The latest Chris Kreider rumor: Boston bound?

What should the Rangers get?

The big question is the return.  In the Haggerty article,  it concludes with this thought: “Kreider will be in high demand as one of the top forwards on the rental market given his skill set, and that could mean the B’s will have to part with a first-round pick in order to ensure his acquisition.”

It is clear that while the Rangers would like a first round pick, their priority will be on forwards who could replace Kreider in the lineup as early as next season (or this one).   The Rangers have one of the best prospect pools in the NHL and have nine picks going into the 2020 draft, with their first round pick likely to be in the lottery.   While they would like to replace the second rounder they lost in the Adam Fox deal, their priority is proven talent.

That means a player currently on the Boston major league roster or a player who is a top prospect for their AHL club in Providence.   The question is what the B’s would be willing to give up.

Without a doubt, a top target for Jeff Gorton should be Danton Heinen.   Heinen is a 24-year old left wing/center who is in his third year in the NHL.   He scored 16 goals two years ago and when he is on his game, he is an aggressive, high energy player who can score.  Recently benched for a game by coach Bruce Cassidy, the 6’1″, 190 pound winger has an upside that needs to be brought out.

Another winger currently on the Bruins’ roster is Anders Bjork, another left winger who has seen action on the right side. Smaller than Heinen, the Wisconsin native was a star at Notre Dame and is in his third season in the NHL.

The best player for the Providence Bruins is center Jack Studnicka.  A second round pick in 2017 by the Bruins, he has 14 goals and 29 points in 41 games for Providence.  He had a two game cup of coffee with the Bruins this season and is currently rated one of the top prospects in their organization.

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The last thing Ranger fans want to see is a highly regarded Swedish prospect who has underachieved in the AHL, but Oskar Steen is a Providence Bruin who could be a decent return for Kreider.  He’s 21 and in his first season in North America and is only 5’9″, 189 pounds.  Adjusting to North American ice is always a challenge, but he had an excellent year in his last season in the SHL.

Other players worth considering include Trent Frederic, a 21 year old center playing in Providence.  After leaving the University of Wisconsin, he has been playing for Providence with a couple of brief stints in Boston.  He is a Brendan Lemieux clone, this season scoring six goals and 23 points in 40 games while adding 102 penalty minutes, tops in the AHL.  If the Rangers are looking for more grit, Frederic could be an answer.

Will it happen?

At this stage of the season, nothing is certain except the fact that Kreider will be traded.  There have been no conversations with him or his agent about a contract extension, a sure sign that he is a goner.

If the Bruins want him that badly, considering their cap situation, they may be willing to part with Heinen who is signed for one more season after this at $2.8 million.   Bjork makes only $925k and the players in Providence are all on Entry Level Contracts so trading them does nothing to alleviate the Bruins’ cap issues.

The Rangers made two trades with the Bruins in February 2018,  giving up Rick Nash and Nick Holden.  In return they have gotten Ryan Lindgren, Ryan Strome (traded for Ryan Spooner), K’Andre Miller (2018 1st round pick), Joey Keane (2018 3rd round pick), Riley Hughes (2018 7th round pick), Matt Beleskey (Wolf Pack) and  Rob O’Gara  (released).  That a pretty good return for two players who played all of 29 regular season and 14 playoff games for Boston.

As we get into February, the rumor mill will heat up even more.  Let’s just say that as it does, the return for Chris Kreider will only get better.  Let the games begin.