NHL trade rumors: Top 3 teams that should trade for Chris Kreider

New York Rangers forward Chris Kreider is the best player who’s been mentioned in NHL trade rumors. He’ll be the best rental available at the trade deadline. Which three teams would be the best fit for him?

The NHL trade deadline is quickly approaching. It would be shocking to see the New York Rangers hang onto forward Chris Kreider, as his name has been in NHL trade rumors for well over a year. Kreider is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after this season, which all but ensures he’ll be gone unless the Rangers sign him to an extension.

Extension talks haven’t gone well between the two parties. Larry Brooks of The New York Post is reporting there haven’t been any substantial discussions between Kreider and the Rangers.

Furthermore, Darren Dreger said in an Insider Trading segment that the Rangers are willing to retain salary on Kreider to make him a more feasible fit for Stanley Cup contenders who are close to the cap ceiling.

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Currently, Kreider has a $4.625 million cap hit, but he’s likely going to get a substantial raise this summer, as he’s one of the best free agents on the market. And with the Rangers needing to make decisions on several players, it’s not likely they’ll be able to afford to be the team who gives him that raise.

Kreider should be tempting for a number of teams. He’s reasonably cheap at $4.625 million. Kreider also has a unique skill set, as he’s one of the better power forwards in the NHL. He’s also one of the more consistent players in the NHL, as he’s picked up at least 20 goals and 40 points in four of his last five seasons. Also, he has at least 50 points in two of his last three seasons and is on pace to reach that total again this season.

Moreover, Kreider was on pace to pass both of those totals during the 2017-18 season before injuries cut his season short. In 58 games that season, he put up 16 goals and 37 points. Had Kreider maintained that pace over 82 games, it would have given him roughly 23 goals and 52 points.

Not only is he an effective scorer at 5v5, he can also be effective on the power play. 45 of his 148 goals have come on the man advantage. Kreider has at least five power play goals in each full season, including the 2017-18 season when he only played 58 games. In 77 career postseason games, he has 37 points.

Whoever trades for Kreider will be lucky to have him. Now, who should trade for him? Let’s take a look at three teams who should pull the trigger on a deal.

2. Tampa Bay Lightning

Projected deadline cap space: $4,255,179 (as of Jan. 15)

Chris Kreider would be a great fit on the Tampa Bay Lightning for several reasons. First of all, I’m pretty sure it’s a law that all New York Rangers must play for the Lightning at some point. OK, maybe it isn’t. But still, Kreider’s former teammates J.T. Miller, Brian Boyle, Ryan McDonagh, and Kevin Shattenkirk have all been played there. McDonagh and Shattenkirk are still there.

In all seriousness, the Lightning could use someone like Kreider. They miss the physical presence Miller brought to their top-six. Sure, Pat Maroon has been quite solid with 16 points in 42 games. But he’s looked out of place whenever he’s been given a top-six role in Tampa. Kreider is someone who could bring that physical presence back into the Bolts’ top-six, or at least their top nine.

He’d also give their already lethal power play a nice boost. There’s probably not a spot for him on their top unit, but Kreider would be a mighty fine addition to their second unit. Kreider’s fast enough to skate in Tampa’s up-tempo system and he has proven when he skates with good players, he gets good results.

Frankly, the Rangers should want to deal with the Lightning as well. At this point, they know their prospects pretty well. The Lightning also have an extra first-round pick, so maybe they’d be willing to deal it. Wouldn’t it be funny if the Lightning traded the draft pick they got for J.T. Miller to get Kreider?

1. Pittsburgh Penguins

Projected deadline cap space: $4,861,273 (as of Jan. 15)

The Pittsburgh Penguins need to add a top-six forward at the trade deadline. They certainly have the space and the desire to add Kreider, especially after Jake Guentzel‘s injury. Guentzel is out for the rest of the season and could be out for most of the postseason. If the Penguins want to make a run at the Stanley Cup, they need to add someone like Kreider.

According to Elliotte Friedman, the Penguins expressed interest in Kreider even before Guenztel’s injury.

“All of the contenders, from Colorado to Boston to St. Louis to Pittsburgh are all believed to be interested,” Friedman said.

Kreider is someone the Penguins are obviously familiar with, as they face him regularly. General manager Jim Rutherford is never shy to make trades. He usually stays away from blockbusters (the Phil Kessel trade being the exception), but he needs someone to step up and replace Guentzel. I’m not sure if they have any internal options who would be as good as Kreider.

Kreider would replace Guentzel on the left side. With his skillset, he’d be a perfect fit in Pittsburgh. Kreider would also give the Penguins a viable, physical option on the left side. He’s always done well with skilled players, so one can assume he’d have no issues playing with Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin (though I think he’d be a slightly better fit with Crosby).

And if Guentzel comes back in the postseason, suddenly, the Penguins could have three really great forward lines. They won back-to-back Stanley Cups using their “three lines of death” approach. Getting Kreider on board could help them get back to that.