Chris Kreider will miss 4-6 weeks of action with his fractured foot according to New York Rangers General Manager Jeff Gorton.
Up to this point there had been only speculation about how long Chris Kreider will be out of action. Today, the NHL Network caught up to New York Rangers GM Jeff Gorton and he said it will be 4-6 weeks recovery time, typical for this kind of injury. Kreider broke his foot blocking a shot against the Philadelphia Flyers on February 28.
In the interview with E.J. Hradek, Gorton said that Kreider hopes to be back sooner, but the team is looking at the 4-6 week time frame. Gorton made the comments at the NHL General Managers’ meeting in Boca Raton, Florida.
"Chris is a core piece." @EJHradek_NHL caught up with @NYRangers GM Jeff Gorton on the topic of Chris Kreider and more.
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) March 4, 2020
Stay tune to #NHLNow at 4pm ET for more from the GM Meetings! pic.twitter.com/pnS9uM7yAY
If Kreider is able to come back in four weeks, that means he could be back as early as Saturday, March 28 when the Blueshirts take on the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first game of a two game Florida road trip. After the Panthers, the Rangers play the Flyers, Penguins and Blackhawks to close out the regular season. Since they may still be in playoff contention, a Kreider return could be a real boost.
If the six week time frame is more realistic, it would mean he would be out for the rest of the regular season with his only chance of him seeing more action in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
It would probably mean that he would miss the first few games of the playoffs if the Rangers are able to clinch a wild card spot.
It’s not the best news, but considering the nature of the injury, the best Ranger fans can hope for is a speedy recovery.