NHL Rumor Mill – April 8, 2025
Is this Chris Kreider’s final season with the Rangers? Will the Blue Jackets attempt to improve their goaltending in the offseason? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
IS THIS CHRIS KREIDER’S LAST SEASON WITH THE RANGERS?
NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks thinks this brutal season could bring a sad end to Chris Kreider’s 13 NHL seasons with the Rangers.
Kreider’s had a difficult campaign. The 33-year-old winger’s production has suffered (20 goals and five assists in 63 games), he’s missed time with a nagging lower-back injury, and he was among the trade candidates on general manager Chris Drury’s infamous memo leaked to the media last November.
New York Rangers winger Chris Kreider (NHL Images).
Brooks believes Kreider’s production and publicly stated lower-back issues likely hurt his trade value among the general managers interested in him. However, he thinks this summer will be different, citing Kreider’s production over the previous three seasons.
Brooks feels the remaining two years of his contract (with an average annual value of $6.5 million) shouldn’t be a hindrance to receiving fair value back in a trade.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The issues that hurt Kreider’s trade value this season could carry over into the offseason. There could be GMs willing to gamble on him regaining his scoring touch but they could squeeze the Rangers to accept a lesser return, retain salary in the deal, or both.
The Rangers have a projected cap space of $9.6 million next season with 18 active roster players under contract and restricted free agents K’Andre Miller and Will Cuylle to re-sign.
Drury must free up some cap space to sign Miller and Cuylle. He also needs room to bolster his roster through trades and free agency. Rivals general managers know this, and they will try to take advantage.
Buying out the remainder of Kreider’s contract is another option but it won’t provide as much cap relief as a trade. The Rangers would face a cap hit of $3 million next season and $4 million in 2026-27, dropping to $1.5 million for each of the remaining two years.
BLUE JACKETS MUST ADDRESS THEIR GOALTENDING THIS SUMMER
THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline believes the Columbus Blue Jackets’ priority this summer should be addressing their goaltending.
Starter Elvis Merzlikins is playing better than last season but his performance still hasn’t been good enough. As of Apr. 6, he was ranked 42nd with a save percentage of .890 and 44th with a 3.24 goals-against average. Meanwhile, Blue Jackets head coach Dean Evason has shown little faith in backups Daniil Tarasov and Jet Greaves.
Portzline believes it’s still highly doubtful that Merzlikins is tradeable. He’s signed through 2026-27 with an AAV of $5.4 million. However, a contract buyout would cost the Blue Jackets $1.5 million for next season, $2.8 million in 2026-27, dropping to $1.63 million for each of the remaining two seasons of the buyout.
Finding a new starter this summer will be challenging in a thin free-agent goalie market. The notables could include Jake Allen of the New Jersey Devils, Dan Vladar of the Calgary Flames, Ilya Samsonov of the Vegas Golden Knights, and Frederik Andersen of the Carolina Hurricanes.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Allen, Vladar and Andersen would be short-term upgrades over Merzlikins, assuming they haven’t re-signed with their current clubs before July 1.
Rangers fan who hasnt liked Kreiders overall play in years…going back to the 1st round loss in 7 vs the Devils where he did score almost every goal in the series but was soft on backchecks which led to 3 of the goals against imho.
He also had no reason to play in the 4Nations with his back issues.
Stock is down but if he back heals he can help someone else’s powerplay
ds. Seriously. Scored almost every goal but didn’t backcheck? Weird that coaches trust such a defensive liability to kill penalties. I’m not sure what haters look for in criticizing him. His size and speed make for higher expectations. I get it. Everything he does gets a disclaimer. He scores 50 goals and everyone claims they’re all on pp and in front of net. During the duration of his current contract and Panarins, I believe Kreider has a higher goals per 82 games. Bread has a higher cap hit by 5.1 mil.
OK, humour an old man. When did having a difference of opinion turn into being labeled a “hater?” Is that one of the “Woke” terms I keep hearing about?
we can agree to disagree on what he brings. yes he scores with top end speed and hands. dont like his efforts or leadership
Whenever the subject of the UFA goalie market is raised, the list – accurately described as “thin” – never includes UFA Anton Forsberg of the Ottawa Senators.
Which, I suppose, is understandable since he is most oft en described as “inconsistent” (including by me in these pages).
But the names listed above cannot remotely be described as pillars of consistency, and when you compare their current records, ages and expiring cap hits, you see that Forsberg certainly belongs in the mix:
Anton Forsberg – turns 33 in November – exp. cap hit of $2,750,000 – 27gp 10 11 2 2.57gaa .907 save %
Jake Allen – turns 35 in August – exp. cap hit of $1,925,000 – 28gp 12 15 1 2.61gaa .910 save %
Dan Vladar – turns 28 in August – exp. cap hit of $2,200,000 – 29gp 11 11 0 2.88gaa .911 save %
Ilya Samsonov – turns 29 in February – exp. cap hit of $1,800,000 – 29 10 9 0 2.78gaa .892 save %
Frederik Andersen – turns 36 in October – exp. cap hit of $3.4 mil 19gp 13 6 0 2.11gaa .914 save %
Many of the listed goalies have been starters. Not sure on Vladar. Forsberg is a back up. Perhaps that is why. However in that back up role Forsberg seems to play well. Could be an option for Columbus to shore up their tending. I wouldn’t replace Merzlikins with Forsberg though.
