Player Discussion Chris Kreider

[eco's bones]

The point in moving Panarin is, if he’ll waive for contending teams, he has 2 full playoff runs left on his contract and 100 point players for 5.8M simply don’t exist for most contending teams. He ought to be able to return a significant package. By contrast, Kreider is older, having a bad year and publicly acknowledged he is injured. His value is lower than ever so why not put him on the shelf for what’s left of this season (since Fox is now out too, so really… are we going anywhere? We’re not even in a WC spot) and let him get healthy. He either rebounds and is better for us next year or recovers his value for us to get something in a trade next year.

That's fine if they put up a good return. And if the Rangers are moving Artemi they might as well make it a bidding war. He would be a player that at least several teams should want. Some teams don't have a lot of younger assets available or that they're willing to make available. Carolina did almost nothing in 2023 even though they had a lot of prospects/picks they could have moved. Last year they added Guentzel. This year they brought in Rantanen. Picks from contending teams are also later in rounds.

Panarin on a Leafs, an Oilers, a Panthers or an Avalanche team where he's not going to be necessarily the go to offensive guy might actually help his production. If he's playing with a McDavid/Draisatl, a Matthews, a Kucherov, a McKinnon or even with Barkov/Tkachuck/Reinhart/Verhaeghe could be a piece that puts a team over the top. If you're selling this guy that's what you expect payment for....that kind of piece should come with a price that takes a real and painful chunk out of that team's future designs.

I might add that if we do move Panarin we might be looking at more like $30 mil in available cap space in July when free agency opens. I don't see us just sitting on that.

 

[Ruggs225]

My biggest fear is if we move panarin and kreider during the season and we end up a top 13 pick. That means we lose next years first and will will probably be worse next year.

Drury was such an idiot to protect the first in this weak draft. Especially top 13. Like top 5 i get, but top 13 in a weak class is just not smart.

 

[NickyFotiu]

The TDL usually feels like a sellers market with too much demand in most seasons. That may not be the case this season. Feels like we have heard very few rumors so far this season and the TDL is approaching fast. I don't know if we will see any Goody for a 1st round pick type trades but I hope for our sake we do.

 

[leetch99]

I'd sooner see 6 more minutes of Othmann and 6 less minutes of Kreider versus the Leafs .

 

[Ruggs225]

I'd sooner see 6 more minutes of Othmann and 6 less minutes of Kreider versus the Leafs .

I would rather see kreider on the leafs personally.

 

[Guyute]

Kreider one of the last guys on the ice during the morning skate, indicating he isn't playing. He's been wearing a full contract jersey all week.

Has Chris already played his last game as a Ranger?

 

[NickyFotiu]

I'd sooner see 6 more minutes of Othmann and 6 less minutes of Kreider versus the Leafs .

If I was Drury (I just may be) than I think Oth will be playing no matter what after the TDL.

 

[Mike in Houston]

Kreider one of the last guys on the ice during the morning skate, indicating he isn't playing. He's been wearing a full contract jersey all week.

Has Chris already played his last game as a Ranger?

No.

 

[RangersFan1994]

My biggest fear is if we move panarin and kreider during the season and we end up a top 13 pick. That means we lose next years first and will will probably be worse next year.

Drury was such an idiot to protect the first in this weak draft. Especially top 13. Like top 5 i get, but top 13 in a weak class is just not smart.

Don’t always assume that. It takes one good summer to turn things around. Like new style of team, coaching etc. Drury is not that smart. He had tons of concussion injury history, that should say something

 

[RangersFan1994]

Why do I have this gut feeling one day we will wake up and find Kreider traded? He was hurt apparently before the 4 Nations. Somehow he was still on team USA. If he was that hurt, anyone think he would have requested to take a break and recover? This just makes too much sense, wasn’t Rick Nash in the same issue before he was dealt? I wont be shocked if he plays the next home game and then traded if he does get to play one more game as a Ranger. Especially since his name was mentioned in that letter and one player Trouba also involved is gone. If Kreider is he next Saturday I will be shocked.

 

[chris kontos]

Kreider for gavrikov signed
Blake will throw in anybody except bozo fiala

 

[NYRangers0723]

there is an argument that keeping him on the team also punishes the team.

Huh?

 

[NYRangers0723]

Trust me i wont participate that night. I actually hope it never happens.

But i have never been a huge fan of his, and think some people completely overrate him bc this org cant actually develop a star forward.

He is a 2nd line forward who had a few great seasons and some great playoff moments. However, he also is a player that either has a great game or is completely and utterly invisible otherwise. Even last playoffs he had a game for the ages, but that game basically overshadowed what was a pretty poor rest of the playoffs. Especially a piss poor conference finals round. Im just not a fan of feast or famine players like him. And i think that his non captaincy also shows a lack of leadership.

Just not the type of guy i would honor or a jersey i would want retired. He is nowhere close as good as those whose numbers are already retired.

Eh I don’t think you’re being fair. I’ve always said this our favs have always had ridiculous expectations for CK because of the 2012 playoffs. Anything less than a superstar was him being “lazy” or a disappointment. Dude had been a damn good Ranger for us. This year has been a bad year but obviously injuries has played a big part in it. I’m fine with trading him but unless we’re getting a good I would wait. Shut him down. Let him get healthy for next year so at least his value can back up

 

[NickyFotiu]

I really wish we would just have CK rest and get treatment. I don't think he should have been playing for months. The guy was a physical unicorn. Blessed with both speed and power. There is no way he hasn't been playing through discomfort. Clip from today. This isnt the 24 mph skater Chris Kreider.

