Rangers want to buy out Chris Drury, but injury could complicate deal; Jaromir J
The Rangers still would like to cut ties with Chris Drury during the NHL’s buyout window that opens Saturday and runs through June 30. That they might not be able to do so throws a hitch into their offseason plans, but does not derail them.
The 34-year-old Drury may not be able to resume his career next season due to the chronic knee problem that required surgery in February, keeping him out until the captain returned for the regular-season finale and playoffs. A player cannot be bought out if he is injured, meaning that the Rangers could be stuck with Drury until he is put on long-term injured reserve in September to gain $7.05 million on the cap. Drury’s agent did not return phone calls Friday night.
With Wade Redden’s albatross pact coming back on the summer cap, the Blueshirts could be stuck with $13.55 million in dead weight as they try to make upgrades. A source told the Daily News that a buyout of Wojtek Wolski – which would save $3,333,333, just as with Drury – is a “possibility.” Regardless, there is still room to maneuver.
Including Drury, Redden and Wolski, the Rangers should be at approximately $55 million in cap charges once they make qualifying offers to their restricted free agents. Depending where the 2011-12 cap winds up, the Rangers could then have as much as $14 million in free space during the summer, when there is a 10% cap buffer. Some of that will be spent on the restricted free agents’ final deals, but there still would be room for a pursuit of free agent center Brad Richards.
One thing that the Rangers do not figure to do is bring back Jaromir Jagr, who is weighing a return to the NHL.
A source told The News Friday that Jagr’s talks with NHL teams are more than just a ploy to get more money out of the Russian team Avangard Omsk, where he has played three seasons. The source said Jagr likely will wind up with the Canadiens.