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[New York Rangers]

Rangers reportedly in ‘advanced discussions’ with Ducks about Chris Kreider trade

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Chris Kreider might be in the final homestretch of his tenure with the New York Rangers.

NHL insider Frank Seravalli reported late Tuesday night that the Rangers are in “advanced discussions” with the Anaheim Ducks about a trade which would send Kreider out west for a prospect and draft pick. Most importantly from the Rangers side is that the Ducks reportedly would take on all of Kreider’s remaining contract, $13 million over the next two seasons.

The Rangers currently have approximately $8.4 million in salary-cap space next season and still have several key restricted free agents to sign, including Will Cuylle, K’Andre Miller, Matt Rempe and Adam Edstrom, though there are rumors that Miller could be traded. Shedding the entirety of Kreider’s $6.5 million salary-cap hit would be a big win for general manager Chris Drury.

It also wouldn’t be anything new for the Rangers GM. He saved nearly $12 million annually by placing Barclay Goodrow on waivers, where he was claimed by the San Jose Sharks a year ago, and trading Jacob Trouba to the Ducks in December.

Drury has long sought to move Kreider to create room under the salary cap. Last November, he sent a memo to the other 31 GMs in the NHL detailing that he was open for business and looking to trade Trouba and/or Kreider.

Now those veterans could wind up together across the country next season if this reported deal is consummated.

Seravalli stated that “The talks, which sources stressed had not reached the finish line, were slated to continue on Wednesday. But there was mutual interest between the parties and the framework of a deal in place.”

Related: Rangers reportedly among teams ‘buzzing around’ Stars forward Jason Robertson

Rangers rumored close to trading Chris Kreider​

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Though a Kreider trade would not be shocking, it’s still a big deal. He’s the longest tenured current Rangers player and is third all-time in franchise history with 326 goals, tied for first with 116 power-play goals, and eighth with 883 games played.

Kreider is the Rangers all-time leader with 48 goals in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, including a memorable natural hat trick that helped them rally to eliminate the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Second Round last spring.

The 34-year-old was stung by Drury’s trade memo this past season and slowed by a back injury, a bout of vertigo, and a broken hand. Though his production dropped considerably, Kreider finished third on the Rangers with 22 goals and six power-play goals in 68 games. He tied for fifth in the NHL with four short-handed goals.

However, Kreider totaled just 30 points, a steep decline from the 75 points (39 goals, 36 assists) he recorded in 2023-24. With Rangers looking to revamp their roster this summer after missing the playoffs for the first time in four years, the former 52-goal scorer (2021-22) appeared to be a goner despite his partial no-trade clause.

MORE TO COME

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/chris-kreider-trade-rumor-report-ducks/

 

[New York Rangers]

Why former Rangers center nearly was traded 2nd time before deadline

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Apparently Filip Chytil’s whirlwind season could’ve taken another major turn shortly after he was traded by the New York Rangers to the Vancouver Canucks on Jan. 31.

Reportedly just five weeks after the Rangers moved the 2017 first-round pick, Chytil was nearly flipped by the Canucks to the Ottawa Senators as part of a package to land center Josh Norris.

“The Canucks were pretty close on Josh Norris with the Ottawa Senators at the time. It would’ve been Filip Chytil and it would’ve been a draft pick that would’ve gone the way of the Ottawa Senators,” NHL insider Darren Dreger told the Sekeres and Price podcast this week. “I don’t know why that came unglued. I know at the time that was a player (then Canucks coach) Rick Tocchet really liked. Fit the system, the style of play, can skate. All of those things.”

Ultimately, the Senators did trade Norris, just not to the Canucks. They moved him right before the NHL Trade Deadline on March 7 along with defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker to the Buffalo Sabres for center Dylan Cozens, defenseman Dennis Gilbert and a second-round pick in the 2025 draft.

When Chytil was acquired from the Rangers as part of the return for J.T. Miller, he was excited for the opportunity to be the second-line center behind Elias Pettersson. His ice-time with the Canucks increased by two minutes (to 16:42) from what he received as the third-line center with the Rangers, and Chytil got more of a chance to play on the power play, too.

