Two extremes? Kreider could either be a Ranger lifer or ex Ranger within the next 4 weeks.

Two extremes? Kreider could either be a Ranger lifer or ex Ranger within the next 4 weeks.

Chris Kreider has approached a crossroads in his Rangers career. Kreider has the opportunity to make himself either untouchable (and in line for a new fat contract) or very quickly place himself in the cross hairs of General Manager Jeff Gorton as the team approach the trade deadline.

One assumes that the Rangers (whether you like it or not) are likely to be buyers at the deadline. They need to add to the core if they’re going to have realistic designs on a deep playoff run and with draft picks at a premium it’s likely to be young roster players that are the focus of any potential trading partners. There’s a handful of underperforming players on the roster at the moment and teams covet upside – particularly upside that’s attached to an expiring contract.

We don’t need to muse any more than we already have done about Kreider’s potential, or his skill set, or his contract status or even his up and down contract season. The facts are clear: Kreider hasn’t been good enough thus far and the Rangers absolutely need Kreider to kick on in the second half. To his credit, prior to his brief injury enforced absence before the All Star break he was beginning to heat up.

Starting Tuesday, the Rangers get back into it and the games come thick and fast. They have seven games in the first two weeks of the second half. It’s a fair bet that by Valentine’s day the Rangers and Gorton will know what needs to be done and who is worth keeping around. The Rangers have five divisional match-ups in the first two weeks. They have a chance to either break away from the chasing pack or their play will encourage Gorton that changes are required to ‘save’ this season.

Kreider is obviously one of the Rangers best trade assets if he isn’t deemed untouchable. While Kreider doesn’t perform noticeably better (production wise) pre or post All Star break historically, four of the next seven games are against the Devils and the Flyers, teams he has a strong track record against (16 points in 22 games collectively). Kreider has an opportunity to help the Rangers put some daylight between themselves and the surprising Devils and help make himself untradeable.

The Rangers need someone to kick on and provide secondary scoring. While JT Miller’s development has been a nice surprise the relative regression of Kreider, Derek Stepan, Kevin Hayes, the scoring struggles of Nash and the inconsistencies of Derick Brassard have all been cause for concern. Kreider may indirectly be competing against Hayes to see which player is shown the exit. That should be motivation enough for both players.

Does Kreider become a $5-6m player thanks to a strong second half or does he become a big market afterthought and another former Ranger in a hockey outpost such as Arizona or Edmonton? It’s a big month for Kreider one in which he is definitely under the microscope.

 

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