After spending parts of 14 seasons with the New York Rangers, the forward may have played his final game for the team. The franchise’s all-time leader in playoff goals is currently on injured reserve with an undisclosed upper-body injury, and there is no set timeline for his return. According to USA Today Sports’ Vincent Mercogliano, the Rangers are leaning toward an “eventual split” with the veteran winger and are “motivated to move” him, either before Friday’s 3 p.m. ET NHL trade deadline or during the offseason.
Chris Kreider , the longest-tenured Ranger, was placed on the trade block by general manager Chris Drury during the team’s losing streak in December. At that time, Drury sent a message to all 31 other NHL general managers listing Kreider as an available player. Given his current injury, which he sustained during the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, along with previous back spasms this season, any decision not to trade him could be related to health concerns. However, The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta recently reported on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio that Kreider’s name remains prominent in trade discussions despite his injury.
The 33-year-old forward has two years left on his contract beyond this season, carrying a $6.5 million cap hit. His deal includes a 15-team no-trade list, giving him some control over potential landing spots. While it’s unclear which teams have inquired about him, Kreider has recorded 17 goals and 21 points in 48 games this season.