James Dolan is standing by Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury despite the team’s struggles and inability to score this season.
The Rangers owner was asked in a WFAN interview Monday if he still believed in Drury. Dolan didn’t hesitate: “Yes, absolutely. He and Mike Sullivan are installing a new culture into that club and that does not happen overnight. I’m being patient.”
He’s been especially patient with Drury, who got a multiyear extension in April.
On Monday, Dolan made it clear his opinion of the executive hadn’t changed.
“Chris Drury is a winner and a competitor,” Dolan said. “He won himself. He can’t stand to lose. He’s probably not happy right now. I know he’s not happy right now. Neither is Mike.’’
That’s as the Rangers sit in seventh place in the Metropolitan Division, tied for 13th in the Eastern Conference and with one of the worst home records in the NHL.
James Dolan breaks media silence on WFAN radio on Monday, speaking about the Rangers and Knicks. X @SNYRangers
“We’re not out of it by any means,’’ Dolan said. “We’re very much in it. Culture doesn’t turn around overnight.”
And Dolan reiterated that a change was necessary after Sullivan replaced Peter Laviolette as head coach.
“The team has to gel together,’’ Dolan said. “They have to see they can win. They have to believe in themselves. I think the team last year didn’t believe in themselves. That made it hard.”
And that led to Sullivan coming in to replace Laviolette.
“We thought they needed a change in the coach,” Dolan said. “This coach is a culture coach, a collaborator and a builder of teams. I think that’s gonna take a little while for Mike to get in there.”
Chris Drury, during a press conference at the Rangers training facility in Tarrytown, New York. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
So far, the results have been mixed.
Entering Monday’s game at MSG against Utah, only St. Louis had scored fewer goals per game than the Rangers and only Vancouver had fewer home wins.
“That’s another culture thing,’’ Dolan said of the inability to win at the Garden. “Also, the shots on goal are low. They play pretty well and then they have moments when things don’t go well and they find it hard to pull themselves up. They have to learn to do it. As an owner, you have to be patient.”
J.T. Miller was a full participant in practice Monday since suffering an upper-body injury. He’s been out since Dec. 20 and had been in a red noncontact jersey prior to Monday’s optional skate in Tarrytown.
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Sullivan noted there wasn’t much contact in the skate and the captain was not activated for Monday’s game.
Noah Laba, still week-to-week with an upper-body injury, has resumed skating and is “getting closer” to a return, according to Sullivan.
“I don’t think his status has changed, but he is on the ice, which is encouraging,’’ Sullivan said.
Gabe Perreault has impressed Sullivan as he has gotten playing time.
“He’s getting better with every game he plays,’’ Sullivan said. “It’s evident with his poise with the puck. His vision and ability to make plays are the strengths of his game.”
And Sullivan believes Perreault’s “hockey IQ” will set him apart.
“There’s opportunity for growth with a lot of subtleties of his game,” Sullivan said. “He’s an undersized guy, so what strategy does he use for puck battles in corners?”
Both of the Rangers goals in Monday’s 3-2 overtime loss to Utah came on the power play, including one with a two-man advantage.
The Rangers are 5-for-8 on the power play in their past three games — coinciding with the return of Adam Fox from injury.