Word came down today through the NHLPA that Chris Drury has officially decided to hang them up. As Jimbo pointed out on twitter, and which was my first thought, was why now?

If it's true, as Andy Strickland reported, that Drury has been considering retirement for a while, why wait until now to do. If he knew or was leaning to hanging them up, why not do so in June so the Rangers did not have to have to buy him out, taking a cap hit for this year and next. His decision to wait, cost the team $3.717 million in dead cap space in 2011-12 and $1.667 million next year.

For all the talk of how great of a leader and captain Drury was, my last image of him will be one who puts dollars and his own self-interest ahead of the team that he was the captain of when he was bought out. If he was truly a leader, he would have retired back in June, saving the Rangers the cap hit.

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