Did Drury’s Open Market Comments Doom the Season?

The New York Rangers have found themselves in a situation that mirrors the heart of the rebuild era. After dropping five of their last six games, Rangers hopefuls and hockey fans in general are scratching their heads at what is happening in the Big Apple. 

Despite getting back on track against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday afternoon, they still have a long way to go to make up ground. This is because one victory is not going to make a dent in the past two weeks of turmoil.

This roster is in disarray, fans are in disbelief and tensions have started to rise throughout the organization.  This all comes after the West Coast road trip in which the Blueshirts split the four matchups. General Manager Chris Drury had his plans leaked to the public about certain veteran players that may be on the tradeblock, and it has snowballed into a complete trainwreck. 

Complete Disaster 

To say that the past two weeks have been a complete disaster is an understatement. All momentum gained from the first dozen or so games has now been exhausted and this team has hit an all-time low. This squad has never been under a microscope quite like this. 

The Rangers have lost five straight games, and these games weren’t even close. Each game followed the same script, horrifying first period, and the inability to catch up the rest of the game. All areas of the ice have been lacking, and it doesn’t seem to be getting any better. 

How Do They Pick Up the Pieces

One shift at a time, one period at a time, and one game at a time. To pick up the shattered dreams of this Rangers team, it’s gonna take some time and effort to get back in shape. At this point, Drury's comments on trading away key pieces like Chris Kreider and Jacob Trouba should just be the smokescreen to offload another talent.

For instance, why not completely trade away the second defensive pairing of Ryan Lindgren and Trouba? Yes, the defense is a mess as it is, but in all actuality, this pairing is at the heart of the disappointment. In this situation, it may be best to try and find suitors for both, despite the Captain's best effort to win back this locker room with a center ice beatdown in the matinee against Montreal.

Up next is the New Jersey Devils, in the first Hudson River Rivalry game of the 2024-25 season. Getting back on track continues versus a tough and talented Devils squad that is currently just seven points ahead of the blueshirts.

If Rangers continue to struggle, was Drury's comments to blame for the faltering season?