Chris Kreider had a disappointing 2024-25 season for the New York Rangers, and it is no surprise that he is at the top of a recently published trade board. The Rangers' most tenured player was listed No. 2 overall on Frank Seravalli's list at Daily Faceoff, and it reinforces everything that's been said since the season ended.
"Scoop: It was undoubtedly a difficult year for Kreider, the career-long Blueshirt, who dealt with a mangled hand, vertigo and oh yes, the spotlight of a league-wide memo that indicated his GM was open to offers for him. Kreider is just 11 goals away from second all-time for the Original Six franchise and he isn’t interested in leaving. He has a 15-team ‘no-trade’ that could complicate things for Chris Drury. But if we’ve learned anything with Drury (see: Jacob Trouba), when he is motivated to make change, he’ll find a way to see it through."Frank Seravalli
This isn't shocking to anyone, given the fact that Chris Drury included Kreider's name in a trade memo earlier this season. Larry Brooks of the New York Post also reported back in April that both sides were likely headed for a divorce.
Kreider has a cap hit of $6.5 million for two more years, and is coming off a season in which he scored 22 goals and tallied 30 points in 68 games. In the right situation, likely a young team that could use a veteran to show the kids the way, Kreider could be a good fit. He also would be a decent depth addition to a team with Stanley Cup aspirations that has enough talent up top that Kreider's can be a luxury on the third line.
Despite having a down season, I don't think anyone would be surprised to see him bounce back if he enters the 2025-26 season healthy. From 2021-22 to 2023-24 Kreider tallied 52, 36, and 39 goals in a season, and he's just a year removed from a 75-point campaign which was his second-most successful season as a pro hockey player.
If the Rangers and Kreider do part ways this offseason, it will be bittersweet. He currently ranks 1st in playoff goals, tied for 1st in power play goals, 2nd in game-winning goals, 3rd in goals, 8th in games played, and 10th in points among all players who ever played for the Broadway Blueshirts.
The Rangers are set to start a new era under new head coach Mike Sullivan, and the focus is on players who can help the team now and in the future. Kreider has been an amazing Ranger who will be remembered for legendary moments like a third period hat trick which allowed the team to eliminate the Carolina Hurricanes and advance to the 2024 Eastern Conference Final, but this group only has a few opportunities left before they need to truly rebuild. It stinks that Kreider won't be able to fully see this mission through, but he truly gave it his all.