Chris Kreider chatter heats up, first practice new and Henrik Lundqvist talks

According to the Canadian TSN network, eight teams are hot and heavy for Chris Kreider.  It makes sense that he is the most sought desirable deadline rental and it is good news for the New York Rangers.

In the latest edition of “Insider Trading” on TSN, Pierre LeBrun announced that New York Rangers left winger Chris Kreider is the top target for as many as eight teams.  “Insider Trading” features two of the most connected hockey journalists in LeBrun and Bob MacKenzie and they have been right more than they have been wrong.

LeBrun didn’t elaborate on which eight teams are in on Kreider, but he did say that the Blueshirts are asking for a similar return to what they got for Kevin Hayes a year ago. That means a first round pick and an NHL-ready player like Brendan Lemieux.

It’s been reported that Kreider will not  accept a deal to a team in Canada, but that still leaves quite a few teams based in the USA that could be in the running for the power forward.  It didn’t surprise any Ranger fans who have been following his career, but his third place finish in the fastest skater competition a the All-Star Skills Competition enhanced his value.

We’ve talked about Boston as a possible destination. Tampa owns two first round picks and could use a forward like Kreider.  Other teams that make sense are St. Louis, Colorado and Pittsburgh.  That’s five.

The first practice

The Rangers held their first practice in eight days on Thursday as they prepare for their match at the Garden against Detroit.  David Quinn spoke after practice and the headlines are that Artemi Panarin is 100% and fully recovered from his upper body injury.  The other big news is that they team will be switching up their defensive pairings.   Brady Skjei will skate with Adam Fox, Jacob Trouba with Ryan Lindsgren and Marc Staal with Anthony DeAngelo.

Quinn explained: “We haven’t loved a couple of the pairings…we’ve been talking about switching the pairings over  the last three or four game.  We just want to see what these pairings look like, get better production. ”

Although he complimented the play of the Fox-Lindgren duo, it’s clear that the team is still looking for the right player to play with Jacob Trouba on the top pairing.  So, it’s Lindgren’s turn .  “They both play with a  little bit of snarl,  maybe they can give us that consistent shut down D-pairing we’ve been looking for.  We’ll see how it goes.”

Although Brady Skjei has been playing heavy minutes with Trouba on the number one pair, it’s clear that they are not satisfied with how they is working out.

FInally, the last headline was that Igor Shesterkin will start on Friday and Henrik Lundqvist on Saturday.

Lundqvist speaks

With Lundqvist getting the nod on Saturday in Detroit, that mean he will play his first game since January 11, a 20 day layoff.  In his post practice presser, Quinn did say that he considers Lundqvist his number one goalie.

Lundqvist spoke to SNY about his tenure in New York.

“I will always feel like a Ranger” pic.twitter.com/DEbETN5Csw

Lundqvist said “I will always feel like a Ranger….in 10, 15 years when I’m done playing it doesn’t matter, the things I’ve experienced here is pretty amazing…that will never change, no matter what.”

That last phrase will set off all kinds of speculation in the Rangersphere.  Reading between the lines, it was almost an indication that he is ready to move on.  But was it?  There is no way of knowing.

His comments came as he was asked to reflect on Eli Manning as well as the three goalie system.  Lundqvist was insistent that the team is focused on what they need to do to win and are not distracted by the chatter “down the hall.”