Longest-tenured Ranger Hopes He’s Not the Next Trade Target

Longest-tenured Ranger Hopes He’s Not the Next Trade Target

Chris Kreider is hoping he isn’t the next player the Rangers decide to move as the team faces an uncertain future after a tough season.

Describing the season as a challenge barely scratches the surface for Kreider. Between a series of injuries, being named in an early-season trade memo, and struggling to contribute on the ice, the toll on the Rangers’ longest-serving player was evident when he spoke to reporters after the season finale at the MSG Training Center on Monday. The possibility that this could be one of his final appearances as a Ranger made the moment even more emotional.

“This is home for me,” said Kreider, who still has two years left on his contract with a 15-team no-trade list. “This organization gave me the opportunity to live my dream. I’ve built incredible relationships, grown, and spent so much time here. This is where I want to be, and this is the team I want to help succeed.”

With the season ending on a disappointing note for the Rangers, major changes are expected.

Kreider’s performance was among several key players who didn’t meet expectations, as he finished with his lowest point total since the 2020-21 season (22 goals, 8 assists, 30 points).

The 33-year-old offered some explanation for his struggles. After dealing with back issues early in the season, including spasms he had described in November, Kreider was then hit with a “weird illness” after the Christmas break that led to vertigo due to an inner ear problem. Once he started to feel better, Kreider injured his left hand in his first game back after the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off on February 22.

He’s consulting with a specialist to determine the next steps, and surgery could be necessary.

“I hurt it in the third period against Buffalo on a late power play — it was 7-2 or 8-2 at that point,” Kreider recalled. “I went to rim the puck, got a push from behind, and jammed my hand, injuring bone, tendon, and muscle. I got some scans and taped it up, but it wasn’t right. I took some time off, but I might need surgery soon.”

Unlike players like Mika Zibanejad or Artemi Panarin, who have full no-move clauses, Kreider’s contract makes him a more likely candidate for trade. In fact, Rangers GM Chris Drury reportedly explored this option earlier in the season when Kreider and former captain Jacob Trouba were mentioned in a trade memo sent to other NHL GMs.

Kreider has said this isn’t the first time he’s been the subject of trade rumors and likely won’t be the last, but he has always shown up and given his best effort. He acknowledged the memo’s impact on the locker room, as well as the emotional toll of losing teammates like Trouba and alternate captain Barclay Goodrow.

As part of the leadership group, Kreider admitted it was tough to adjust after the departures of such key figures.

“It’s part of professional sports, but at some point, it becomes a distraction,” he said. “It was a challenge to stay focused and still do the job to the best of our abilities. Losing those two guys, who were huge leaders for us, changed the dynamic in the locker room. Not to mention the personal relationships we all had — they’re both incredible people who made a positive impact on the team and the community.”