GM Drury with final hurtful blow to Chris Kreider and tough one for the Rangers’ fans

General manager Chris Drury has been systematically dismantling the core of the New York Rangers, with just three weeks ago, he sent the longest tenured player on the team, Chris Kreider, to the Anaheim Ducks in a salary dump trade. This ended a successful 13-year marriage between the Blue Shirts and Kreider.

On Wednesday, Drury met with media to talk about the different significant changes he made to his roster, not only by moving Kreider, but also about the K’Andre Miller sign and trade to the Carolina Hurricanes and other moves since the opening of free agency, most importantly signing defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov to a seven-year contract worth $49 million. However, reporters wanted to know more about the Kreider move and while explaining the transaction, Drury had some words about Kreider that have to be hard for the veteran forward to hear.

“It’s certainly been a busy and exciting few weeks for the Rangers organization with lots of moving parts.”

Though he then added: “Chris truly is a Rangers’ legend.”

I mean I get why he would say that, fans probably would have been upset if Drury had neglected to speak highly of Kreider, but it also seems tough to hear if you’re the guy who left his city and his closest friend in Mika Zibanejad to end up with a rebuilding club at the other end of the country… Especially after saying that his trade is part of what’s exciting in New York at this time…

Some fans also felt more sad with Drury’s comments, and also got frustrated when the GM was asked about the future of another beloved Ranger in Artemi Panarin and provided an answer that led to the fanbase getting concerned.

Drury wouldn’t comment on if he and Panarin’s camp have started extension talks. Panarin has one year left on his deal, per Peter Baugh.

While fans want to remain hopeful for the future in the Big Apple, it has been a tough couple of years with shocking trades, on-ice struggles and again, missing out on the postseason in 2025.

What’s next?