Rangers make Chris Kreider a healthy scratch vs. Devils

On December 24, 2024By Littum

Chris Kreider was designated a healthy scratch ahead of the Rangers’ matchup with the Devils on Monday afternoon at the Prudential Center.

The decision to sit the longest-tenured Ranger comes amid the club’s 4-12 skid and freefall in the standings to sixth in the Metropolitan Division and 22nd in the NHL.

Kreider, who is eighth on the Rangers with 12 points, has scored just once in the past nine games.

Rangers winger Chris Kreider is a healthy scratch Monday vs. The Devils. Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn pictures

His only assist so far this season didn’t come until Dec. 6 against the Penguins.

The last time Kreider had a point on the power play was Dec. 2 against the Devils.

Head coach Peter Laviolette has begun making significant lineup changes in the wake of the Rangers’ downward spiral.

Chris Kreider Jason Szenes for the NY Post

After Kaapo Kakko served as a healthy scratch in St. Louis, Laviolette is now putting down a veteran to try to send a message to both Kreider and the rest of the team.

Kreider also missed three games in late November with back spasms that surfaced shortly after president and general manager Chris Drury listed the 33-year-old wing as available in a league-wide trade memo.