Chris Drury

by J. Scott Moore


Chris Drury is about to be on the UFA market.

Discuss.

I'll get us started.  I kinda feel sorry for Chris Drury.  He's a decent top six guy that has been thrust into No. 1 line expectations.  He's a character guy that's had Mark Messier expectations of leadership put on him.  And now he's unemployed. Reports say the Rangers will buy out his remaining year, a cap hit of $7.05M.  He's not going to be a captain for his next gig and he sure as hell ain't gonna be pulling down as much green.  It's a tough fall from the pedestal he's been on since his rookie year in the NHL.

Then again, Drury is as guilty of allowing himself to be placed on high as all the hyperbole-laden fans and media that have told us how supremely talented he is.  What an amazing leader he is.  He's chased the money every chance he has had.  And that is bound to have some repercussions.

I do believe Drury is a good hockey player and a natural leader.  But he's never come close to the scoring expectations that his salary demands, and yes, that salary demands goals.  Only big scorers and top goalies get that kind of money.  As for the leadership, I have no doubt he was captain material for the right team.  The Rangers just weren't that team.  I doubt he will get another chance.  Drury will have to make that tough transition into the 'veteran leader' role.  He'll take a huge cut in pay (though NY will still be sending checks), hope to get on with a team that has playoff potential and pine for one more chance to play for the Cup.

 

Five for Fighting Monday - Adam Deadmarsh

Adam Deadmarsh edition.
Ah, another short work week, for most of us. So just remember, never underestimate the short ones, they just want to make you pay all the more, so in the words of Sammy Hagar: "Watch the left, watch the right, below the belt!"
The Avs paid tribute to Deader this weekend and he was admitted into the alumni association. Fantastic to see the Avalanche begin this process of honoring their past players.
Well, I thought I would post two videos here, the first is a bit of a downer, but I think it's important because I really think that Ed Jovanovski's KO of Deader was the beginning of the end for Adam.

Deader was out with a concussion after that fight. But he wasn't through with Jovanovski. Two months later Adam had his revenge. Jovanovski knocking out Deader is just another in a long list of reasons I do not like those damn Canucks. Deadmarsh had only 5 more fights the rest of his career and the continued concussion problems eventually led to his retirement.

Did you know Deader had a fight with Lappy as well as Ryan Smyth? Well I think that explains some of the off-season moves we saw this team make!!!
Deader was also the first of what has become a parade of prominent #18's to be traded away by the Avs. The others were Drury and Tanguay.
More trivia: ADAM DEADMARSH was misspelled as ADAM DEADMARCH. It was later corrected - a Stanley Cup first.

Chris Drury Watch - Or Captain Clutch Choke

Did someone forget to tell Chris Drury that it was game seven of the playoffs?
Where was "the greatest clutch player of all-time" last night?
He had the entire third period to make the Caps fans sit down and grumble about how they had been victimized by "the greatest clutch player of all-time."
"The greatest clutch player of all-time." Those aren't my words. Those are the words uttered by wide-eyed Colorado Avalanche fans and awe-struck Denver sports reporters and they are paired with the following 99.99% of the time: "Worst trade in Avalanche history."
Those two proclamations go together like pizza and beer.
So...where was Captain Clutch last night? In the series for that matter?
One goal, and no helpers the whole series.
In Game 5 Drury was on the ice for 3 of the Caps 4 goals. What's more disturbing is that he only played 7:21 of that game.
Seven minutes? The captain of the team played seven minutes in an elimination game?
One of those goals was Alex Ovechkin's highlight-reel goal of the series where he makes fools of two former Avs, Drury and Derek Morris, swerving wildly over the blue line, the puck sticking to Ovechkin like it's held in his sphere by gravity. But, to be fair, Ugly-Oh! does that to a lot of players.
Speaking of fair, let's get something straight here, I'm not bashing on Drury in this post, not strictly speaking. I do think he is overpaid vs. his performance over the last couple years. But he went for the money after a good year in Buffalo, and who can blame him?
I'm really bashing all the Denver fans and sports reporters that are still gushing over "the greatest clutch player of all-time" and bemoaning the "worst trade in Avalanche history."
People in this town have a very skewed view of Drury. He is often sited as the savior of the Avs, if only the management would bring him back. Every trade deadline, every July 1st his name is dutiful trotted out by the faithful to champion the Avs back to the playoffs and beyond.
Thbpthbpthbp!
Drury didn't take Calgary to the playoffs. He didn't bring Buffalo a Cup. He isn't lighting up New York and he isn't going to save the Avalanche.
Get over it already, it's been 7 years!!!

Posted by: From the Point