4:35pm: The Rangers have made it official, announcing that Davidson and Gorton are “leaving the organization” effective immediately. Drury has taken over as president and general manager, while senior advisor Glen Sather will help him during the transition. Dolan has released a statement:
We want to thank JD and Jeff for their contributions to the organization. They are both great hockey professionals who worked hard for the Rangers, however, in order for the team to succeed in the manner our fans deserve, there needs to be a change in leadership. Chris is a very sought-after executive and a strong leader, who has proven himself to be one of the top young minds in hockey. We are confident he will effectively guide the team to ensure the long-term success we promised Rangers fans.
1:50pm: In a stunning development, the New York Rangers have fired team president John Davidson and general manager Jeff Gorton, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. This comes less than 24 hours after the team issued a harsh statement critiquing the league and Department of Player Safety head George Parros. Frank Seravalli of TSN reports that the two men “scurried to distance themselves” from the statement, telling other executives that they did not know it was in the works until after it was released. Larry Brooks of the New York Post tweets that associate GM Chris Drury will remain with the organization in a prominent role and Friedman reports that it will be as president and GM.
Darren Dreger of TSN has been told that the firings are not related to the statement and Friedman adds that James Dolan, the team owner, was unhappy with the team this season and wanted a change. Dolan was also behind the statement, reports Friedman.
While the Rangers are going to miss the playoffs again this season, the rebuild is going pretty much exactly as planned. Three years ago, the team issued a letter to fans telling them that they would be trading franchise icons in order to amass a new young core to put them back in contention for the Stanley Cup. Names like Ryan McDonagh, Mats Zuccarello, Rick Nash, J.T. Miller, Kevin Hayes, Brady Skjei, and Marc Staal were all shown the door, while Gorton and his staff compiled prospects and picks to build for the future. The team went out and signed Artemi Panarin to a huge contract in free agency to move things along and even took part in the postseason last year, losing to a much more experienced Carolina Hurricanes team in the qualification round.
This season they will miss the playoffs thanks to a brutal East Division, sitting ten points behind the New York Islanders but holding a 26-21-6 record. The Rangers would hold a playoff position in two of the other divisions with the same record and have the 13th-best goal differential in the NHL.
Apparently, that rebuild has not gone the way ownership envisioned. Davidson and Gorton are out, adding two respected and experienced executives to the market for teams to go after this summer. It was less than two years ago when Davidson resigned his role with the Columbus Blue Jackets to take a similar job with the Rangers, noting that it was a homecoming of sorts for the former player and broadcaster. That homecoming is now over, but it seems very unlikely that Davidson is without work for long if he wants to continue in an NHL front office.
Of course, even though they are moving on from two experienced executives, the Rangers have a ready-made replacement in Drury. An Olympic medalist as a player, Drury has been one of the most sought-after young managers in the league the last several years but has continued to commit himself to the Rangers whenever a new opportunity presented itself. He joined the team as its director of player development in 2015 and has worked his way up the ranks, also serving as GM for Team USA at the World Championships. There’s no doubting Drury’s ability in the role, though his appointment does come suddenly and with plenty of surprise.
If I hadn’t already heard this shocker a few minutes ago on interweb radio, I might not have believed it. Now, does the league fine the Rangers for being “meanies” ?
Saw this coming last night after the disappointment release. Wondered if the trio would have made it to the draft. Two didn’t even make it thru lunch.
Should have-
Traded your #1 for Jack
Traded one Russian goalie
Never bought out Hank
Traded your problem child on D.
Evaluated Pionk better.
Your grit is home & in LA.
Chris Drury Has been named president and general manager
Brooks reports that Mark Messier may be returning to the organization
Also Wayne Gretzky may be part of the new front office
Dolan talks to alot of people and its not hard to imagine that Mark Messier and Glenn Sather also had his ear regarding this move.. Sather is still employed by the Rangers and as a senior advisor and alternate governor.
@Al Hirschen – Gretz is still an Alternate Governor with EDM.
Mollie Walker
@MollieeWalkerr
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10m
Mark Messier on the way the #NYR are currently built: “In my opinion, if you’re going to win, you got to be able to win in the street and the alley. I particularly would not have built the team that didn’t have answers in this regard.”
That’s a statement.
@Al Hirschen – That is, indeed a statement. Many teams have voluntarily chosen to use that slot or two in their lineup for skill guys instead, and may or may not realize the ramifications of that decision. That is, until a situation like this happens to them. Maybe the owners will get together and decide to have a new EBUG-like rule to add a designated grunt to be at the end of the bench for just this type of situation. But, he will be salary cap exempt and won’t count as a roster slot. In other words, the “designated Mongo.” And, he must be paid…
1. No. They don’t have the money, and when has Eichel made anyone around him better?
2. They only have one Russian goalie, so I’m assuming you’re referring to trading Georgiev. To who? For what?
3. I agree, but he wouldn’t waive his NMC
4. Who was taking DeAngelo?
5. I don’t know. I like Trouba
You realize you have to hear it first somewhere… just because you heard it elsewhere doesn’t mean others didn’t hear it here first. Just a dumb comment
I fully expect the Rangers to try and trade for Lucic and or Ryan Reaves.
