Can he be the Sabres' savior? The left winger with a knack for scoring clutch goals is giving Buffalo fans hope that the team's dark days are over

Hockey Digest, Jan-Feb, 2004 by Randy Schultz

HERE'S HOW BUFFALO SABRES head coach Lindy Ruff describes his team's key off season acquisition: "Chris Drury is a winner. He handles himself like a winner. He's very professional. I think that kind of attitude over a number of weeks can spill over onto other players."

The trade to acquire Drury was seen in Buffalo and around the league as the club's first step back in the right direction after a miserable two-year run that saw the franchise forced to declare bankruptcy.

While Drury is being counted on to supply intangibles, he's also being looked upon for scoring. Over his first five seasons, Drury has averaged almost 22 goals a year, as well as over 33 assists.

Drury, 27, has been a success wherever he has played. He won an NCAA championship at Boston University in 1995 and won a Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2001. Individually, Drury won the Hobey Baker Award as the best college player in 1998. He was also awarded the Calder Trophy as the NHL's Rookie of the Year in 1999.

Despite Drury's accomplishments and reputation, Ruff was still surprised by the attitude and work ethic the native of Trumbull, Conn., has brought to the club. "It's done in a very professional manner. He wants to understand the drills we're doing. He wants to know why we're doing them," Ruff says.

"Some players approach practice with the attitude of Clefs just get through practice.' Not Chris. For him it's mother hour where he can work on his skills and work on the team system. And he believes that if we all buy into the same system, we'll be a much better team for it."

Drury, who the Sabres acquired along with center Steve Begin on July 3, 2003, from the Calgary Flames, in exchange for defenseman Rhett Warrener and Steve Reinprecht, is an intense player whether it's during a big game or a practice.

"He prepares himself during practice, as well as before a game," Ruff says. "And I think he wants to see us prepared as well. And if we're not prepared then we have to work on that at the next practice. That's just the kind of guy that he is. He's always asking the questions--and that's good."

HOCKEY DIGEST recently sat down with Drury to discuss his plans for turning around the Sabres, winning the Little League World Series, and his reasons for changing the number on his sweater.

HOCKEY DIGEST: What were your thoughts about coming to the Buffalo Sabres, considering the fact that this is your third team in three seasons?

CHRIS DRURY: I think the Sabres are an organization that is going places. They're going in the right direction, and I'm very glad to be a part of it.

HD: Did you know that much about what happened to the Sabres last season, especially With all of the problems they had with their ownership?

CD: No, not really. The only things I knew about the Sabres were what I read in the papers, heard on the TV, or simply learned by people talking about it. I knew the team was in financial trouble and that the league was doing everything it could to keep it in Buffalo.

HD: What is your opinion of the team's new owner, B. Thomas Golisano?

CD: It's been unbelievable. He seems to be a first class individual. Everything here seems to be run first class all the way. Of course, that's the way it should be. We're professionals. It's been a treat to be a part of this.

HD: Until this season, you've played your entire career in the Western Conference. Any thoughts on coming to the East for the first time?

CD: For one thing, the travel is different. And that's a good thing. I think the style might be a little different between the East and West. Many people have said that the East can be like a bunch of tight checking teams. But look at the West with teams like Minnesota, Anaheim, and Edmonton. Those three are pretty tight checking teams just as much as certain teams in the East are.

HD: Do you think that playing in the East will have any effect on your style of play?

CD: No, I think over the long haul hockey is hockey. You try and create things when you can. And if you can't, you don't.

HD: You went from winning the Cup in Colorado to a season in Calgary and now you're in Buffalo. Is it hard for you to believe the changes in your career over the past three seasons?

CD: I think last year it was hard to believe when I got to Calgary. It was the first time I had been traded. I had been in the Colorado organization all of my career. But now that I've been through all of that, everything has worked out for the best. I have no second thoughts about any of it.

HD: Could you talk about your experience in Calgary last season with the Flames?

CD: Other than the losing part, I liked being there. I loved playing with Daryl Sutter. I think he's a hard-nosed, intense coach. I like that style. I think they're going to do some good things there this year with him as head coach.

HD: Being the type of player that you are, it must have been tough last year to play win a losing team like the Flames?

CD: It was very frustrating, to say the least. I want to win every time that I go to the rink. When you're not winning it's not fun and there's nothing to be happy about, especially when you're in 14th or 15th place overall. I just hope the other guys on the team felt the same way that I did.