New York Rangers: Shelve Chris Kreider talks until summer

For all of the blockbuster moves made by the New York Rangers this off-season, there was also a barrage of speculation surrounding Chris Kreider and his immediate future in The Big Apple.

Set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, Kreider’s name was consistently cropping up in trade chatter and that will only continue to play into the New York Rangers narrative throughout the 2019-20 regular season.

In fact, it will only intensify the closer we get to the Trade Deadline given that the Blueshirts have a recent history when it comes to flipping star assets at the deadline in order to accumulate draft picks and prospects. Kevin Hayes and Mats Zuccarello being traded to the Winnipeg Jets and Dallas Stars respectively for a package of picks last year being the case in point.

However, while the front office have no power whatsoever when it comes to stopping the constant Kreider trade chatter, they can make the decision to shelve talks about the power forward’s future until the summer and let one of their locker room leaders focus on the year ahead.

It seems a pretty simple thought in itself but there is some logic to it. Say what you might about Kreider’s lack of consistency, he has established himself as both a key top six player on this team and also as a critical glue guy in the locker room.

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He has emerged as a role model for the franchise’s glut of prospects and he will have a gigantic role to play on and off the ice this year in terms of mentoring and guiding high-end talents in the ilk of Kaapo Kakko and Vitali Kravtsov, who will be attempting to find their feet in the NHL and carve out strong rookie years.

Not only that but Kreider plays a unique role on the ice too when it comes to his physical play and net-front presence. And that was on full display in the preseason opener against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday.

It was especially evident on an electric power play unit featuring Artemi Panarin, Kaapo Kakko, Mika Zibanejad and Jacob Trouba, with Kreider using his big body to perfect effect by setting up screens in front while also battling to win loose-puck battles.

Watch this video of the Panarin goal.  In the replay you see the effect Kreider had on Cory Schneider by planting himself in front of the net.

That power play, albeit going by a very small sample size, has the potential to be absolutely explosive and one of the most potent man advantage units in the NHL, with Trouba able to generate a thunderous slap shot from the point, Kakko snapping saucer passes and Panarin and Zibanejad providing the finishing touches.

And Kreider will be instrumental to any success that power play enjoys because he will bring the imposing physical presence and will get the opportunity to tip and redirect pucks in front of net. Playing on that unit could help spark a surge in the wing’s offensive numbers this year given the talent he’ll have around him.

Another factor to consider here is that Kreider is likely to begin 2019-20 on a second line with Kakko on his opposite wing and Filip Chytil as the pivot. That is one high-end prospect and one rookie with big expectations logging monster minutes and Kreider’s wealth of experience and leadership will be imperative to helping two of the Rangers’ young studs make the most of their big opportunity.

After recording 28 goals and 24 assists for 52 points in 79 games last year, including 12 points on the power play, Kreider will have the chance to carve out his most productive year in a Rangers jersey given the talent he will have the luxury of playing with both on the power play and on that youthful and exuberant second line.

Couple that with being a leader on what will be one of the youngest rosters in the NHL yet again, Kreider faces a big year ahead and he has already spoken about his desire to focus on hockey only throughout 2019-20.

Yes, there will be media chatter and plenty of it because that is par for the course, but the franchise and the player have the power to become deaf to all of that outside noise and focus on what is a big season ahead.

So, keeping that in mind, the New York Rangers front office would be wise to shelve any contract talks until next summer, let Kreider focus on being a leader on and off the ice while providing an offensive punch and dealing with whatever the future might hold once 2019-20 has run its course.

Yes, that may result in Chris Kreider walking away from The Big Apple as a free agent but, if he can play a key role in helping Kaapo Kakko enjoy a successful rookie year in the NHL coupled with enabling Filip Chytil to establish himself as a genuine top six center, then it will be a small price to pay.