Value of: Chris Kreider to the Leafs at the draft.

[Vukotal Recall]

I'm amazed this is being pitched by a Toronto Maple Leafs fan.

I can't envision any scenario where the Maple Leafs would want to acquire Chris Kreider.

He's 34 years old, coming off a 30 point season and his greatest asset, his speed, is clearly in decline.

This would be a terrible acquisition. I can't imagine Brad Treliving would be dumb enough to do this.

Oh yes he is

 

[n8]

Kreider had three different issues last season.
1) back issue
2) vertigo
3) wrist injury during 4 nations

The was recently seen at a fan event with a wrist brace so presumable his wrist was taken care of and should be fine. I think the vertigo went away as he seemed to play consistently in the lineup after that reportedly happened. For whatever dumbbell reason, the NY medical staff let Kreider play through his bad back and it affected his speed and season.

The big question mark is how well is his back recovering this summer? Is he doing a bunch of PT to address it? If he comes into camp with the same back, then he's still an NHL player who can score 20+ goals while injured. If he plays in your top 6, he's going to get assists just by virtue of being on the ice. Early last season, Zibanejad was garbage and botched a good dozen scoring opportunities that could have been assists for Kreider. He can also still affect the play by screening the goalie. And then there's always the change of scenery effect.

Worse case, I think you get an effective player BUT it's not probably not addressing your weak LW issue. You might see him consistently in the top 6 which might be considered a half solve. Best case, he's fully recovered and you have a 40 goal scorer. Strictly medically-speaking, it makes we think of the Jack Eichel trade where there was risk/upside.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

No offense OP, but the Leafs really needs to not be done working on their blueline.

I also suspect the Leafs will be looking at the free agency market more than they will be looking to make trades. Especially trades for aging, over the hill players like Kreider, who I loved a couple of years back, but father time is catching up with. Father Time remains undefeated. I think the Rangers would be happy to have offers for him at this stage of his career.

I'm not going to say they are done with the blueline because I don't think you are ever done with any area of the team.

But I don't expect it to be the focus.

Thw focus almost has to be the focus they have pieces but a guy like Bobby McMann right now is 1 line to high.

But if they brought in say a Marchment or Marchand
or somebody else then Bobby McMann gets bumped to line 3 and the left side is solid.

Right now I'd argue Domi is a line to high even though we know he can play with Matthews

But if you bring in say a Granlund or Duchene then Doni gets bumped to line 3 and the RW is solid.

It's not that they have to overhaul everything up front, they don't, they have good pieces but they have a couple pieces that are currently 1 line higher then they should be.

If they use the Marner money smartly they can be a much deeper team, most of the pieces are already there they just need adjusting

 

[n8]

to New York Rangers
Morgan Rielly (5y @ $7.50m)
Calle Järnkrok (1y @ $2.10m)
RFA rights to Topi Niemelä (if NYR wants them)
maybe also a pick or prospect (?)
total cap = $9.60m

to Toronto Maple Leafs
Chris Kreider (2y @ $6.50m)
Carson Soucy (1y @ $3.25m)
total cap = $9.75m


This would be ideal for Toronto. Not sure Rangers fans think it's enough, but hopefully it's a framework Rangers fans would be willing to work with and then modify from there. Leafs may have to add a pick or prospect to get it done. Finding a place to trade Rielly and getting an actual useful player back would be great. Leafs could either keep Soucy or trade him out right away and bring in a puck moving D that isn't Rielly. Perhaps Gostisbehere, I don't know.

LD is a need for NY. I would counter this offer to
Morgan Reilly + draft picks for Chris Kreider + Soucy

More cap relief for NY. Toronto gives up less. Simpler deal. Assuming Reilly waives to NY which all current information indicates will not happen.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Kreider had three different issues last season.
1) back issue
2) vertigo
3) wrist injury during 4 nations

The was recently seen at a fan event with a wrist brace so presumable his wrist was taken care of and should be fine. I think the vertigo went away as he seemed to play consistently in the lineup after that reportedly happened. For whatever dumbbell reason, the NY medical staff let Kreider play through his bad back and it affected his speed and season.

