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Chris Drury committed to competing again while insisting Rangers retool is not a rebuild Havent you heard? This is a retool.
Since the season ended, Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury removed chunks of salary off the books and infused a stale prospect pool with coveted talent and promising upside, all while redesigning the defense corps and adding a young premier scoring threat in the NHL.
While the aggressive nature of the moves was necessary to undo some setbacks, the Rangers have navigated this offseason like a team that intends to compete next season.
In a true rebuild, the three first-round picks Drury shipped off since the start of the offseason would be valued at a premium.My philosophy and our philosophy was if for the right player or players, that are at the right age with the right contract that can help our lineup not just in the year or two but for a number of years down the road it would be worth it, Drury said on a Zoom call Thursday afternoon.
We were also able to acquire at the deadline a first-round pick thats closer to playing, turning pro this year, in Greentree.A little later pick in Battaglia and obviously Cole is a former first-round pick, so we felt we plugged some holes with not only real players to put on our roster that can play key roles, but also added some other picks and actual draft picks and actual prospects in those players I mentioned.
Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury speaks when the team welcomed their new head coach Mike Sullivan on May 8, 2025 at Madison Square Garden Training Center in Greenburgh, N.Y.While they might not make those selections, the Rangers acquired former first-rounders who are much closer to being NHL-ready than any future draft pick likely would be.
Plus, two of three picks are top 10 protected thanks to conditions Drury implemented.
If either of the next two seasons go down the drain again, the Rangers who still have their own firsts in 2027 and 2029 wont be hindered further by missing out on a high pick.Drury turned the Rangers No.
26 pick in last weekends draft and a top 10 protected 2028 first-rounder into 30-plus-goal scorer Pavel Dorofeyev.
He alsoCertainly not going to sit here and say the jobs done and complete and move on, Drury said.Were still tinkering, still looking, and any which way we can help the team between now and Opening Night, were going to keep trying.
NY Rangers 2026 Development Camp Player Alberts Smits when the New York Rangers held their 2026 Development Camp Monday, June 29, 2026 at Madison Square Garden Training Center in Greenburgh, NY.Deflecting a direct question about how the influx of moves impacts Braden Schneiders status, Drury showered the 24-year-old defenseman with praise but wouldnt say whether he would stick around.
Its possible the changes to the blue line open the door for Schneider to remain here in his usual bottom-pair role.
As The Post previously reported, Drury is only looking to trade Schneider if a comparable player/contract is coming back.Drury acknowledged that reshaping the defense corps was a priority this offseason, noting that he worked to add players who would inject puck-moving ability, cleaner zone exits and stronger neutral zone play into the lineup.
, who is heading home to Latvia for a bit before he returns to train in New York later this summer, Drury sounded extremely encouraged by what the big-bodied defenseman could be.Well, theres not too many kids his age drafted who have played in two different mens pro leagues, Olympics, World Championships, Drury said.
Certainly isnt getting in bigger stages than those events he participated in.
Were excited where we got him.
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But with that said, were going to do right by him and the long-term health and well-being of him as a Ranger.This is not a sprint for him.
We hope hes a rock-solid defenseman for the Rangers for the next 15 years.
Were not going to put him in positions or situations that he cant handle.