Top Early Landing Spots for Chris Kreider Before the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline

Chris Kreider’s time with the New York Rangers could be coming to an end. The veteran winger has been a key figure for the Rangers throughout his 13-year career, becoming the franchise’s all-time playoff goal-scoring leader. However, despite his long tenure and success on Broadway, Kreider’s future with the team seems uncertain, with trade rumors gaining traction as the 2024-25 season unfolds.

Kreider’s Current Struggles with the Rangers

Kreider’s production has dipped this season, contributing 11 goals in 30 games, which isn’t terrible but comes with concerns. He has only one assist to go along with those goals and is on pace for 28 goals across 78 games. This would be a significant drop from the 39 goals he scored the previous year and would break a streak of three consecutive seasons with at least 30 goals.

Despite his goal-scoring ability, Kreider has struggled with consistency, and his ice time has been reduced. He’s even been a healthy scratch at times, and when he does play, he’s often relegated to the fourth line. The Rangers are in the midst of a disappointing season, having lost 12 of their last 16 games. As a result, Kreider’s trade value could be a focal point in the coming months as the team looks to rebuild or restructure.

Best Landing Spots for Chris Kreider

As the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline approaches, Chris Kreider could be a key player on the move. Here are two of the best potential landing spots for the veteran winger:

The Los Angeles Kings have become one of the NHL’s top teams in the 2024-25 season. After making the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of the last three seasons and falling short to the Edmonton Oilers in each of those years, the Kings are looking to add a final piece to their roster to take their postseason run to the next level.

While the Kings are an elite defensive team with one of the best defensive units in the league, their offensive production has been inconsistent. Adding Chris Kreider to their top-six forwards could provide a major boost, especially alongside veteran Anze Kopitar. Kreider’s ability to score goals and play in high-pressure situations could be exactly what the Kings need to become a more complete team and take on the Oilers and other Stanley Cup contenders.

Another strong candidate to acquire Kreider is the New Jersey Devils. New Jersey is a team in transition, with their eyes firmly set on the future. They have a talented group of young players but could benefit from adding a seasoned veteran like Kreider to provide leadership and scoring depth. The Devils have struggled with consistency in their offensive game, and Kreider’s ability to find the back of the net could help stabilize their attack.

Adding Kreider would not only improve New Jersey’s scoring but would also bring much-needed experience to a relatively young team. Given the Devils’ positioning in the standings, they could be looking to make a big trade to solidify their playoff chances. Kreider’s leadership could be the perfect fit to push them to the next level.

Conclusion: A Key Decision for Kreider’s Future

As Chris Kreider’s trade rumors continue to swirl, his future with the New York Rangers looks uncertain. With teams like the Los Angeles Kings and New Jersey Devils looking for scoring help, Kreider could soon find himself donning a new jersey. Whether or not the Rangers move him before the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline depends on how the next few months unfold.

Kreider’s goal-scoring ability and experience make him an attractive trade target for teams looking to make a playoff push, and whichever team acquires him will hope he can regain his form and contribute immediately to their championship aspirations.