The man you see in the picture is Chris Drury, and yesterday, he announced his retirement after 12 seasons in the NHL. From his Little League Baseball days, which have been well documented, he was a winner, leading his Trumbull, CT team to the championship in 1989. He was drafted by the Quebec Nordiques in 1994, but would play four seasons of college hockey, where he would win the Hobey Baker award his senior season. He made his debut in 1998 for the Colorado Avalanche, who had moved from Quebec in 1996, and won the Calder Trophy that year. In 2001, he would be a part of the Stanley Cup winning Avalanche team. The ill-fated trade (for Colorado) to Calgary in the 2002 offseason would see him play just one year there before he would be traded to Buffalo. His best offensive years would be found there, as he played from 2003 until 2007. This offensive prowess in his time would lead to a big contract with the New York Rangers after the 2006-07 season, where he ended up with his worst seasons. Injuries in the 2010-11 season would force his retirement yesterday. Drury's legacy in the NHL is one of leadership and the ability to play when the stage lights shine the brightest, most notably in the Avalanche playoff runs of the early 2000's and on the international stage with Team USA.
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