The top rental on the open market this season as the trade deadline approaches is undoubtedly Chris Kreider of the New York Rangers. It shouldn’t surprise anyone then when Pierre LeBrun reports on the latest edition of TSN’s Insider Trading that “at least eight teams” have expressed interested in the big winger.
LeBrun does not expand on who those teams may be, but does suggest that the asking price would be similar to what the Rangers received for Kevin Hayes last year. That deal with the Winnipeg Jets included a first-round selection and young forward Brendan Lemieux. According to the insider, contract talks between the Rangers and Kreider haven’t been ruled out, but they also haven’t occurred at this point.
An All-Star this season, Kreider should be of interest for many teams around the league that need an upgrade in their forward ranks. The 28-year old has 17 goals and 32 points in 48 games, but more importantly also brings incredible speed and physicality to the ice every night. In fact, Kreider placed third in the Fastest Skater competition at the All-Star festivities, behind only Connor McDavid and Mathew Barzal.
That kind of dynamic speed is something that allows Kreider to fit in almost anywhere in a lineup, but add it to the fact that he’s 6’3″, 217-lbs and you have a player that has opposing executives drooling at the thought of adding him to their group. The question will be who is willing to pay the highest price for a player who is only guaranteed for a few months.
Kreider is currently on the final season of a four-year, $18.5MM deal he signed in 2016 and holds an 11-team no-trade list. He’ll be due a huge raise on that number in the summer, given he will almost definitely reach the 20-goal mark for the fifth time in six seasons.
Kreider has an 11-team no trade list and it was reported that all the Canadian teams are on that list. That’s significant because I would think Edmonton, Vancouver & Calgary would all have interest in Kreider. Still, the Rangers should get what they want with multiple teams interested
Just because he has a team on a no trade list doesn’t mean he won’t accept a trade there. It just gives him room to get a bonus or massive contract extension.
It has been reported that he has no interest in playing Canada. Larry Brooks reported that he put the Canadian teams on the list because he doesn’t want to end up being traded to one of them like Hayes was last season. He wants to stay in the states and preferably on the east coast, but presumably a team like Colorado or St. Louis wouldn’t be on his no-trade list
He’d look great in Carolina!
I think he loves being a Ranger and is a player that gets traded and then resigns with the Rangers this summer.
As a Ranger fan,I hope you are right
Chris Kreider to St. Louis for Jordan Kyrou and late first round pick since Blues will have pick 25-31 in June Draft. as I agree with commentary from NHL Network earlier today.