Rangers GM sends letter to fans signaling retool - ESPN

New York Rangers general manager Chris Drury outlined in a letter to fans on Friday that his team will embark on a «retool» this season, which might result in trading popular players.

Before releasing the letter, sources said Drury had meetings with the team's leadership group, the players and an individual meeting with star winger Artemi Panarin. Sources described the conversations as «extremely candid.»

The Rangers, who enter the weekend with the fewest points in the Eastern Conference and a minus-21 goal differential, plan to be active in trying to move their players ahead of the March 6 trade deadline.

The biggest question is whether Panarin, their leading scorer, will be moved. He's in the final season of a seven-year contract with a $11.64 million cap hit and has been eligible for an extension since this summer. But sources say both sides have come nowhere close to a deal and it's increasingly likely this is Panarin's final season in New York. Panarin, 34, has a full no-movement clause, meaning he controls his own destiny. The message from today is that the Rangers are willing to work with Panarin on a trade to his preferred team, should he identify one.

In the letter, Drury said the Rangers needed to be realistic about their situation, especially given injuries to key players such as goalie Igor Shesterkin and defenseman Adam Fox, who are both sidelined.

«We are not going to stand pat — a shift will give us the ability to be smart and opportunistic as we retool the team. This is not a rebuild,» Drury wrote. «This will be a retool built around our core players and prospects. We will target players that bring tenacity, skill, speed and a winning pedigree with a focus on obtaining young players, draft picks and cap