Chris Kreider has played his entire NHL career with the New York Rangers. For 13 seasons, he has been one of their most consistent forwards and a respected leader. Now, reports say his time with the team may be ending.
During his exit interview after the 2024–25 season, Kreider said he wanted to stay in New York. He called it “home” and said this was the organization that gave him his start. However, multiple reports suggest that both he and the Rangers agree that it might be time to move on. NHL writer Phil Kocher said, “There is a strong sense that the feeling is mutual… Kreider recognizes that the relationship has run its course.”
Kreider is 34 years old and still has two years left on a seven-year, $45.5 million contract he signed in 2020, which includes a $6.5 million cap hit each season. Last season, his performance dropped, as he scored only 22 goals and had 8 assists in 68 games—a total of 30 points; his lowest in several years.
General Manager Chris Drury has already started changing the team. He traded away former captain Jacob Trouba and former second-overall pick Kaapo Kakko during the season. Now, Kreider appears to be next.
- Chris Kreider is reportedly being discussed in trade talks with both the Utah Mammoth and Boston Bruins as the Rangers explore major offseason changes.
- A proposed deal with Utah would send Kreider west in exchange for 24-year-old forward Barrett Hayton, who recorded 46 points in 82 games last season.
- Boston’s offer includes Pavel Zacha, Fabian Lysell, and a 2026 first-round pick, aiming to fix their power play after finishing 29th in the league at 15.22%.
Utah Mammoth Could Trade for Kreider in Exchange for Barrett Hayton
One possible trade would send Kreider to the Utah Mammoth. This team recently relocated from Arizona and is working to rebuild its identity and become competitive in its new home.
In return, the Rangers would get Barrett Hayton, a 24-year-old forward. Hayton is in the final year of a two-year, $5.3 million contract. Drafted in the first round and played all 82 games last season for Utah, he scored 20 goals and made 26 assists, finishing with 46 points.
If this trade goes through, Hayton would give the Rangers a younger player who can play on the second or third line, which fits the team’s goal of adding youth and improving long-term depth. It would also reduce the team’s salary cap burden and help with future roster flexibility.
For Utah, Kreider would bring experience and leadership. The Mammoth has many young players and future draft picks. Adding a veteran like Kreider could help the team grow and compete. After years of struggles as the Arizona Coyotes, the franchise wants to make a fresh start in Utah. Kreider’s presence would help support that goal.
Bruins Also Interested in Kreider to Fix Power Play Issues
Another possible trade involves the Boston Bruins, who missed the playoffs after a disappointing 2024–25 season. The team finished with just 76 points and had one of the worst power plays in the NHL. They converted only 15.22 percent of their chances, ranking 29th out of 32 teams. They scored just 35 power-play goals in total.
In response, Boston is looking to add scoring help. Kreider is one of the league’s top power-play scorers. In the 2021–22 season, he led the NHL with 26 power-play goals and also had 11 game-winning goals, finishing that season with 52 goals. In the next two seasons, he scored 36 and 39 goals. Over his career, he has 315 goals in 845 regular-season games.
The Bruins are considering sending Pavel Zacha, Fabian Lysell, and a 2026 first-round draft pick to the Rangers in exchange for Kreider. Zacha is a 28-year-old center with a $4.75 million cap hit. Lysell is a Swedish rookie winger who spent most of the season in the AHL. He has a cap hit of $863,000. The Bruins would also need to move additional salary or get the Rangers to retain part of Kreider’s contract, since Boston currently has only $744,000 in cap space.
This trade would also be personal for Kreider. He grew up in Boxford, Massachusetts, just north of Boston, and played college hockey at Boston College. A move to the Bruins would be a homecoming. It would also give Boston a top goal-scorer to play alongside David Pastrnak, who leads the team with 391 career goals and ranks 14th among active NHL players.
New Coach Mike Sullivan Brings New Vision to the Rangers
These possible trades are happening as the Rangers adjust to their new head coach, Mike Sullivan. He replaced Peter Laviolette and brought a new direction to the team. Sullivan said clearly, “Talent doesn’t win championships. Teams win championships,” clearly showing he wants players who work together and support a strong locker room culture.
Sullivan said he had early conversations with players and believes there is leadership in the room. He noted, “Whether you wear a letter or you don’t wear a letter, leadership manifests itself in many ways.” He also said he would work closely with Chris Drury to decide which players would fit the team’s plan.
Kreider has been a leader in the Rangers’ locker room for years. But with the team aiming for change, and his contract being hard to manage, the front office may feel this is the right time to make a move.
