I'll also repeat: I'm aware this discussion is academic. Kreider has the NTC and is almost certainly not going to be moved yet. Tarasenko will walk in the free agency. That's how it will be, not least of all because the org has a loyal attachment to Kreider.
But I was challenged to rationalize why I would trade Kreider, and it's because it WOULD be a smart move under these circumstances.
I'll put an asterisk by this discussion and say if I could move Trouba instead we could put a pin in the Kreider talk till his contract runs out. Then we could have Kane, Tarasenko AND Kreider. Go sign a mid level defender in free agency and clear room for Jones and Robertson.
~ducking~
Yeah, yeah, I know. We can't get rid of anyone. INSERT NAME HERE is too important to trying to win now. Can't move Kreider, Trouba, Goodrow, Lindgren, nobody. No vet on a big contract we could possibly survive without and have any chance to win a Cup. I don't know how all the other teams do it, but we can't.
Tarasenko is also a proven playoff performer.
Kreider PKs, but we have other guys who are ready to take on that role. Kakko, for instance.