As far as Ottawa goes. I would move on from Forsberg and allow Meirilainen to back up.
That almost HAS to be the case, Jeff. He’s earned the full-time promotion and, as an RFA, he cap hit is going to be fairly close to what Forsberg is costing now – perhaps a tad less.
Maybe those “inconsistent” NHLers should follow-up on this – lol
https://getpocket.com/explore/item/how-to-be-consistent?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us
It’s also interesting to note, too, Jeff that Forsberg has appeared in as many games this season as those other so-called “starters” so that makes his stats even more comparable.
“Drury must free up cap space to sign Miller and Cullye”
No, NY must find a way to trade Miller and re-sign Cullye.
Everyone keeps pointing fingers at Kreider, Zibanejad, Fox etc having sub par seasons. Miller has regressed for the last 2 seasons!
He’s an offensive defenseman who’s lost his offense which pretty much makes him useless. His defensive game is non existent.
I’m not paying 4+ million for this guy when Jones who’s younger, better and cheaper is sitting in street clothes most nights.
Not putting a QO on Miller and letting him walk for nothing isn’t a bad idea if they can’t find a new home for him. Maybe someone is crazy enough to put in an offer sheet? Doubtful. Either way, he has to go.
Ooops wrong place.
Miller teased us early in his career. he is so disinterested and playing 50%. he could still a good player as he is not even 25
Somebody will take a chance on Miller if the Rags shop him won’t they?
Big, skates, has some skill. No idea what he is worth, but teams are always willing to work with/take a chance on a guy like him.
Vaakanainen has worked out for you guys too. Not a star, but steady and contributing in a positive way. Another guy who can skate. B’s drafted him, but he couldn’t stay healthy when he was coming up. Good to see him stick with it, and get an opportunity in NY.
Ray,
Big guy but doesn’t really use that size. He was a forward until college. He looks like a guy that would be better off playing RW than LD. Maybe that’s the issue? Hockey IQ is not really there. Doesn’t understand when to jump in , when to not jump in. Doesn’t understand where he needs to be a lot.
Usually he’s dragging his partner (majority of his career played with Trouba) down and leaving him and the goaltender out to dry constantly.
Once in a while he’ll make a great play diving , blocking passing lanes on odd man rushes etc. but then follows it up with bone headed plays that make you forget them.
I’m sure somebody would take a chance on him. But he’s 25 and will turn 26 in January of 26 next season . I’d either move him to forward, or temper expectations. He should be much further along in his development than he is today.
This could also partially be on the Rangers organization for rushing him along. He’s been a ft player since he was 20-21?
Agree on Vaakanainen . He and Jones combined will still be cheaper than Miller alone.
Miller plays the 2nd most minutes on the team for D. Just behind Fox.
I think the Rags get a decent return on him if they choose to, somebody will.
Kinda depends what the Rags are planning for this off season? Can’t see them going full rebuild and that would leave them with a young D unless they replace with a quality vet. That gets expensive too.
Call that Robertson kid up already, let him get a taste. I would have bet $20 that kid turned into an NHL’er when he played his JR with the Oil Kings. I get that most 2nd rounders don’t have a much of an NHL career, but he sure looked the part. Maybe he still will.
Would love to know what Jones ever did to Lavy. I think Millers QO will be over 5 mil per. Hard pass. Maybe someone will get him to sign an offer sheet if we’re lucky. Need to get a top pair lefty.
@slick
we agree on jones. and he is skilled at breaking the puck out…..
K Miller, Orthman and a 2nd for Jerid McCann.
Demidov joining the Canadiens now. Who saw that coming?
Here’s hoping he gets to play more than a few games given that he will be burning off a year of his entry level contract.
He doesn’t get a ten game window?
He does chrisms but up to 9 only – from the web: “An NHL rookie can play up to 9 games in a season without burning the first year of their entry-level contract, with the 10th game triggering the contract’s first year.”
The Habs only have 5 left so why not? Ottawa could conceivably do the same with Yakemchuk – except I believe the Calgary Hitmen are still in the WHY playoff mix
Ty George
Thanks, both of you.
They are – just checked
https://www.ctvnews.ca/calgary/article/hitmen-hurricanes-set-for-southern-alberta-playoff-showdown/
Brooks thinks someone will trade for Kreider based on his previous seasons? Good luck. I’d like to know how serious his back is and could he opt to have surgery. Maybe Rangers finally get to take advantage of ltir rules. Let him sit out a season and miraculously feel better in playoffs. Best case scenario.
That’s a lot of confidence in drury. Personally as a pens fan I sincerely hope the 1st round pick they get from rangers is next years. Cause he is driving that team into the ground. Playoffs next year? They’ll be competing for the 1st overall pick with the pens next year.
Maybe Columbus will take a chance on Demko. Get him playing as a 1A in 40-50 games keeping him healthy and he might just be as good as he can be. Problem is that every time he plays well the Vancouver coach runs him into the ground. What would damage reputation guys Demko and Pettersson cost Columbus?