The big question mark is how well is his back recovering this summer? Is he doing a bunch of PT to address it? If he comes into camp with the same back, then he's still an NHL player who can score 20+ goals while injured. If he plays in your top 6, he's going to get assists just by virtue of being on the ice. Early last season, Zibanejad was garbage and botched a good dozen scoring opportunities that could have been assists for Kreider. He can also still affect the play by screening the goalie. And then there's always the change of scenery effect.

Worse case, I think you get an effective player BUT it's not probably not addressing your weak LW issue. You might see him consistently in the top 6 which might be considered a half solve. Best case, he's fully recovered and you have a 40 goal scorer. Strictly medically-speaking, it makes we think of the Jack Eichel trade where there was risk/upside.

But if he was effective he would solve the LW issues because the 1st and 3rd line spots are already taken care of with Knies and McMann.

So if he could score 20+ goals as the 2LW Yeah that's taken care of.

That's the thing with Toronto, their #1 and #3 LW and RW are taken care of.

It's the #2 spot on both sides that's an issue, less so on RW because we know Doni can play with Matthews

 

[mydnyte]

Kreider had three different issues last season.
1) back issue
2) vertigo
3) wrist injury during 4 nations

The was recently seen at a fan event with a wrist brace so presumable his wrist was taken care of and should be fine. I think the vertigo went away as he seemed to play consistently in the lineup after that reportedly happened. For whatever dumbbell reason, the NY medical staff let Kreider play through his bad back and it affected his speed and season.

The big question mark is how well is his back recovering this summer? Is he doing a bunch of PT to address it? If he comes into camp with the same back, then he's still an NHL player who can score 20+ goals while injured. If he plays in your top 6, he's going to get assists just by virtue of being on the ice. Early last season, Zibanejad was garbage and botched a good dozen scoring opportunities that could have been assists for Kreider. He can also still affect the play by screening the goalie. And then there's always the change of scenery effect.

Worse case, I think you get an effective player BUT it's not probably not addressing your weak LW issue. You might see him consistently in the top 6 which might be considered a half solve. Best case, he's fully recovered and you have a 40 goal scorer. Strictly medically-speaking, it makes we think of the Jack Eichel trade where there was risk/upside.

speaking from experience, Back issues (depending on what it actually is) only get worse and degenerate, they never recover.
the best you can hope for is to tolerate the pain or be pain free for a while.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

speaking from experience, Back issues (depending on what it actually is) only get worse and degenerate, they never recover.
the best you can hope for is to tolerate the pain or be pain free for a while.

You are not a pro athlete with access to the best doctors and medical treatments.

 

[SML2]

Corey Perry is playing with two of the Top 5 players in the world.

Way to miss the point entirely. Perry is playing with those two because he knows where to go and what to do when he gets there, not because of his speed. Kreider is still as good of a net front player as there is in this league.

 

[mydnyte]

You are not a pro athlete with access to the best doctors and medical treatments.

assume whatever you want, and tell yourself whatever you want, but, back problems are forever problems!
the best any doctor(s) can do for serious back issues is pain management unless its just muscular like if its a sprain/strain/bruise, those can heal, but, if the discs, vertebrae or spinal column is involved, the player is basically done.

a good example is Hakanpaa ...best doctors on the planet cannot 'fix' a degenerated disc (even if you saw a BS commercial about a silicon injection, they dont work)

 

[FriendlyGhost92]

assume whatever you want, and tell yourself whatever you want, but, back problems are forever problems!
the best any doctor(s) can do for serious back issues is pain management unless its just muscular like if its a sprain/strain/bruise, those can heal, but, if the discs, vertebrae or spinal column is involved, the player is basically done.

a good example is Hakanpaa ...best doctors on the planet cannot 'fix' a degenerated disc (even if you saw a BS commercial about a silicon injection, they dont work)

At least, not while the FDA continues to drag their feet on stem cell approval.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

assume whatever you want, and tell yourself whatever you want, but, back problems are forever problems!
the best any doctor(s) can do for serious back issues is pain management unless its just muscular like if its a sprain/strain/bruise, those can heal, but, if the discs, vertebrae or spinal column is involved, the player is basically done.

a good example is Hakanpaa ...best doctors on the planet cannot 'fix' a degenerated disc (even if you saw a BS commercial about a silicon injection, they dont work)

His issue is completely different.

Oh and just so you know I have back issues I had to spinal surgery or I never would never would have walked.

Whatever back issues he has, I promise you they aren't that.

