The New York Rangers said the shocking departures of general manager Jeff Gorton and team president John Davidson on Wednesday were unrelated to the scathing letter commissioned by owner James Dolan that criticized the NHL's Department of Player Safety.

"Yeah, I'll clarify that. That's an easy answer: That had nothing to do with it. Absolutely not," said Glen Sather, the team's senior adviser, at the introductory news conference for new president and GM Chris Drury on Thursday.