Chytil scored a goal in his Canucks debut against the Detroit Red Wings on Feb. 2 and had five points (one goals, four assists) in his first seven games after the trade. Yet, despite the positive reviews from Tocchet and Co., it appears behind the scenes the Canucks were looking to use Chytil to make an upgrade at 2C.

Norris had 20 goals in 53 games heading into the trade deadline and scored 35 goals for the Senators in 2021-22. Chytil set NHL career highs with 22 goals, 23 assists and 45 points in 2022-23 and had 11 goals and 20 points in 41 games before the Rangers shipped him off to Vancouver.

Related: Rangers reportedly in ‘advanced discussions’ with Ducks about Chris Kreider trade

Filip Chytil played just 15 games after being traded by Rangers due to concussion​

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Despite not being traded again before the deadline, Chytil’s season still took a sideways turn. Chytil sustained a concussion in a game against the the Chicago Blackhawks on March 15 and didn’t play again the rest of the season. Chytil had one point (goal) in his final eight games and finished with six points (two goals, four assists) in 15 games with the Canucks.

Reportedly Chytil was feeling better by the end of the season, even though the Canucks were cautious with the 25-year-old and continued to hold him out of the lineup because of his prior history with head injuries. Chytil had several concussions with the Rangers, and played only 10 regular-season games in 2023-24 due to a frightening head injury.

So, Chytil is once again dealing with familiar health issues this offseason, compounded by the fact it appears the Canucks tried to trade him mere weeks after acquiring him. It’d appear that the Canucks view him now as a 3C because there are rumors swirling that they’re shopping for a better 2C this summer.

“William Karlsson is probably on the Bingo card if Vegas is willing to part with him. He’d probably be on the card for a lot of teams around the NHL because there are a lot of teams in the market for centers, including, of course, the Vancouver Canucks, who have a pretty significant hunger for that position,” Dreger explained.

Like the Rangers, the Canucks surprisingly missed the playoffs this past season and have a new coach. Adam Foote replaced Tocchet, who stepped down and moved on to become coach of the Philadelphia Flyers.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...hytil-nearly-traded-2nd-time-before-deadline/

 

[New York Rangers]

Why Mike Sullivan’s ‘know-how and high demands’ should get Rangers back into playoffs next season

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It’s been a head-spinning offseason when it comes to coaching turnover in the NHL. Mike Sullivan’s move to the New York Rangers is one of eight changes already in the League, and there’s still one vacancy remaining after Peter DeBoer was recently fired by the Dallas Stars after they lost to the Edmonton Oilers in five games in the Western Conference Final.

It’s anyone’s guess which team will have the most success in the long run after switching coaches. But Adam Proteau of The Hockey News believes Sullivan will be among those who will have the most immediate success.

In a recent article titled “Which NHL Teams With New Coaches Will Make The Playoffs In 2025-26?,” Proteau predicted that the Rangers “have a solid shot to make it back to the playoffs” under Sullivan after missing them this past season for the first time in four years.

“Sullivan brings his championship pedigree to Manhattan, and he’s going to face immediate and prolonged pressure to make Rangers fans forget about their catastrophic play this past season,” Proteau stated.

Proteau noted that the Rangers still have a talented roster. But he added that Sullivan will make a difference behind the bench, as well.

“Two straight seasons with no postseason appearance would be abominable for the Blueshirts, but Sullivan’s know-how and high demands should get the Rangers back where they’ve been accustomed to,” Proteau said.

Related: Rangers reportedly among teams ‘buzzing around’ Stars forward Jason Robertson

Mike Sullivan brings championship pedigree to Rangers​

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Sullivan is a two-time Stanley Cup Champion with a reputation for turning a good team into a great one. That’s what Sullivan did when he took over the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2015-16 and led them to back-to-back championships in 2016 and 2017, becoming the first coach to repeat since Glen Sather with the Edmonton Oilers in 1987 and 1988. The only other franchise that managed to repeat since was the 2020 and 2021 Tampa Bay Lightning under Jon Cooper, who’s the longest-tenured coach currently in the NHL.

