N.Y. Rangers: Big Bucks and Dumb Luck

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

New York Rangers: The Up and Down Week of Chris Kreider.

I wanted Chris Kreider traded.

they should, however painful. Need $$ flexibility, otherwise they'd just be replacing Henrik's prohibitive contract with another. I'd like to think they're still rebuilding.

— B'klynTrolleyBlogger (@BTB_MikeII) February 24, 2020

Chris is in his eighth season with the Rangers, the present campaign being arguably his best.  However through his first seven seasons I always considered him somewhat of an underachiever.  Jeff Gorton's purge and transformation of the team is proving quite fruitful.  Therefore as a rebuilding club I believed there was yet another appreciable return to be had, potentially another high draft pick.  Instead the parties agree to a seven year contract that pays the veteran left winger roughly $6.5 million per season.  Kreider turns 29-years old in April, which is to say when the deal expires he'll be 36-years old.

With all that being said.  I'm not an enemy of Chris Kreider.  When his head is screwed on right he's a fine player.  There's still every reason to believe the total package is still on the way.

Now that Kreider is signed does he get the C? #NYR

— B'klynTrolleyBlogger (@BTB_MikeII) February 25, 2020

My answer is, yes indeed.  As the careers of Henrik Lundqvist and Marc Staal wind down, Kreider is the blueshirts' torch bearer moving forward.  If this season is indicative of a mature Kreider entering his mental and physical prime, he'll fill the role well.

Friday against the Flyers he blocks a shot resulting in a fractured foot. 

That's just dumb luck.