The New York Rangers "core" players have officially responded to Chris Drury's decision of a retool
Photo credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Several members of the New York Rangers organization's "core" have officially responded to Chris Drury's latest retool memo, and the outcome is shocking.
After weeks of fans begging for honesty, Drury finally put it in writing, the Rangers are retooling, and they plan to be active in reshaping the roster. The public letter followed meetings with the leadership group and the full room.
That «retool, not rebuild» line matters because it tells the locker room the window is still supposed to be open. It also tells the fanbase the front office believes the foundation is worth protecting.
Now we get the first hint of how the core received it. Vince Z. Mercogliano reported that the non-Artemi Panarin players with no-move clauses, Adam Fox, Vladislav Gavrikov, J.T. Miller, Igor Shesterkin, and Mika Zibanejad, sounded on board and expressed they want to be here, per source.
"Other players with no-movement clauses were asked how they feel about the "retool" plan and whether they'd be open to sticking around for it or would rather go elsewhere. Dialogue has begun for any who may be willing to waive, according to two sources...
For now, the non-Panarin guys with NMCs -- Fox, Gavrikov, Miller, Shesterkin and Zibanejad -- sound like they're on board and expressed that they want to be here, according to a source. #NYR"
For now, the non-Panarin guys with NMCs -- Fox, Gavrikov, Miller, Shesterkin and Zibanejad -- sound like they're on board and expressed that they want to be here, according to a source. #NYR"
That is not a small thing, because no-move clauses are power. If those guys aren't bought in, a retool becomes a forced rebuild overnight, and everyone knows it.
New York Rangers buy into Chris Drury's retool
Personally, I can live with the upcoming changes, but I need the stars to lean into it too.
Hearing that Fox and Shesterkin want to stay gives Drury something every retool needs, a stable spine. You can rotate wingers, chase picks, or clear cap, but you cannot fake a No. 1 defenseman and a franchise goalie.
It also puts pressure on the next moves to be coherent. If the core is saying «we're in,» the supporting cast has to match their tempo, their detail, and their hunger, or the same problems just repeat in new jerseys.
The hard truth is, Drury's letter also warned fans that some favourites could be gone. A retool still means goodbyes, as we all know the Rangers organization will not be offering Artemi Panairn a contract extension and that a trade is in the works.
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Previously on NY Hockey Insider