Former NHLer Chris Drury is the new boss of USA Hockey

The veteran forward steps into a new role.

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HockeyFeed
Published 4 years ago
Former NHLer Chris Drury is the new boss of USA Hockey
Zuma Press

This just in, USA Hockey has appointed former NHL forward and current New York Rangers assistant GM Chris Drury as GM of the 2020 United States men's national team.


Read below for the full press release announcement courtesy of NHL.com:

Chris Drury, who played 12 seasons in the NHL and is the assistant general manager of the New York Rangers, was named GM of the 2020 United States men's national team Wednesday.

Drury, who also was United States GM in 2019, will be assisted by an advisory group led by USA Hockey assistant executive director John Vanbiesbrouck and NHL GMs David Poile of the Nashville Predators, Don Waddell of the Carolina Hurricanes, Dale Tallon of the Florida Panthers, Stan Bowman of the Chicago Blackhawks, Jeff Gorton of the Rangers and Bill Guerin of the Minnesota Wild.

"Anytime you have a chance to represent your country on the international stage -- in whatever capacity -- it's truly an honor," Drury said. "We had a terrific team last year, and while we didn't get the result we wanted, I think we're on the cusp of getting to that ultimate goal of winning the gold medal. I'm looking forward to working with the men's national team advisory group in putting together a roster and staff that will represent our country well."

The United States will compete in the 2020 IIHF World Championship in Zurich and Lausanne, Switzerland from May 8-24 coming off a seventh-place finish at the 2019 tournament.

"Chris had an exceptional playing career and is an emerging star as a manager," Vanbiesbrouck said. "We're really pleased to have him back as the general manager of our men's national team, and coupled with our men's national team advisory group, we're fortunate to have what is truly an all-star group engaged in helping us assemble a team that can compete for a gold medal."

Drury, who is also general manager of the Rangers' American Hockey League affiliate Hartford, was part of the management group for the United States in 2016 and 2017 and inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015. A center selected in the third round (No. 72) of the 1994 NHL Draft, Drury had 615 points (255 goals, 360 assists) in 892 games through 12 seasons with the Colorado Avalanche, Calgary Flames, Buffalo Sabres and Rangers. He won the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 2001.

He competed in eight international events for the United States, including the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, 2006 Torino Olympics and 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

Source: NHL.com