On May 16, 2024, Chris Kreider led the New York Rangers to the Eastern Conference Finals with a natural hat trick against the Carolina Hurricanes. Fast forward nearly a year, and the 33-year-old veteran finds himself reflecting on a challenging 2024-25 season and an uncertain future with the team.
Speaking during the team’s final media availability, Kreider revealed the physical setbacks that derailed his season. He spent the early months managing a nagging back issue, only to be hit with a strange illness around the holidays that affected his inner ear and triggered vertigo. Just as he started to regain form, a hand injury set him back again.
After putting up 39 goals and 75 points in the 2023-24 season—including 29 power-play points—Kreider’s production dipped sharply this year, managing just 22 goals and 30 points total. While some fans questioned his effort, Kreider pointed to the series of health problems that prevented him from finding his rhythm.
Looking back, it may have been wiser to sit him out until he was fully recovered. In the midst of a playoff push, relying on an aging, injured player might have cost the team valuable development time for younger talents like Gabe Perrault or Brennan Othmann, who could have gained more experience.
During a disastrous 4-15-0 stretch between November and December, GM Chris Drury reportedly circulated a memo expressing interest in trading both Jacob Trouba and Kreider. Trouba was later dealt to the Anaheim Ducks, but a Kreider trade never came to pass.
When asked about the trade rumors, Kreider said he wasn’t surprised. “That wasn’t the first time, and it won’t be the last. It’s part of the business,” he noted, adding that he largely stayed unaware due to not having social media. While the trade talk was unsettling for many within the organization, Kreider remained professional, stating, “Every day you just try to show up and do your job.”
Despite the tough season and trade speculation, Kreider expressed a strong desire to remain a Ranger. “This is home for me,” he said. “This is the organization that gave me a chance to live out my dream. I want to be here and help this group win however I can.”
Even though his role may be reduced, a healthy Kreider could still provide leadership and value as the Rangers transition into a new era.
