The New York Rangers are expected to promote one of their former players.
Chris Drury will be named the team’s next assistant general manager, according to ESPN.com’s Joe McDonald.
The 40-year-old spent four years with the Rangers between 2007 and 2011 before being bought out by the club.
Update: The Rangers made the news official a few hours later.
OFFICIAL: #NYR have promoted Chris Drury to Assistant General Manager.
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) September 2, 2016
Press Release: https://t.co/bsG4hm0vTV pic.twitter.com/iKa1X98LDc
Drury played 892 games with Colorado, Calgary, Buffalo and New York. He scored 255 goals and 615 points throughout his career.
After he retired in 2015, the Rangers named Drury their director of player development.
Chris Drury is one of nine active Assistant/Associate General Managers in the NHL who are 40 years old or younger.
— NYR Stats & Info (@NYRStatsInfo) September 2, 2016
“Chris has become an extremely important and valuable member of our management team since joining us last year,” Gorton said, per a team release. “He’s come in with the same qualities we all know he had as a player — great work ethic, passion and dedication. I have a tremendous amount of respect for him, with everything he’s accomplished in the game and feel very fortunate to have him working with us in this role.”
Drury was one of the people that helped the Rangers land top free agent prospect Jimmy Vesey, but the plan to promote him began long before the Vesey signing.
For those wondering about Drury being named assistant GM for the Rangers, this process began well before Vesey signed with the team.
— Joe McDonald (@JoeyMacHockey) September 2, 2016