New York Rangers: Gauthier’s debut, peak Kreider, other takeaways
2. KZB line making life tough
There is an old saying that I have quite often used;
“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
That should apply to the front office as we rapidly approach the NHL Trade Deadline on Feb. 24 with Chris Kreider’s future still uncertain.
According to reports, negotiations over a potential new contract have begun but, after seeing the returns the likes of Blake Coleman and Tyler Toffoli netted the New Jersey Devils and the Vancouver Canucks respectively, you can’t blame the Rangers for being tempted if a huge offer comes across their table.
After all, Kreider is arguably playing the best hockey of his life right now and is averaging 0.41 goals per game, the most in his career.
Kreider was a force all night against the Chicago Blackhawks and he finished with a goal and two assists, with his 24th goal of the year a trademark display of speed to crash to the net hard before applying a delicate finish.
But it was the play of Kreider’s line with Mika Zibanejad and Pavel Buchnevich that really impressed, with the trio combining for nine points on the night.
Buchnevich is a different player when playing with Kreider and Zibanejad, and the trio just mesh perfectly together.
Just study the Rangers’ second goal of the night, which started with Zibanejad’s seamless transition into the offensive zone, before Kreider battled hard along the boards behind the net and then dished a perfect pass to Buchnevich who did the rest.
Zibanejad tallied a four-point night (one goal, three assists), becoming the first Ranger to record four points in one night since
achieved the feat on Dec. 26, 1998.
The trio are just a perfect fit and, if the Rangers feel they are on the cusp of really contending year in and year out, would it really be wise to break up what is rapidly becoming a dynamic and potent top line?