The New York Rangers to again flex their financial muscles

The NY adventure for both Chris Drury and Wojtek Wolski could be coming to an end as the Rangers look to strengthen their roster for next season. The New York Rangers are still paying the price for offering some stupid contracts out in the past and this off season could be one of the most important in recent years. Chris Drury is earning $7million a year and has both a no movement and no trade clause while Wolski is earning around $3.5million if the Rangers were to buy out Drury's contract then they would save around $3-4million while moving Wolski would save another $3.5million. This would mean the Rangers would have around $20million to sign important elements of the team such as Brandon Dubinsky and Ryan Callahan but also dabble into the free agency pool.

The main target for the boys from Broadway is out of contract Dallas Stars Centre Brad Richards. Most of Ranger nation see's a move for Richards as taking 3 steps back after making positive steps forward in both the trade and free agency market since the catastrophe of 2007 when the Rangers spent $15million on Scott Gomez and Drury. Brad Richards it would appear would like a move to NYC , as he can be the guy that can propel the Rangers from a 7th/8th seed outsider to a 4th place finish or possibly battling for divisional honours. Not many teams can boast of a young core of guys that the Rangers can and if they can keep them together over a number of years these guys could lead the Rangers to an era of success which the organisation has never really had.

The trade the Rangers made last month for Tim Erixon was a great trade IMO , although we lose two draft picks and one of the best late round picks we have made for a while in Roman Horak. We get a guy who is being tipped as a future allstar and was seen as Calgary's biggest and best prospect. He is expected to make the roster next year and he could add an offensive boost to a very young but very solid defensive core. This trade could spark the end of UFA defender Matt Gilroy , who i will be sad to see leave but it may be inevitable if he wants to play regular NHL minutes.

Should the Rangers buy out Drury and move Wolski i would expect to see the following team at the start of next season.

Stepan- Richards - Gaborik
Kreider - Dubinsky - Calllahan
Anisimov - Boyle - Prust
Avery - Grachev - Christensen

Staal - Girardi
Erixon - Sauer
McDonagh - UFA Signing

Lundqvist
Biron

This is assuming we sign the big free agents we have and wrap up a deal for Richards and make no other trades or deals for any other free agents. I think that team has the potential to make the playoffs again and possibly make a deep run however the inexperience of our defense at the moment will still be our downfall.

Do you want Jeff Carter?

Mike Modano? Jiri Hudler?

Going cheap. You buy. 10 dollar.

For some reason, several Blues fans on the message board like the idea of us signing Chris Drury....

.....But only after NY have bought his contract out