As we previously reported, Chris Kreider — the longest-tenured player on the New York Rangers — was a healthy scratch Monday against the New Jersey Devils.
The move was aimed at shaking the lineup to try and provide it with another spark, was made by head coach Peter Laviolette but backfired massively as the Rangers fell 5-0 at the Prudential Center. The longest-tenured Ranger has just one point in his past eight games, a goal on December 20. He only has one assist this season. Jonny Brodzinski drew into the lineup in Kreider’s place.
The decision to healthy scratch the veteran sent a message. In dire times, the Rangers are willing to scratch someone who means a lot to the franchise as long as they aren't producing. And while Kreider is far from the Rangers’ only problem, he has certainly failed to live up to what the team needs him to be for the 2024-25 campaign.
Postgame to the media, Laviolette offered a blunt explanation for his decision to bench the 33-year-old forward.
“It was just a lineup decision,” Laviolette said. "We just need more.”
This was the Massachusetts native's first healthy scratch of the year and his first time since 2013-14 that he’s been scratched while healthy.
Kreider’s scratch comes amid trade rumors and one of the least productive seasons of his career. With 11 goals and just one assist through 30 games, Kreider is on pace for his lowest point total since the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season (the third lockout in two decades).
Adding to his comments on Kreider's removal from the lineup on Monday, Laviolette emphasized the need for the whole team to improve its overall play.
“At the end of the day, we're not playing a brand that we need to play in order to be successful,” Laviolette also said postgame. “He's a guy that we count on to help deliver that. For me, those conversations aren't easy, but that's the decision that I made today.”
The scratch ended up playing a role en route to the eventual 5-0 shutout loss against the Devils at the Prudential Center. The return of the Red River Rivalry only continued a difficult stretch for the Rangers. They have dropped 13 of their last 17 games. Entering the holiday break, New York (16-17-1) has the second-worst record in the Metropolitan Division, ahead of only the New York Islanders (13-15-7).