The New York Rangers planned to buy out captain Chris Drury, but the New York Post reports they are stuck with the center and his $7.05 million cap hit for next season.
Drury has a degenerative condition in his left knee that apparently will make him medically unable to play in 2011-12, the Post reported. The newspaper says Drury will have to report to training camp in September for the team physical. If he fails, he would then qualify for a long-term injury exemption when the season begins.
In order to get the full value of the $7.05 million exemption, the Rangers would have to go that far over the cap. But the Post reports the inability to buy out the injured player means Drury's cap hit will remain on the Rangers' summer cap, which can exceed the 2011-12 season cap by 10 percent.
---John Vogl
