The New York Rangers are going to be hosting the Anaheim Ducks in front of an emotional and melancholy Madison Square Garden crowd. Once warmups begin, there will not be a dry eye in the house.
Chris Kreider and Jacob Trouba, who were both sent to Anaheim last season and over the summer, return to MSG for the first time and face off against their former team. Trouba will likely get a few boos, but also some cheers, but for Kreider, many fans and players will be feeling the emotions. Ryan Strome and Frank Vatrano are making return trips, but they've been back in the building already.
That also goes for the thousands at home that will be watching this game. These two players will almost certainly get a special tribute before the game, and there may even be a ceremony of some sort. And then, once the puck drops, it will be all business.
Welcome home CK20
Kreider's tribute will be a little more heartfelt than Trouba's, and everyone expects that. He was a Ranger for 13 seasons, and in that time, he was a fan favorite. He was one of the last remaining Rangers players from that incredible era, with a Stanley Cup Final appearance and three Eastern Conference Final runs.
Kreider is one of four Rangers in their 100-year history to eclipse the 50-plus goal marker, with 52 goals in 2021-22. Additionally, he had 339 goals and 264 points for 603 points as a Blueshirt. One of the most upsetting things about Kreider's move to Anaheim is that CK20 had the chance to etch his name in the Rangers' history books with just one more power-play goal, as he was tied with Camille Henry with 116, for most all-time.
You have to feel for Mika Zibanejad in this game. The two players were inseparable, manning the top line through the rebuild era and for a good chunk of this re-emergence as a potential Stanley Cup contender.
Mixed feelings for Trouba
Yes, Trouba was a perfect match for the Rangers, and his ascension to captain was the right choice at that time. This team was coming out of a rebuild and needed a tough leader who could handle the pressure from the fans, the media, and from President and General Manager Chris Drury.
But, it did not last as long as anyone would have hoped, as this franchise went through the best season in its history to one of the worst seasons, all in two years. The roller coaster drop completely broke the foundation of this team, and in turn, ran the captain out of town to Anaheim. The fallout following the trade was widely publicized, and that is why there will be mixed feelings from Rangers fans during the potential tribute.