Quinn has to be next no? I had no big issues besides for the dreadful McDonagh and Miller for Howden+ trade
He also had Eric Staal trade, Brendan Smith trade, Trouba trade, keeping Kreider. Drafting Lias over Villardi. He wasn’t bad but he wasn’t great. His best moves were because of Dolan(Panarin,Nash trade,Zib trade) using $ to make things happened. Adam Fox I feel was Drury move considering he was place on WC roster in 2019 right away by Drury. It also doesn’t hurt Drury was going to take over at some point. I think JD was canned because if Gorton was going he was going with him
Dolan is a moron
Dolan is an imbecile.
L O L
What a joke. Dolan is a complete fool. If anyone goes it’s the coach. JD and Gorton did everything right – almost flawless. This is a team that is the youngest in the NHL by a full year and needs time to develop together.
Dolan needs to go. Now that the Knicks are in the playoffs (in some manner I guess), now he can go and screw around with the Rangers. It’s almost as if something that was going well, he tends to destroy it.
I wonder if ESPN or Turner goes after JD? He was Clement and/or Olczyk before Clement and/or Olczyk.
The timing is odd. It does raise at least the possibility of scandal.
That was my thought re: scandal. Just last night I was chatting with a Sabres fan, both of us worried that the Rangers would snag Eichel and be cup contenders for years to come. Feels like the rebuild is well ahead of schedule, right?
On the other hand, James Dolan is the owner and by all reports he is a meddlesome douchebag.
JD was amazing in the booth for the Ranger games on MSG.
The Rangers have talent and talent in the pipe but they are in between dealing with vets such as Panarin, Kreider, Zbinejad but their coach hasn’t impressed me. As an Isles fan you have to wonder if they kick themselves for not waiting for Barry Trotz. They are a team in dire need of a veteran coach. If Dolan has the balls to fire these 2, the coach can’t be far behind.
Rutherford and Dale Tallon is Available!
Rutherford might be a good choice to run the show but at age 72 I’m not sure he’s best fit for GM. Better off keeping Drury as GM and letting someone like Rutherford be the sounding board and tutor
So gary bettman doesnt have any pull. Wow alot on here thought that Rangers done good..that is very funny…Rangers maybe the idoits on this one…
Well, I didn’t see this one coming! :0
cowards
The timing of this is extremely bizarre considering the release the team sent out concerning Wilson. Did these 2 do this without Dolan approval or did Dolan get a call threatening major penalties if those involved were not fired.
It becomes a lot easier to speak your mind when you assume you’re on the way out.
Wow. Great start to tonights game but what does it show Rangers think there a goon team now…just start more Wilson filled in Smith…
Rangers looking to set record for most fights lost in a single game
Bucky76. Your opinions can’t be taken seriously when every comment you post lacks punctuation, or even complete sentences. I have read several of your posts over the last few days and rarely can I even attempt to distinguish a rational thought, much less an opinion with any realistic backup.
M34. Sir or miss I’ll try my best in the future to pay attention in english class on this site.Your opinions may count with ours on here but I don’t care what anyone thinks. You have an opinion that’s fine but saying others grammer is lacking give me a break. That’s my opinion. What’s my grammer grade now teacher M34.. WOW this site is lacking I think.
Bucky – ignore M34. 1) he’s one of those types that thinks flexing his internet muscles makes him cool – I can say with a fair amount of certainty he would not say that to anyones face. 2) no one ever takes into account posters age, education or whether english is their first language etc etc ( I have been guilty of that as well but am trying to get better).
I’ve seen worse grammar – I understood what you were saying so as far as I am concerned you’re good ( not that that means a lot lol). M34 is why Tim gave us the mute button.
Exactly, riffraff. English might not be his first language. Perhaps he’s a recent immigrant to North America trying to express his newfound love of hockey. We should support that sort of thing.
Josh..perhaps he’s not an immigrant at all.. people outside north america have been known to have internet access ( just busting chops no harm meant lol)
Rangers are paying 13 million to players, not to play for them. Girardi, Spooner, Shattenkirk and Lundqvist. I cant help but think that kind of incompetence played a role in this. Thats 16% of total cap space spent on mistakes. That’s an insane amount of money to be paying in buyouts and shows a complete failure on the part of the GM.
I feel the Rangers Knicks MSG and New York would be better off without dolan unfortunately this statement will never be heard