The New York Rangers are expected to make significant changes to their roster this offseason by potentially trading key members of their core following a disappointing campaign.
Using PuckPedia’s PuckGM tool, one fan suggested a hypothetical trade that would send Chris Kreider to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Ryan O’Reilly.
Proposed Trade:
- Rangers receive: Ryan O’Reilly
- Predators receive: Chris Kreider
This proposal involves a straight-up swap of veteran forwards, both of whom have surfaced in recent trade rumors.
For the Rangers, O’Reilly could fill a second- or third-line center role. The 34-year-old brings strong defensive instincts and leadership qualities that could help reshape New York’s locker room culture. He’s under contract for two more years on a four-year, $18 million deal and tallied 21 goals and 32 assists (53 points) in 79 games last season with Nashville.
Kreider, also 34, still has two years remaining on his seven-year, $45.5 million contract with the Rangers. He could slot into Nashville’s top-six forward group and provide a scoring boost. Last season, Kreider registered 22 goals and 8 assists for 30 points.
This would be a classic case of two veteran players getting a fresh start, with each team addressing a need: the Predators add goal-scoring on the wing, while the Rangers gain a defensively-responsible center and shake up their established core.
Kreider Hopeful to Stay With Rangers Despite Trade Rumors
Following a disappointing season, the New York Rangers are expected to explore significant roster changes this offseason.
Chris Kreider’s name was floated in trade discussions at the deadline, though no deal materialized. Now, speculation is mounting that he’ll once again be a topic of trade conversations this summer.
Despite the rumors, Kreider has expressed a strong desire to remain with the team.
“This is home for me,” Kreider said during his end-of-season media availability. “This organization gave me the chance to live out my dream. I’ve built incredible relationships here, grown up here, and spent a lot of time in this area. Naturally, this is where I want to be. I want to help this group win in any way I can.”
Even with his public stance, multiple league insiders have reported that Kreider is still being discussed as a potential trade candidate.
A first-round pick (19th overall) in 2009, Kreider has played his entire 883-game NHL career with the Rangers.
Rangers GM Ready for Trade Offers
The New York Rangers are shaping up to be one of the more active teams to watch this offseason.
They’ve been connected to potential trades involving key players such as Chris Kreider, Artemi Panarin, and Mika Zibanejad. According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, general manager Chris Drury is preparing to entertain trade offers.
“The Rangers are definitely a team to monitor in the coming weeks,” Friedman said on the 32 Thoughts podcast. “Drury has let other teams know he’s open to listening.”
With their sights set on returning to the playoffs, the Rangers are expected to take an aggressive approach this offseason. However, they’ll have to work within a tight financial window, as they currently have just $8.4 million in available cap space.