Still the biggest fish at this year’s NHL Trade Deadline, there’s news on a potential move for Chris Kreider. The New York Rangers are still negotiating with pending UFA, but at the same time, they’re working the phones, accepting offers and talking to other teams. Boston, Colorado, New York Islanders and St. Louis plus more are likely interested.
As per Brian Burke during Sportsnet’s broadcast of the Edmonton Oilers versus Boston Bruins game, he’s hearing the ask is incredibly high; as many as four pieces.
Burke notes the Rangers have been watching what moved so far and they now want a first-round pick, a prospect, another pick and a conditional pick if Kreider were to sign with his new team. This is all for a rental! He then said, the first time to meet that ask will get the player.
TSN’s Darren Dreger reports the Islanders are definitely among the suitors, he just doesn’t see it as happening and he’s not sure the Rangers would be keen to make a deal with the Islanders. Their offer might need to be better than the ask.
Not a team that was rumored to be in on Kreider, Elliotte Friedman noted that “Washington GM Brian MacLellan made a stealth move to see if he could get in on Kreider, but the Dillon trade probably takes him out of it.”
As it stands now, most people believe the Colorado Avalanche and Boston Bruins are the teams leading the charge to acquire Kreider. Frank Seravalli of TSN notes:
The Avalanche were in on Kreider well before right wing Mikko Rantanen went down with a reported collarbone injury in Monday night’s game against Tampa Bay. That injury may have only heightened the urgency to make it happen.
He adds that the St. Louis Blues may have bowed out of the race after acquiring Marco Scandella and after the focus may have shifted to defence with Jay Bouwmeester’s future up in the air following a scary cardiac episode in Anaheim last week.
Boston has long-been rumored to be interested, but they have feelers in on a number of players and also have some potential cap issues that would require they get creative.
Where will Kreider land? Or, will he stay with the Rangers? We’ve got four days until we know for sure.
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