Blue Line Station
Fansided

New York Rangers: How to become a contender again

By Steve Paulus

BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 19: New York Rangers Winger Filip Chytil (72) and New York Rangers Defenceman Tony DeAngelo (77) gets congratulations from the bench on their lines goal. During the New York Rangers game against the Boston Bruins on January 19, 2019 at TD Garden in Boston, MA. (Photo by Michael Tureski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 19: New York Rangers Winger Filip Chytil (72) and New York Rangers Defenceman Tony DeAngelo (77) gets congratulations from the bench on their lines goal. During the New York Rangers game against the Boston Bruins on January 19, 2019 at TD Garden in Boston, MA. (Photo by Michael Tureski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 7
Next
COLUMBUS, OH – JANUARY 13: Chris Kreider #20 of the New York Rangers controls the puck during the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on January 13, 2019 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH – JANUARY 13: Chris Kreider #20 of the New York Rangers controls the puck during the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on January 13, 2019 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /

Do not trade Chris Krieder

Of all the players rumored to be in play at the deadline, Chris Kreider is the one player that should not be traded.  He and Mika Zibanejad are the two veteran forwards on this team who fit the model of the new NHL player.  It’s no mystery that as NHL scoring has increased, so has theirs.

Kreider is 27 years old and is under contract for another season after this.  He has speed and can score, two of the commodities most desired in the NHL. He is the one player feared by the opposition.   The Rangers should extend his contract now before the salary cap situation gets out of whack.  Lock him up for an additional four years and the Rangers have a guaranteed speedster who can score for years to come. Sign him and make him team captain.

If they cannot extend his contract and he prefers to test the free agent market he is still a trade-able asset next season at the deadline as a rental.  His value won’t go down if he continues to live up to his potential.

Home/Editorials