Notice how Chris Drury's name isn't in there? While there is no doubting that he can block shots, kill penalties and score clutch goals here and there, there is a lot of debate in Rangerland whether the long-term contract he signed back in the summer of 2007 was really worth it for the Blueshirts.
Without captain Drury this season, the Rangers have done just fine in terms of record and even on the penalty kill as well. Not only that, but other leaders have emerged for club in the form of youngsters Brandon Dubinsky and Ryan Callahan.
In Drury's absence, both Dubinsky (12-7-19) and Callahan (5-12-17) have contributed offensively, defensively, on special teams and in the club's locker room. They both lead by example and when Gaborik was out of the lineup, they led offensively.
Obviously when Drury returns, he will be the captain. With that said, however, which line does he fit on? We know that he will probably be on the top penalty killing unit for the team as well as play on the power play. However, where does he fit when it comes to even strength?
This is something that team head coach John Tortorella will have to figure out within the next couple of weeks. As a head coach, you certainly do not want to mess with any chemistry that one particular line may have. At the same time, however, you also do not want to alienate your team captain.
Only time will tell where Drury fits with this Rangers club.
Photo credit: Getty Images
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2 comments:
this is a pretty simple solution. move boyle back to the fourth line, scratch and/or waive christensen and insert drury into the third line.
While Brian Leetch is my favorite player of all time and the best Ranger player ever, why is he on the list of great captains? The captaincy was a burden for him and the seasons he was captain were his worst. Why isn't Jagr on that list-- his captaincy was as long as Leetch's and much more successful.
There is no debate in Rangerland whether or not Drury's contract was worth it for the Rangers. It most certainly is not. Way too much money for too long with the added problem of his no movement clause. There is debate however over whether or not Drury is an asset to the team given its current makeup. With Stepan playing well on the first line you can say he brings more on the 4th line than Christensen. So his spot seems to be 4th line center with Christensen taking a seat (or 4th line winger if Boogaard is the healthy scratch). Everyone on the third line has been playing too well to bump anyone down, and there is no way Drury is a top 6 player at this point when everyone is healthy. He'd still get plenty of PK time and perhaps some PP time.
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