New York Rangers: Four potential trades for Chris Kreider
We are rapidly approaching the NHL Trade Deadline and what the New York Rangers do with Chris Kreider is still anyone’s guess.
While a number of big trades have gone down this week, the biggest prize on the market remains untouched and all eyes are currently on what the New York Rangers will do with their prized asset.
Reports suggest that the Blueshirts have opened up contract talks with Kreider, but a monster trade offer could convince them to part with one of their best assets.
In truth, the longer the weekend goes on without noise coming from the front office, it will make it likely that a trade could go down before the 3:00 p.m. Trade Deadline on Monday.
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And there will be a boatload of interest in Kreider given that the forward is currently playing the best hockey of his career.
Currently averaging 0.41 goals per game, the best mark of his career, Kreider is helping to keep the Rangers in playoff contention while driving his trade value through the roof and then some.
Kreider has 16 points (nine goals, six assists) in his last 13 games and has tallied 45 points (24 goals, 21 assists) on the year.
Combining a lethal mix of speed and hulking upper-body strength, Kreider is a rare talent that would push a number of contenders over the top.
The game has also changed this week given that the buyers market has truly exploded, meaning that the return for Kreider could be even greater.
For instance, the Tampa Bay Lightning sent a high-end prospect in Nolan Foote and a 2020 first-round pick to the New Jersey Devils for forward Blake Coleman, while the Vancouver Canucks shelled out a monster package of Tim Schaller, prospect Tyler Madden, a 2020 second-round pick and a conditional fourth-round pick in 2022 for LA Kings forward Tyler Toffoli.
The Vegas Golden Knights also sent two second-round picks to the Kings for veteran defenseman Alec Martinez so, using those trades as a guide, the price for Kreider will be substantial to say the least.
On that note, Chris Kreider is going to be the most interesting name to watch between now and Monday, and we’ve picked out the four teams that would make the most sense for the forward and what the New York Rangers could expect to get back in return.
But, before we do, let’s make this clear; this isn’t us saying that the Rangers will get the below back, rather than us just speculating based on what the front office are reported to want back coupled with some of the deals we have seen this week changing the market dramatically.
I wanted to chuck that out there before the comments blow up.