With Monday's trade deadline looming, Rangers running out of time to extend Chris Kreider
Chris Kreider of the Rangers during the third period against the Sharks at Madison Square Garden on Saturday. Credit: Jim McIsaac
The Rangers have won seven of their last eight games to pull within four points of a playoff spot, and they have a huge game coming up against the Islanders at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum on Tuesday, the day after the NHL trade deadline.
Their biggest question right now: Will Chris Kreider still be a Ranger on Tuesday? How about his fellow unrestricted free agent-to-be, Jesper Fast?
Sunday was a day of rest for the Rangers’ players and coaches, though not likely for general manager Jeff Gorton, who was running out of time to reach agreement on a contract extension for Kreider.
Gorton has been negotiating with Kreider’s agent, Matt Keator, for a while now, and if the two sides can’t reach agreement on a deal, Gorton will have little choice but to trade Kreider before Monday’s 3 p.m. deadline.
Fast also would be attractive to a Stanley Cup contender. But the return for the 28-year-old checking forward wouldn’t be as high as it would be for Kreider, who likely would bring back a first-round draft pick and a young prospect, as Kevin Hayes did when he was sent to Winnipeg last year.
Trading Fast might get the Rangers only a second- or third-round draft pick. Gorton could decide that Fast, who has 11 goals and 16 assists, is worth more to the Rangers than a draft pick.
“Shift in and shift out, we probably don’t have a more consistent player,’’ coach David Quinn said Saturday after Fast scored two goals in a 3-2 win over San Jose. “He just plays hard and he’s got enough skill to complement people that do have skill. And there’s such an honesty to his game that it certainly is infectious throughout our lineup. He’s an important piece to the puzzle here.’’
Quinn was asked what effect a trade might have on the Rangers’ locker room.
“I’m sure it’s going to affect a bunch of guys,’’ he said. “When one of your teammates gets traded, we’re all human beings, and there’s an emotional reaction to it, and guys are disappointed. But again, we’re in pro sports, and that’s a reality of the business that we’re in.’’
Kreider is having a strong season with 24 goals and 21 assists. He has 18 goals and 14 assists in the last 32 games. He and linemates Mika Zibanejad and Pavel Buchnevich have been clicking, and there’s no telling what kind of ripple effect subtracting Kreider could have on the rest of the team.
If Kreider is dealt, how would Quinn fill the left wing spot on the top line? Would he elevate Brendan Lemieux, who’s been playing on the fourth line? Would he put Artemi Panarin there with Zibanejad, which means the team’s top two scorers would be playing on the same line? If he does that, what would the second line look like, especially if Fast is traded, too?
Colin Stephenson covers the Rangers for Newsday. He has spent more than two decades covering the NHL and just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
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