Drury’s Trade Legacy Under Scrutiny

**Corey** (0:00)
It's June 16th. You're listening to New York Rangers News Today, AI-powered coverage of your team. I'm Corey with the story. It's been over five years since the Rangers shipped Pavel Buchnevich to the St. Louis Blues, a move that brought back Sammy Blaze and a draft pick. Now, a former reporter is shedding light on the aftermath, recalling how Buchnevich was visibly upset when the teams met later that season. He was seen looking for the Rangers General Manager, Chris Drury, apparently still fuming about how the trade went down. This incident, according to the reporter, was an early sign that things were changing under Drury's leadership. The Buchnevich trade was Drury's first major move after taking over as GM, and it was met with criticism. Many felt the Rangers never adequately replaced but Nevich's scoring, especially since he went on to have multiple 20 plus goal seasons with the Blues.
Over time, Drury developed a reputation for prioritizing the business side of hockey, sometimes at the expense of player relationships. This pattern became more apparent, leading to issues with communication. A prime example was when Barclay Goodrow was placed on waivers just before free agency, a move that blindsided him and angered his teammates. The situation with Captain Jacob Trouba also highlighted these communication breakdowns. After trade rumors surfaced, Trouba felt he was given an ultimatum, to accept a trade, get scratched, or go on waivers. He described the situation as a threat, and the lingering discomfort contributed to a difficult season for the team.
However, there are signs that Drury might be learning from these past dealings.
Recent moves, like the handling of trades involving Chris Kreider and Kay Andre Miller, have been described as more transparent. Even with Artemy Panarin, Drury reportedly communicated directly about his future, allowing the player to have input on his destination, a stark contrast to earlier situations.