 

[its not that serious]

Not impossible, but seems highly unlikely Kreider is traded before this deadline for several reasons. Including, with two more seasons on his contract, I don't think he's a deadline target for a team making a playoff run. And with two seasons on his contract, I don't think a team takes on his cap hit (even with increases coming to the salary cap) without a thorough understanding of his injury outlook. I don't want to speculate about injuries, but if for example he has a disc issue, he's got a tough road ahead of him at this point of his career. His physical fitness was never in doubt, but I don't know what good it would do for him.

Edit: I did see that apparently Kreider's current stint on the IR is not due to his previous back issue(s) just after I wrote this post. If those back issues are no longer a concern going forward, that might change things. If I was the GM of another team, I can see Kreider's value but I think it would still give me pause (for now).

 

[NYRangers0723]

I really wish we would just have CK rest and get treatment. I don't think he should have been playing for months. The guy was a physical unicorn. Blessed with both speed and power. There is no way he hasn't been playing through discomfort. Clip from today. This isnt the 24 mph skater Chris Kreider.

He absolutely has been playing hurt all year

 

[NickyFotiu]

Not impossible, but seems highly unlikely Kreider is traded before this deadline for several reasons. Including, with two more seasons on his contract, I don't think he's a deadline target for a team making a playoff run. And with two seasons on his contract, I don't think a team takes on his cap hit (even with increases coming to the salary cap) without a thorough understanding of his injury outlook. I don't want to speculate about injuries, but if for example he has a disc issue, he's got a tough road ahead of him at this point of his career. His physical fitness was never in doubt, but I don't know what good it would do for him.

Edit: I did see that apparently Kreider's current stint on the IR is not due to his previous back issue(s) just after I wrote this post. If those back issues are no longer a concern going forward, that might change things. If I was the GM of another team, I can see Kreider's value but I think it would still give me pause (for now).

Sometimes back issues can also lead to other things from over compensating. Not sure if that is the case here. I do not believe CK has rested enough for his back issues to be fully resolved even if he has a different issue going on. I think a trade for CK will take a team willing to take a chance like Vegas did with Eichel.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Get that 1st , Drury

 

[Callafan24]

Guys he's been playing hurt all year and his trade value is at an all time low.

Kreider has been our best-developed draft pick in 15 years, lived through both of our recent cup windows... and has been the last man off the ice for years. He's the 3rd highest goal scorer in franchise history.

At $6.5M on a rising cap, you give him the grace to get healthy and come into next season ready to play. Anything better than what we saw this year will raise his value going into next year's trade deadline when he has only 1 year left on his deal.

 

[Chytilmania]

If he’s hurt then LTIR him. Let him play next year and get the best haul for Panarin. 2 playoff runs for that team.

 

[McRanger92]

Would retain on Kreider depending on return this point. The whole situation feels Zuccarello esque where the marriage is not ending amicably

 

[eco's bones]

Sometimes back issues can also lead to other things from over compensating. Not sure if that is the case here. I do not believe CK has rested enough for his back issues to be fully resolved even if he has a different issue going on. I think a trade for CK will take a team willing to take a chance like Vegas did with Eichel.

That's a good point. Back issues often do lead to a lot of other issues.

Makes one wonder about how players communicate with trainers and players and trainers to coaching staff and players and trainers and coaches to the general manager. If a player is clearly having issues and he's not helping the team on the ice very much at all and this has been the case with Kreider all year long why not sit him and let him rest. The player himself not pushing it? and none of the training staff, coaches or the GM willing to hurt anyone's feelings or step on anyone's toes or even step up in any way at all? Meanwhile when he could have a rest instead off he goes to the 4 nations tournament. Where's the sense in that if he's been banged up most of the year? USA! USA! and they fell short anyway and now pretty much everyone has forgotten about all that shit (it's over for whatever it was worth) and focusing on the playoffs....except we as Rangers fans are not going to be focusing on any playoffs because our team is not going to be playing any playoff games and our LW who had to go is out of the lineup with injury again.

 

[NickyFotiu]

That's a good point. Back issues often do lead to a lot of other issues.

Makes one wonder about how players communicate with trainers and players and trainers to coaching staff and players and trainers and coaches to the general manager. If a player is clearly having issues and he's not helping the team on the ice very much at all and this has been the case with Kreider all year long why not sit him and let him rest. The player himself not pushing it? and none of the training staff, coaches or the GM willing to hurt anyone's feelings or step on anyone's toes or even step up in any way at all? Meanwhile when he could have a rest instead off he goes to the 4 nations tournament. Where's the sense in that if he's been banged up most of the year?

I suspect both CK and the Rangers have made mistakes in this situation. I would have preferred CK to rest and get treatment. I understand the $ Nations was an honor but I did not think CK should go. Hockey players take a lot of pride playing injured. I played with a broken wrist. I think CK probably says he is good enough to play and the Rangers say okay. I think he should have sat for 2 months until he could honestly say I'm 100%.

 

[eco's bones]

I suspect both CK and the Rangers have made mistakes in this situation. I would have preferred CK to rest and get treatment. I understand the $ Nations was an honor but I did not think CK should go. Hockey players take a lot of pride playing injured. I played with a broken wrist. I think CK probably says he is good enough to play and the Rangers say okay. I think he should have sat for 2 months until he could honestly say I'm 100%.

I think so too. He's not the only one having a down year though his down year is arguably become the worst. Why we're where we're at is not just one player---is not just a coaching staff or at least a somewhat uncommunicative GM. It's a hodgepodge of a bunch of different things all converging at the same time.