media about Chris Drury’s contract extension — a clear show of support from James Dolan, who was likely frustrated by players blaming Drury for his aggressive roster moves. Players like Mika Zibanejad, Adam Fox, and Chris Kreider all spoke openly about how Drury’s treatment of respected veterans leaving the team affected the locker room atmosphere.
“My first thought was: Look who won,” Greg Wyshynski said. “If anyone thought the players’ postseason comments — highlighting the organization’s poor communication and the locker room tension caused by Drury’s handling of players like Barclay Goodrow and Jacob Trouba — would make a difference, this announcement makes it clear. You can’t separate the public extension of Drury from what those players said after a season where the team went from Presidents’ Trophy winners to missing the playoffs entirely.”
There’s plenty of blame to go around for the Rangers’ disastrous season. From management to the coaching staff to the players, it was a collective failure. After setting franchise records with 55 wins and 114 points in 2023-24, the Rangers finished this season with 29 fewer points and missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs by six points.
General manager Chris Drury accepted responsibility following the firing of head coach Peter Laviolette. Last summer, Drury attempted to reshape the roster after the team’s Eastern Conference Final loss to the Florida Panthers, navigating a tight salary cap. To free up space, he circumvented Barclay Goodrow’s no-trade clause by putting the two-time Stanley Cup winner on waivers, allowing the San Jose Sharks to claim him through a pre-arranged deal.
Goodrow, however, was given little notice about the move and was reportedly furious, especially since the Sharks were listed on his no-trade list.
Then there was the prolonged saga involving Jacob Trouba, as Drury attempted to trade the team captain last offseason but was blocked by Trouba’s 15-team no-trade clause. The fact that this situation became public caused immediate issues within the locker room from the very start of training camp. The tension lingered until December, when Drury finally moved Trouba to the Anaheim Ducks — but only after threatening to place him on waivers.
“I sympathize with some of the players because there’s a big difference between simply breaking up the team and the way Chris Drury went about it,” Greg Wyshynski explained. “The major issue in the locker room was how Drury tried to strong-arm Trouba over the summer and how everyone knew his time in New York was over — basically undermining him as the captain.”
Rangers may expect more ‘strong-arming’ from Chris Drury this offseason
With it now evident that Drury isn’t leaving and has James Dolan’s full backing, the focus shifts to what will happen with the unhappy players — and how the general manager plans to overhaul the roster during the offseason.
It’s obvious the Rangers are aiming to become a harder, more physical team — both on and off the ice — after a string of lackluster efforts cost them a playoff spot this season. That’s part of the reason they swung a trade for J.T. Miller back in January.
Based on Dolan’s very public backing of Drury, it’s clear that any player who isn’t fully on board with how the team is being managed likely won’t be sticking around with the Rangers. Once again, it feels like Zibanejad could be firmly in the crosshairs, despite the protection of his no-move clause.
Kreider has made it clear he wants to stay with the Rangers, but given that Drury had already included the 33-year-old forward’s name in the notorious November trade memo sent to other NHL teams, it seems likely his time in New York is running out — even with his 15-team no-trade clause.
“They haven’t hesitated to strong-arm veteran players to get their way,” Wyshynski said. “Everything’s on the table … there are plenty of ways to make a player uncomfortable enough to persuade them to waive and help the team clear cap space.”