10/31/19 | Frank Seravalli listed Kreider at #1 on TSN‘s trade bait board, noting that he could potentially fit with St. Louis as they deal with Vladimir Tarasenko’s injury.
Elliotte Friedman wrote at Sportsnet that Kreider would be “perfect” for St. Louis.
10/17/19 | According to Pierre LeBrun at The Athletic, the Rangers and Chris Kreider’s agents had “very short” contract discussions this past June and have had nothing since.
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When Jeff Gorton was asked prior to the start of the season about any extension talks with Kreider, he said “no, right now I haven’t talked to Chris or Matt Keator lately. We had some conversations over the summer and right now we will let him play hockey and let those things work itself out.”
Kreider, a pending UFA, said before the season that his situation was “all good” and that he didn’t anticipate any issues heading into the final-year of his contract.
In late July, with the Rangers in the middle of a potential salary cap situation, it was reported that Kreider’s name was “everywhere” and that the Rangers wanted the #16 pick from Colorado at the draft for him.
LeBrun notes that Kreider, 28, has an 11-team list of places he can’t be traded without approval and that he could be a “rather sneaky deadline addition for a contender.” (The Athletic)
Adam Rotter: At this point it seems more likely than not that Kreider will be moved though if the Rangers are in and around a playoff race that might change. I think that the Rangers held on to Kreider last trade deadline because they wanted to extend him but that Kaapo Kakko and Artemi Panarin showing up changed that. Panarin because he took Kreider’s spot on the top line and Kakko because, although it’s down the line, I think the Rangers want to maintain as much cap flexibility as possible for wingers. He has a big role not just on the ice but as a leader and mentor to many of the young players, which is why the Rangers have always put such a high price on him in trade talks, but, just like so many of his teammates before him the past two-years, his time as a Ranger may be coming to an end.