Fansided

5 NHL teams that should trade for Chris Kreider

By Griffin Youngs

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 29: Chris Kreider #20 of the New York Rangers argues a second period call during the game against the Philadelphia Flyers at Madison Square Garden on January 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 29: Chris Kreider #20 of the New York Rangers argues a second period call during the game against the Philadelphia Flyers at Madison Square Garden on January 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Photo by John Crouch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Photo by John Crouch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images /

Dallas Stars

This was a tough one to make a final decision on, as there are several teams that would be a great fit for Kreider. Ultimately it came down to the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Dallas Stars as the best fits. Both have made big trades with the Rangers during their rebuild, and would benefit from adding Kreider to the lineup.

Ultimately the Stars seemed to be the better fit for Kreider, based on their need for scoring depth as they approach the playoffs. While the Lightning have the more enticing assets to spend on Kreider, Tampa Bay has plenty of talented wingers already and adding Kreider might cause more confusion than anything to a team that is rolling recently.

The Stars, on the other hand, need to make some moves at the trade deadline to address their offense. They are 28th in the league in goals scored with 128, and are lacking on depth especially down the left wing. However, being the best team in the league for goals against at 122 has allowed them to sit comfortably at third in the Central Division, and only two points behind the Avalanche for second.

Quite simply, the Stars need to acquire some scoring if they’re going to have a real chance at the Stanley Cup this season. Acquiring Kreider would be a huge step for the Stars, and quietly give them a dangerous top six to compliment their strong goaltending. Obviously their top line is always a threat, but having a second line of Kreider, Roope Hintz, and Joe Pavelski to support them would take some of the pressure off the Stars’ best players to carry the load.

In order to get Kreider, the Stars would need some salary cap gymnastics in order to get him to fit. They have a comical $815 in cap space to work with, and would need to alter the roster a bit to get it to work. They have their own first round pick, and some decent prospects that could make for interesting trade package.

The Stars are an ideal sleeper team to make a Stanley Cup run this postseason, but they’re not quite done building yet. It just seems like they’re one big piece away from being true contenders in the West, and Kreider almost seems like a must-have for them. As one of the oldest teams in the league, the time to go for the Stanley Cup is now, because this opportunity might not come again for a long time.

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