April 15, 2025 | 2:55pm ET
TheFourthPeriod.com

KREIDER TRADE TALKS AMONG OFF-SEASON PLANS FOR RANGERS?

Chris Kreider, forward

The 2024-25 NHL regular-season cannot end fast enough for New York Rangers, who have already been eliminated from the playoffs in a year that started with high expectations.

Despite acquiring star J.T. Miller from the Vancouver Canucks, defenceman Will Borgen from the Seattle Kraken, and signing No.1 goaltender Igor Shersterkin to an eight-year, $92 million contract extension, the season is considered a failure.

The Rangers will not play in the post-season for the first time since the 2020-21 campaign after making the Eastern Conference Finals last season. Having moved several players via trades this season, including captain Jacob Trouba, more changes are expected this off-season.

With the future of head coach Peter Laviolette in question, one move could come behind the bench as GM Chris Drury looks to quickly fix what went so poorly for his club this season.

But beyond a potential change off the ice, Drury is expected to explore additional changes to his roster and is expected to revisit trade discussions with clubs involving veteran forward Chris Kreider, who owns a 15-team no-trade list.

Kreider, who turns 34 on Apr. 30, has two more years remaining on his seven-year, $45.5 million contract after this season. He is due $5 million in total salary in each of the next two seasons.

The Rangers were engaged in trade talks with teams about Kreider this season, but injuries played a small factor in why he wasn’t moved.

With just $9.672 million in cap space for the 2025-26 season, and young studs K’Andre Miller and Will Cuylle set to become restricted free agents July 1, Drury will need to be creative in how he alters his roster.

In 67 games with the Rangers so far this season, Kreider has registered 21 goals and seven assists for 28 points.