Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury is entering his fifth season confidently, having secured a new extension.
The analysis covers his first four seasons, providing grades for each one.
2021-22 season
Big movements
- Traded F Sammy Blais and F Pavel Buchnevich to the Blues for a second-round pick in 2022.
- Blais was traded to St. Louis on February 9, 2023, after playing 54 games.
- Signed Fryan Reaves to a one-year, $1.75 million deal before trading him to the Golden Knights for a third-round pick in 2022.
- Reaves was traded on November 23, 2022.
- Acquired Barclay Goodrow from the Lightning for a seventh-round pick in 2022, then signed him to a six-year, $2.185 million contract.
- Goodrow was later traded to avoid his non-trade list on June 18, 2024.
Small movements
- Traded RHD Nick DeSimone and F Brett Howden to the Golden Knights for a fourth-round pick in 2022.
Deadline trades
- Acquired Frank Vatrano from the Panthers for a fourth-round pick in 2022.
- Acquired F Tyler Motte from Canucks for a fourth-round pick in 2023.
- Acquired Justin Braun from Flyers for a third-round pick in 2023.
- Traded F Andrew Copp for F Morgan Barron and multiple picks in 2023 and 2022.
Free agency signings
- Signed LHD Patrik Nemeth to a three-year, $7.5 million contract.
- Signed LHD Jarred Tinordi to a two-year, $1.8 million deal.
- Signed F Dryden Hunt to a two-year, $1.525 million contract.
- Signed F Greg McKegg to a one-year, $750,000 deal.
In-house movements
- LHD Ryan Lindgren re-signed for three years at $9 million.
- Filip Chytil re-signed for two years at $4.6 million.
- G Igor Shesterkin re-signed for four years at $22.667 million.
- RHD Adam Fox signed a seven-year contract worth $66.5 million.
- C Mika Zibanejad signed an eight-year, $68 million extension.
Season results
Lost in Game 6 of the Conference Finals to the Lightning.
Grade: B
2022-23 season
Big movements
- Traded G Alexandar Georgiev to the Avalanche for two third-round picks and a fifth-round pick in 2022.
Small movements
- Traded RHD Nils Lundkvist to the Stars for first-round picks in 2023 and 2025.
- Traded D Patrik Nemeth along with two second-round picks to the Coyotes for RHD Ty Emberson.
- Traded F Ryan for a fifth-round pick in 2025.
- Traded F Vitali Kravtsov for Kanuck and F William Lockwood’s seventh-round pick in 2026.
Deadline trades
- Acquired F Vladimir Tarasenko and LHD Niko Mikkola for a conditional first-round pick in 2023 and a conditional third-round pick in 2024.
- Acquired F Tyler Motte from Senators for a seventh-round pick in 2023.
- Traded for F Patrick Kane and LHD Cooper Zech from Blackhawks for multiple conditional picks.
Free agency signings
- Signed C Vincent Trocheck for seven years at $39.375 million.
- Signed G Jaroslav Halak for one year at $1.5 million.
- Signed G Louis Domingue for two years at $1.55 million.
- Signed F Ryan Carpenter for one year at $750,000.
In-house movements
- F Kaapo Kakko re-signed for two years at $4.2 million.
- Julian Gauthier re-signed for one year at $800,000.
- Vitali Kravtsov re-signed for one year at $875,000.
- LHD Libor Hajek re-signed for one year at $800,000.
- F Sammy Blais re-signed for one year at $1.525 billion.
- F Jimmy Vesey signed for two years at $1.6 million.
- Filip Chytil extended to $17.75 million over four years.
Season results
Lost in Game 7 of the first round to the Devils.
Grade: C-
2023-24 season
Deadline trades
- Acquired F Jack Roslovic from the Blue Jackets for a sixth-round pick in 2026.
- Acquired C Alex Wennberg from the Kraken for a fourth-round pick in 2024.
- Acquired RHD Chad Ruwedel from the Penguins for a fourth-round pick in 2027.
Free agency signings
- Signed G Jonathan Quick to a one-year, $825,000 contract.
- Signed F Blake Wheeler to a one-year, $800,000 contract.
- Signed LHD Erik Gustafsson to a one-year, $825,000 contract.
- Signed C Nick Bonino for one year at $800,000.
- F Tyler Pitlick signed a one-year, $775,000 contract.
In-house movements
- F Alexis Lafrenière re-signed for two years at $4.56 million.
- LHD Zac Jones re-signed for two years at $16.26 million.
- LHD K’Andre Miller re-signed for two years at $77.44 million.
- F Jonny Brodzinski extended for two years at $1.575 million.
Season results
Lost in Game 6 of the Conference Finals to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Panthers.
Grade: B+
2024-25 Season
Big movements
- Traded RHD Jacob Trouba for LHD Urho Vaakanainen and a fourth-round pick in 2025.
- Traded F Kaapo Kakko to Seattle for RHD Will Borgen and multiple picks.
Small movements
- Acquired Frey Smith from the Penguins for second and third round picks in 2025.
- Traded Frey Smith to the Golden Knights for additional picks.
Deadline trades
- Traded Filip Chytil and RHD Victor Mancini for multiple conditional picks.
- Acquired Juuso Parssinen and LHD Calvin de Haan for additional picks.
- Acquired Carson Soucy from the Canucks for a third-round pick in 2025.
Free agency signings
- Signed C Sam Carrick for three years at $3 million.
In-house movements
- F Kaapo Kakko re-signed for one year at $2.4 million.
- RHD Braden Schneider re-signed for two years at $4.4 million.
- LHD Ryan Lindgren re-signed for one year at $4.5 million.
- G Igor Shesterkin extended to eight years at $92 million.
- Extended RHD to five years at $20 million.
- LHD Urho Vaakanainen extended to $3.1 million for two years.
- G Jonathan remains on a one-year, $1.55 million deal.
- F Alexis Lafrenière expanded to $52.15 million for seven years.
Season results
Finished fifth in the Metropolitan Division with 85 points, missing the playoffs.
Grade: D-
