Ex-NHLer makes his feelings clear on Rangers' apparent dislike for GM Chris Drury after recent moves

The New York Rangers, once seen as Stanley Cup contenders after winning the Presidents' Trophy, are now having a rough season with a 17-19-1 record. This has raised concerns about the team’s leadership and the decisions made by general manager Chris Drury.

A retired NHL player, speaking anonymously in an ESPN column, said he couldn’t understand why the Rangers were struggling. He noted the team had the same core of players who had a strong performance last year. Despite a good start this season, the Rangers began losing games in a worrying way, showing a lack of effort.

"They had a pretty good start to this season, and then they went on this run where they're losing games. ...lack of urgency, effort, compete," the former NHL player said.

The player also discussed the rumors about Drury and the team's reaction to him. Drury’s recent decisions, like waiving Barclay Goodrow and trading captain Jacob Trouba, have caused some tension. The Rangers, with top players like Igor Shesterkin and Adam Fox, are struggling to perform.

However, the former NHLer said players should not let management issues affect their play on the ice.

"I've heard all these rumors about Chris Drury and the room," he said. "As a player, you don't start pointing fingers at your GM at all... Things happen. Guys get traded. Best friends get traded. You can disagree with maybe how things are handled at times, but at the end of the day, you're the one going on the ice."

They’ve faced tough losses to teams like the New Jersey Devils (5-0), Tampa Bay Lightning (6-2) and Florida Panthers (5-3). Their performance has been inconsistent, with issues in both offense and defense.

Areas of improvement for the New York Rangers

The New York Rangers are struggling this season, ranking seventh in the Metropolitan Division led by the Washington Capitals with 18 more points. They average 2.78 goals per game but allow 3.08, ranking 18th in goals against. Their power play is at 17.8%, ranking 23rd in the league.

On the positive side, New York's penalty kill is strong, sitting at 84.9%. Artemi Panarin leads the team with 39 points, including 16 goals, while Adam Fox has 27 assists. Still, the team's top scorer, Panarin, is 22 points below Nathan Mackinnon, the league leader in points with 61.

Despite the recent changes, New York has failed to regain its earlier form. With its current struggles and playoff hopes dwindling, the team is at a turning point, and changes are needed to get back on track.