The New York Rangers are expected to make significant changes to their core this offseason following a disappointing year, and that could include trading key veteran players.
A recent trade idea, proposed using PuckPedia’s PuckGM tool, suggests the Rangers could send forward Chris Kreider to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Ryan O’Reilly.
Proposed Trade:
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Rangers receive: Ryan O’Reilly
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Predators receive: Chris Kreider
This hypothetical deal would see both teams swapping veteran forwards who have surfaced in recent trade rumors. O’Reilly, a reliable two-way center, would provide New York with a strong defensive presence down the middle and help bring leadership and accountability to the locker room. He has two years remaining on a four-year, $18 million contract and is coming off a 53-point season (21 goals, 32 assists) in 79 games.
In return, the Predators would acquire Kreider, who could slot in as a top-six winger and bolster their scoring depth. Kreider, also 34, tallied 22 goals and 8 assists last season. He has two years left on a seven-year, $45.5 million contract.
The move would represent a classic “change of scenery” deal for both players while helping each team address different roster needs — a shutdown center for the Rangers and a scoring winger for the Predators.
Kreider Wants to Stay in New York
Despite the speculation, Kreider has expressed a desire to remain with the Rangers. He acknowledged how much the organization means to him, saying:
“This is home for me. This is the organization that gave me an opportunity to live out my dream. I’ve developed so many incredible relationships and grown up and spent so much time in this area. So, obviously, this is where I want to be.”
Even so, Kreider’s name continues to circulate in trade rumors, especially after being mentioned at the deadline. He was drafted 19th overall in 2009 and has played all 883 games of his NHL career with the Rangers.
Rangers GM Open for Business
General manager Chris Drury appears open to reshaping the team’s roster. According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, Drury is already entertaining trade offers:
“The Rangers are a team to keep an eye on the next few weeks,” Friedman said on 32 Thoughts. “Drury is telling teams he is ready for offers.”
Along with Kreider, other big names such as Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad have reportedly been floated in trade discussions.
With only $8.4 million in cap space and a clear goal of making the playoffs next season, New York is expected to be aggressive in exploring its offseason options.
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