It appears that New York Rangers forward Chris Kreider will not be part of any potential trade with the Montreal Canadiens.
Sources tell Larry Brooks of the New York Post that the New York Rangers have taken Chris Kreider off the table in trade talks with the Montreal Canadiens. J.T. Miller has also been made unavailable to Montreal.
Column. Rangers thought they fixed their D over the summer. (So did you). They apparently didn't. https://t.co/6LxjbIgOL9 via @nypostsports
— Larry Brooks (@NYP_Brooksie) November 1, 2017
Earlier in the week, rumors of the Rangers and Canadiens working on a deal involving Kreider and Montreal center Alex Galchenyuk began to pop up. Monday night, the organization sent some high ranking front office members to watch Montreal take on the Ottawa Senators in Ottawa.
Sather, Schoenfeld, Leger in Ottawa to scout Canadiens-Senators. https://t.co/scskSdClj1 via @nypostsports
— Larry Brooks (@NYP_Brooksie) October 31, 2017
So if not Kreider, who would the Canadiens be looking at? I would still have to believe a top-six forward would be part of a deal for Galchenyuk. If this source’s information is accurate, that would mean there are only four other players to be considered. Rick Nash, Mika Zibanejad, Mats Zuccarello and Kevin Hayes.
Would the Rangers be willing to trade any of them to complete a deal? If not a top-six forward, then maybe they can convince Montreal to take a defenseman back, such as Nick Holden or Ryan McDonagh? I doubt the group that went to watch Montreal play on Monday would have made the trip if they weren’t seriously considering a trade.
For now, it’s another game of wait and see for the fans. One thing is for sure—last night’s 6-4 win over the Vegas Golden Knights wasn’t enough for the Rangers to stop considering a roster shakeup.