What made those glory days in Pittsburgh so successful under Sullivan wasn’t just their pure talent, but their buy-in. He blended speed and structure, put his faith in stars like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, and demanded full commitment from every player on both ends of the ice. Over his near-decade tenure with the Penguins, Sullivan coached in 14 playoff series. He did some of his best work in seasons when the Penguins were inundated with injuries but still reached the postseason.

Now, with the Florida Panthers eyeing a repeat of their own this postseason, the Rangers are desperately hoping Sullivan can build something similar in New York — a real Stanley Cup contender, not just a really good team that lacks championship mettle and falls short of the ultimate goal year after year.

What awaits Mike Sullivan in New York​

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Before anything, Sullivan must re-establish their defensive structure, something the Rangers severely lacked under Peter Laviolette last season. The Rangers’ defensive lapses were nightly, numerous, and ghastly. Whether it’s cleaning up zone exits, tightening gaps on the ice, or creating a more fluid pace between wingers and defensemen, Sullivan’s track record shows he’s got a plan to fix this group.

Under Sullivan the Rangers need to play faster, smarter hockey. His best Penguins teams thrived on speed, quick puck movement up the ice, and disciplined positioning. The question is whether or not the Rangers can adapt to the playing style, since they are used to a more free-flowing East-West offense. If Sullivan can get players to buy into his ideology, play more North-South, and commit to a 200-foot game, the Rangers should be in a good spot.

“Sullivan’s biggest challenge will be to revitalize the Rangers defense and hope their offensive-minded players will show that last year was an aberration,” Proteau noted.

Related: Rangers reportedly eyeing free-agent defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov

Sullivan has the full support of general manager Chris Drury, and Drury has the full support of owner James Dolan. That leaves less wiggle room for the players to underperform again to the embarrassing degree they did this past season. In fact, before Sullivan coaches his first game behind the Rangers bench, there could be significant changes to the roster.

“Even with some presumed alterations to their roster, the Blueshirts have the talent to rebound under Sullivan and once again be a playoff team in the Metropolitan Division,” Proteau stated.

How the rest stack up with Mike Sullivan and the Rangers​

Seven other franchises made changes behind the bench this offseason so far, and while few are in promising positions, others face long-term rebuilds with slim playoff hopes ahead.

Proteau was hopeful for Boston Bruins new hire Marco Strum, stating “Sturm’s task is all about balancing the short-term needs of stars like David Pastrnak and Elias Lindholm with the future of youngsters like Fabian Lysell.”

He believes the Bruins experienced core could push them close to a postseason return, but did make it clear that the pressure is on.

As for Vancouver Canucks coach Adam Foote, he may have the most favorable setup. He’s familiar with the Canucks’ core after serving as an assistant, and now gets to lead a team that features stars like Quinn Hughes, Elias Pettersson and Thatcher Demko. But after this past season’s soap opera, all bets are off in Vancouver, even with a new coach, though Proteau rated the Canucks as a virtual playoff lock next season.

“If [Foote] can squeeze more pop out of their offense … the Canucks should almost certainly be a playoff team again,” Proteau said.

Former Rangers assistant Dan Muse in Pittsburgh and ex-Islanders coach Lane Lambert with the Seattle Kraken are both stepping into transitioning franchises. Proteau suggested Lambert to “be a patient bench boss” as the Kraken continue to look for some consistency.

The hills to climb for the Anaheim Ducks and Chicago Blackhawks are real steep, since both of these teams . For the Blackhawks and new coach Jeff Blashill, they are are multiple pieces away from playoff contention and their rebuild is centered around Connor Bedard; while Joel Quenneville has plenty of good young talent with the Ducks, who are closer to popping than the Blackhawks.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...an-should-get-back-into-playoffs-next-season/