4 Nations Face-Off Series: All Time NYR Team USA Roster
There's been a long-run connection between USA Hockey and the New York Rangers. Here are the best Americans to suit up for the Blueshirts.
Continuing with our 4 Nations Face-Off series we have the New York Americans! ::Sam Rosen Voice:: Excuse me, that's the New York Rangers, All-Time Team USA Roster.
The Rangers have had no shortage of American-born talent to come through the organization, especially in more recent years. Let's get into it!
First Line: Chris Kreider - Scott Gomez - Chris Drury
Drafted in the first round by the Blueshirts, Chris Kreider made an instant impression on the team when joining them in the midst of a postseason run shortly after helping Boston College capture an NCAA Championship in the Frozen Four Tournament. Since then Kreider has carved out more than a respectable reputation with the Blueshirts, being the center of many memorable moments. If he escapes the trade block, at the end of his Rangers career, Kreider will likely hold the franchise record for goals which, for an original six franchise, is all the more impressive. Funny enough, that destiny is mostly in the hands of the other winger listed on Team USA’s top line.
When the Rangers pried Scott Gomez out of the Devils’ grasp in 2007 and when he made the journey across the Hudson River, it felt like the dawn of a new era. Gomez had some great seasons for New Jersey, but the experiment to have him play in Rangers’ blue never quite took off. With a cap hit of over $7 million in an era where the cap was only $60 million, the Rangers were looking to move on from Gomez very quickly into his seven year contract. Which brings us to arguably the best Rangers trade in history, the package including Gomez and his full cap hit to the Canadiens for the rights to eventual New York Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh.
Chris Drury won almost everywhere he went. Until he came to New York, that is. Now the New York Rangers GM, Drury is doing his utmost best to change that. The Boston University standout was a finalist for the Hobey Baker award two times before winning it in his senior year. Drafted by the Nordiques, he came in to the NHL after the organization had moved to Colorado, won the Calder Trophy, and helped the Avalanche win a cup just a few years later.
He was the center of two big trade packages in his career that eventually saw him end up in Buffalo, where most fans will remember him playing a key role in defeating the Jaromir Jagr-led Blueshirts in the second round of the 2007 playoffs. That offseason he signed on with the Rangers on the same day as Scott Gomez, hoping to help the team take the next step. While his career with the Rangers was a bit more successful than Gomez, he was eventually bought out in his fourth year, allowing the Rangers to sign Brad Richards. Drury retired later that same year.
A Connecticut native, playing for the Rangers was a dream come true for Drury. He put together a couple of respectable seasons before injuries and the shifting of play styles under coach John Tortorella brought a premature end to his tenure. Drury was made captain after Jagr left, and was still bought out by Glen Sather. So, when Drury does something the media labels as cold hearted, it’s important to remember he was on both sides of it and handled the situation as a player with the utmost grace.
