Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Roenick Issues National Apology to Drury

Greg Wyshynski at Puck Daddy reports that Jeremy Roenick issued a 'national apology' to Chris Drury on WFAN yesterday for his comments that the Rangers captain didn't deserve to be on Team USA...

"I think being in New York, I owe a huge apology, both in the New York area or across the country, to Chris Drury, who I said probably should not have been there, here in the Olympics. [He's] been a monster for Team USA. He's been one of their best players. I'll eat crow when crow needs to be eaten. This is my national apology to Chris Drury. He's just been a great, great hockey player."

To listen to Roenick on WFAN click here.

...i killed Roenick when he made those comments, so I've got to give him props for sucking it up and admitting he was wrong. As were many so-called experts and Rangers fans.

8 comments:

Unknown said...

dude, whatever. he's played a couple good games for the US and knocked home some key goals. let's not a few days of justified sentimentality distort a couple year's worth of objective hockey analysis. Fact is, Roenick was probably right to criticize Drury's selection, as he has been seriously underperforming for over a season. This performance by 23 so far has no bearing on his role to date as Rangers captain. Should he return a more inspired, effective player, I'll eat my words like JR.

so let's see if he and team USA can sustain this momentum and earn a medal. I sure hope for the US and Drury's sake that they can. If they lose a heartbreaker to Sweden or Czech in the semis (provided they beat BLR or the SWISS in the quarters), it's still a successful tourney, as that victory over Canada was sublime.

Unknown said...

To William...

Debbie Downer:
Function: Noun

1. a: a person who says something terribly depressing (a downer), typically only tangentially related to the present circumstance or topic of conversation, and thereby destroys the positive atmosphere. b: a statement that is charactaristic of Debbie Downer

Kevin DeLury said...

LMFAO Scott.

Chris said...

The difference between Chris Drury the Olympian and Chirs Drury the Captain of the NY Rangers?

Olympian is being used in scenarios where he thrives. He is a 3rd/4th liner that wins faceoffs and kills penalties and chips in a goal or two. He is not a main focus

The NYR Captain is forced upon a top tier role and has a salary so huge that he is expected to produce points regularly.

I think it is no coincidence that the best games we have seen out of Drury this season are when he was put on the 3rd/4th line and used sparingly

Unknown said...

Scott, that was awesome.

Drury is not a top-6 forward anymore, but he is still a big game player. The good news is this:

Stanley Cup contenders will see his Olympic performance and his trade value will go up at the deadline. He's still the type of player that can help good teams win championships (San Jose, are you listening?!)

Unknown said...

Scott:

i'm sorry to have depressed you. you probably own a drury jersey.

I would add, pretty sure a debbie downer would never be "a statement chracteristic of a debbie downer"

On Drury, he's obviously playing with an incredible amount of passion and energy right now, which is awesome to see. This was an awesome performance, but that's besides the point whether fans and 'experts' alike were well within their right to criticize his selection to the team at the time. In hindsight, these people do look somewhat shortsighted, but considering the Captain's body of work over the past 3 years, I think it was a valid complaint. In other words, I wouldn't feel the need to apologize. Drury has something to prove...because, quite frankly, he has sucked the last 2 years after failing to mesh with Jagr, seeing him go, and then being given the Captaincy.

As Ranger fans, we have witnessed his deteroriating skill level and grown skeptical of his ability to lead. He used to be an untouchable player in the media's eyes because of this image as a clutch performer with intangibles, but that certainly isn't the case anymore.

That said, should he key the US to any kind of medal, come back and tear it up on the third line, and the Rangers make it to the 2nd round of the playoffs, I am happy and Drury is the man as far as I'm concerned. Until that day, it's hard to laud a guy who's paid $35 million over five years before he produces in some form besides blocking shots and icing the puck on a consistent basis.

Unknown said...

William, I apologize. Of course there is truth in what you're saying about Drury.

I got caught up in my Olympic euphoria.

And I don't own a Drury jersey, unless he scores a hat trick in the quarterfinals.

Unknown said...

fair enough. god bless Olympic euphoria...just very sensitive re bloated Rangers contracts and underperforming veterans.