As the Rangers continue to roll and keep themselves relevant in the playoff picture, the elephant in the room is what’s going on with Chris Kreider. Kreider has had a rough season on the ice, with 17 goals and just 4 assists through 48 games. The goals are in line with recent numbers, but the assists are way down. Complicating matters is his on-ice play, which has been wildly inconsistent amid trade rumors and injuries.
Kreider was placed on IR over the weekend, retroactive to last week so he is eligible to return any time. This is his second bout with an injury, as he missed time earlier in the season with back spasms. There’s no word if he’s on IR for the same back spasms, and the Rangers have been mum about his status.
What is odd about Kreider’s injury this time around is that he’s still skating and practicing. Yesterday he skated as part of the “extras skate.” This was not an optional skate, it was a skate for the players who were not playing last night, and it included Matthew Robertson and Arthur Kaliyev. If Kreider were truly injured, would he have skated? Why was he at a skate for the scratches if he’s hurt?
Chris Kreider’s enigmatic 2024-2025 season
Chris Kreider has had a weird season. Looking solely at his point totals, you’d think it’s a total loss. But his 17 goals in 48 games is a 29-goal pace, so that’s on par with what we expect of him lately. It’s the assists that are way down, and likely tied to Mika Zibanejad’s disastrous run from October through early January. To be fair, Kreider has never been a big assist guy. His career high of 36 last season was 11 more than his previous high of 25, set in 2021-2022.
The issue with Chris Kreider this season has been beyond the score sheet, and more with his play driving. Kreider, historically has been the play driver with Zibanejad. Kreider’s drop off is extreme and very uncharacteristic of his play. He’s been the guy who sets the table for Zibanejad by getting to those dirty areas and then wreaking havoc in front of the net. He’s still in front of the net, but the difference this year has been getting to loose pucks and creating space for his linemates.
If you’re looking for one singular reason why Chris Kreider’s play has seemingly fallen off a cliff, then you’re going to be looking for a while. Between the back spasms, whatever injury he has now, the ill-advised trade memo, and the locker room issues all probably played a role in that lost step in his game.
Would the Rangers trade Kreider?
The elephant in the room is whether the Rangers are actually looking to shop Chris Kreider. Drury specifically mentioned him in that memo, and as of now there is no reason to think he’s not being shopped. Kreider would return a haul, even if there are questions about his injuries. If the Rangers aren’t going to trade Artemi Panarin, then Kreider is the guy that would jump start this retool.
NHL GMs love players that step up for the playoffs. Kreider is a known 16 game player who steps up in the playoffs. He has a habit of big goals, OT winners, and putting teams on his back. His most recent hat trick against Carolina was a career defining moment of his that isn’t lost on GMs. Kreider has significant value, even if hurt right now.
Then again, the Rangers know this. Losing a Chris Kreider, even if the return is solid, is likely a step back for the Blueshirts. He’d be the best player in any trade involving him, at least in the short term. The playoffs are the goal for the Rangers, so the question is whether they are ok punting this season’s hopes in exchange for next year. This, of course, assumes Kreider wouldn’t rebound next season.
There’s something off about this situation
What’s odd is how the most recent injury is being managed. We have no word about this injury, other than it’s not related to his back. He’s still skating in non-optional skates with extras when other injured players are not. There’s some noted tension between him and Chris Drury, courtesy of the memo and possibly how Drury handled both the Barclay Goodrow and Jacob Trouba situations.
Is there enough bad blood between Chris Kreider and Chris Drury that a trade needs to be made?
That’s a huge jump to make and, to be fair, a very irresponsible one. But it’s one that does need to be considered given everything we’ve seen this season. This has been a season of torched relationships, from Zibanejad to Kakko to Trouba to Kreider. If, and it’s a big IF, there’s any truth to this, then perhaps the Rangers are simply being coy with Chris Kreider’s injury.
Kreider hasn’t played since the second powerplay in the third period in Buffalo, a game we’d all like to forget. There was nothing alarming about the powerplay, but it was enough that Kreider didn’t finish the game and hasn’t played since.
Perhaps his participation in skates is to test out his injury. After all, the most logical answer is usually the correct answer. But something still seems off about the way Chris Kreider has been handled the last week or so, especially when you factor in all the turmoil this season.
At this point, it seems Chris Kreider’s future with the Rangers can go either way. He’s either going to be a major piece for a retool, or he’s going to get back into the lineup and hopefully return to form for a playoff push. Both have benefits. Both have drawbacks. It’s anyone’s guess.
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