Chris Kreider’s extension with New York Rangers shakes up trade deadline day
After months of trade rumors, Chris Kreider and the New York Rangers have agreed to an extension, taking the biggest trade piece of the deadline off the market.
Chris Kreider is going nowhere. The New York Rangers and Kreider have reached an agreement on a seven-year extension worth $45.5 million for a cap hit of $6.5 million a year, as announced by the team.
This news comes after reports that contract talks stalled on Sunday night, and a trade seemed almost inevitable. Teams like the St. Louis Blues, Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche, and New York Islanders all were rumored to be willing to pay a big haul in order get him.
The 28-year-old Kreider was drafted by the Rangers in 2009, and made his debut in 2012. In 520 regular-season games in New York, Kreider has produced 157 goals and 316 points. This season, he’s on pace for a career-best with 24 goals and 45 points in 60 games so far.
By extending Kreider, apparently the Rangers believe that the rebuild is just about over and are going to try start competing for a playoff spot as soon as next season. Kreider was without a doubt the best rental option on the trade market this deadline and would’ve certainly fetched a huge return. Unless the market suddenly dried up, this might not be the best move for the Rangers with where they are right now.
The contract itself seems to be reasonable. With Kreider turning 29 in April, the seven-year extension will expire when Kreider is 36-years-old, which isn’t ideal. But the $6.5 million cap hit is a fair price to pay for what he brings to the table. New York is still going to be right up against the salary cap next season, and couldn’t afford anything more.
As of the trade deadline, the Rangers are still in the playoff race. They’re four points behind the Carolina Hurricanes for the final wild card spot, and it’s not impossible that they can make it. They’re 8-2-0 in their last ten games, including huge wins over the Hurricanes and Blue Jackets.
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