 

[mydnyte]

His issue is completely different.

Oh and just so you know I have back issues I had to spinal surgery or I never would never would have walked.

Whatever back issues he has, I promise you they aren't that.

being able to walk is not the same as playing a regular shift in the NHL, and that was my point.

I cant even have spinal surgery in my situation, so, I'm glad to hear you had success in that!!

 

[n8]

speaking from experience, Back issues (depending on what it actually is) only get worse and degenerate, they never recover.
the best you can hope for is to tolerate the pain or be pain free for a while.

I'm assuming CK's back issues are muscular. Obviously if there is a nerve issue, you'd need surgery (which he isn't doing so I'm ruling that out) or there might not be any known procedure for it.
There are some specialists that can help with muscular issues but it's sort of a luck-of-the-draw if you have one available in your health care network unless your area has one and you can afford to go out of network.
Someone playing for a professional sports team should have access to such experts.
It can be some random hip or butt muscle that is actually causing your pain that you need to do lots of rehab for. I.e. your back hurts because it is compensating. The improvements can range from maintaining status quo to full recovery.
CK should be getting the treatment he needs. I'm just annoyed he played through it last season and we got such an uninspired performance from him.

@LEAFANFORLIFE23 if a 2LW is what you need, he can fill that role. If he's recovered, I'm definitely curious to see how Mike Sullivan can revitalize him but the public narrative in forums and in the press seems to be it's his time to go.

 

[Kupo]

Maybe but that doesn't mean he wouldn't waive.

I seem to recall Olli Jokenin having the NYR on his list but waving to go there when Calgary traded him.

Besides, even if he does, I'd argue it wouldn't make sense to say no to Leafs, Oilers, or Jets if they came calling.

Those are VERY strong teams

You’re not wrong. He very well could waive for Toronto. Good team. Great market. I remember the Rangers trading Kotalík to Calgary, just a few months after signing him to a 3 year deal. Calgary was on his NT list lol.

I'm amazed this is being pitched by a Toronto Maple Leafs fan.

I can't envision any scenario where the Maple Leafs would want to acquire Chris Kreider.

He's 34 years old, coming off a 30 point season and his greatest asset, his speed, is clearly in decline.

This would be a terrible acquisition. I can't imagine Brad Treliving would be dumb enough to do this.

This would be a big mistake.

Chris Kreider took a *big* step down this past season.

The Leafs would be unquestionably worse with Rielly out and Kreider in. Chris Kreider is not the player the once was.

Kreider was hurt most of the year. He's a physical specimen. He'll decline eventually but the dip in his production last year was injuries.

 

[FerrisRox]

You’re not wrong. He very well could waive for Toronto. Good team. Great market. I remember the Rangers trading Kotalík to Calgary, just a few months after signing him to a 3 year deal. Calgary was on his NT list lol.





Kreider was hurt most of the year. He's a physical specimen. He'll decline eventually but the dip in his production last year was injuries.

I'm very aware of his injuries.

It's a major reason why I don't think the Maple Leafs would ever consider this.

If Kreider isn't in front of the net causing problems an looking for deflections and rebounds, he's largely useless.

With his injury woes, he wasn't driving to the net like he used to and he didn't have his top end speed, that used to be an enormous asset.

It's not unusual, at all, to see power forwards full a cliff, and injuries are usually the cause. There's no way I would gamble on Chris Kreider's bounce back unless he was on a one year deal and the contract was heavily retained.

 

[Drew4u]

You’re not wrong. He very well could waive for Toronto. Good team. Great market. I remember the Rangers trading Kotalík to Calgary, just a few months after signing him to a 3 year deal. Calgary was on his NT list lol.





Kreider was hurt most of the year. He's a physical specimen. He'll decline eventually but the dip in his production last year was injuries.

He played in the 4 nations. If Kreider was seriously hurt, he wouldn't have played in 4 nations or in the final few games of the year.

He still looked fine when he was in the penalty kill but was useless even-strength.

Not even convinced Kreider is better than Pacioretty.

 

[JianYang]

His profile sounds alot like pacioretty these days.

 

[wmupreds]

You are not a pro athlete with access to the best doctors and medical treatments.

They’re also (I presume) not playing dozens of games of a very physical sport at the highest level.

 

[Arthur Morgan]

why Kreider? he's one player the Leafs have zero interest in