Report: Rangers wouldn't let Wild speak to Drury about GM job

It's safe to say Chris Drury won't be the next general manager of the Minnesota Wild.

The Wild reportedly asked the New York Rangers for permission to speak with the latter club's assistant general manager about Minnesota's vacant GM position, but the Rangers said no, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

It's the second time New York has "politely rebuffed" a team that wanted to talk to Drury after the Buffalo Sabres made the same request, adds Friedman. Buffalo hired Jason Botterill as its GM in May 2017.

Drury, a former NHL forward who retired as a player in 2011, was hired as Rangers director of player development in 2015. He was promoted to assistant GM in the fall of 2016.

Minnesota has been active in its search for a new GM after firing Paul Fenton last week. The Wild reportedly interviewed Ron Hextall, Peter Chiarelli, and Don Waddell, received permission to talk to Bill Guerin, and asked to speak with Scott Mellanby.

Fenton was fired last Tuesday after one season on the job.