With the news of Chris Drury being out for six weeks, I took a little time to think about how this could help the Rangers. This is not intended to be a Chris Drury bash-fest but it is hard for it not to be one. Drury has 4 assists in 23 games this year. This, by far, is his career low in points per game. He just was not producing even for a guy that we weren't expecting much out of this season. Even I didn't think it was going to be this bad. The Rangers have 11 wins and 12 losses(including shootouts) with Drury in the lineup.

     Do you remember how well Dubinsky, Anisimov, Callahan as well as others stepped up their game when Drury and Gaborik were out earlier this season? I see them doing the same with the Captain out again. I think with some of the young players, they get that "oh crap" feeling when a key player or captain goes down, and then start showing what they can really do when they feel that the odds are against them. With Fedotenko not returning for another few weeks, the Rangers know they are going to have to prove that they can win without so-called Veteran leadership. Yes they have Prospal as the elder statesman in the locker room, but other than that they are a very young club where Vets are needed to help groom the youngsters.

Finally, Drury's Injury will free up a spot for Fedotenko when he returns. I also think that this injury makes him more likely to be bought-out this offseason. I do not see why the Rangers would want a 5th line caliber Center that isn't getting any younger and that seems to be injury-prone. The Rangers need the cap space to resign vital players such as Callahan, Dubi, Boyle and so on. They could also go after a much needed number 1 center. If he is bought out, and that is a pretty big if, that frees up a spot for this guy Chris Kreider, if any of you have heard of him, to have a shot at making this team next year.

If anyone was going to defend Drury as to him being clutch in playoff time, you mean this guy that is clutch AGAINST the Rangers but shows nothing when he is playing for them?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BNJgBk43h8