Chris Kreider weighs in on uncertain future

On May 16, 2024, Chris Kreider buried a natural hat trick against the Carolina Hurricanes to propel the New York Rangers to the Eastern Conference Finals. Just under a year later, father time has caught up to the 33-year-old Massachusetts native. With his future in the organization in doubt, Kreider opened up about his disappointing 2024-25 season during the final media availability of the season.

After scoring 39 goals and 75 points during the 2023-24 campaign, Kreider followed up his stellar season with a measly 22 goals and 30 points. Last season, he scored 29 points on the power play alone. While many fans were quick to question his effort, he gave a deeper look into some of the potential reasons for his decline in play. With three separate ailments over the course of the season, Kreider could never get going.

In hindsight, he should have been held out of the lineup until he was healthy. During a playoff chase, teams should not rely on aging, injured players, especially when that player's ice time could have gone to developing players such as Gabe Perrault or Brennan Othmann. While they might not have been effective, the team would have a better sense of what they have in their youth heading into next season.

While the Rangers endured a dreadful 4-15-0 stretch during the end of November into December, general manager Chris Drury sent out a memo to other front offices stating his desire to move Jacob Trouba and Kreider. Drury was able to move Trouba to the Anaheim Ducks, a trade involving Kreider never materialized.

Many players within the organization were unhappy with how the situation was handled, but Kreider was more understanding, adding that every day the goal is to "just try to show up and do your job to the best of your abilities." While the rumors certainly provided a level of distraction, they seemed to play less of a role in his regression than his slew of injuries.

Despite having a poor campaign and being on the trade block, Kreider hopes his future still lies in New York. It is rare that a player spends their entire career with one organization. In a diminished role, a healthy Kreider might be an asset the team should keep around. While he is certainly not the player he was just one year ago, he could still be a valuable piece in ushering in a new era of Rangers hockey.