Chris Drury is a retired American professional ice hockey player who had a successful career in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was born on August 20, 1976, in Trumbull, Connecticut, and began playing hockey at a young age. Drury played college hockey at Boston University, where he won the Hobey Baker Award as the top player in college hockey in 1998.
Drury was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in the third round of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut in the 1998-99 season and quickly established himself as a reliable two-way forward. Drury was known for his leadership skills and his ability to score clutch goals in important games.
In his rookie season, Drury helped the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup, scoring a crucial goal in Game 2 of the Finals against the Florida Panthers. He continued to be a key player for the Avalanche over the next few seasons, helping them reach the playoffs every year and winning another Stanley Cup in 2001.
In 2002, Drury was traded to the Calgary Flames, where he played for two seasons before being traded again to the Buffalo Sabres. He had some of his best seasons with the Sabres, scoring 30 or more goals in three consecutive seasons from 2005 to 2008. Drury was named team captain in 2005 and helped lead the Sabres to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2006 and 2007.
In 2007, Drury signed as a free agent with the New York Rangers, where he played for four seasons. He was named team captain in his second season with the Rangers and helped lead them to the playoffs in each of his four seasons with the team. Drury retired from the NHL in 2011 after a 12-year career that included 615 points in 892 regular-season games.
Drury also had success on the international stage, representing the United States in several international tournaments. He won a silver medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and a bronze medal at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.
After retiring from playing, Drury became a front-office executive, serving as the assistant general manager of the Rangers and later as the general manager of the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack. In 2015, he was named the general manager of the United States men's national ice hockey team, a position he still holds today.
Overall, Chris Drury had a successful career in the NHL, winning two Stanley Cups and establishing himself as a reliable and clutch player. He was also a respected leader both on and off the ice and has continued to contribute to the sport of hockey in his post-playing career.
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