Are the Rangers serious about trading Chris Kreider?

After a 6-2 loss in Edmonton on Saturday, the New York Rangers and general manager Chris Drury appear to be considering some pretty significant roster moves to get the squad back on track.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported on Monday that the Rangers are listening to offers for captain Jacob Trouba and winger Chris Kreider, while negotiations for other players are still ongoing.

While Trouba trade talks have been ubiquitous the past few months — the Rangers were reportedly tried to find a landing spot for the defenseman in the offseason, but a deal never materialized — Kreider’s name in the rumor mill is a recent development.

“The Kreider thing is very new,” Friedman said on The FAN Hockey Show with Matt Marchese and Mike Futa Monday afternoon. “Kreider doesn’t have full protection against movement, and I think there would be interest.”

The longest tenured Ranger, Kreider has been with the team since the 2012-13 season and has helped lead the squad to nine postseason appearances in his 12 seasons with the team, including a 2014 run to the Stanley Cup Final and three trips. to the Eastern Conference finals. The three-time 30-goal and one-time 52-goal scorer, like other New York veterans, has struggled out of the gate with just nine goals and no assists in 19 games.

With the Rangers sitting on a 12-6-1 record with a .658 winning percentage, good for fourth place in the Metropolitan Division and the first Eastern wild-card spot, they really ready to part ways with one of their most prolific power play producers?

“What we’re trying to determine now is whether the Rangers are serious about (trading) him or Drury is just trying to shake him in his room and say, ‘Guys, get going or we’ll do something,'” Friedman explained. . “He’s the longest-serving Ranger. He could have left a couple of years ago and didn’t — he stayed. He’s a big emotional leader on that team. The Kreider name … it’s like an earthquake.

“What we’re trying to determine is, really, could they trade him? Or are they trying to let everybody know that (they’re) not happy with the way (they’re) playing right now.”

Kreider is in the fifth year of a seven-year, $45.5 million contract and notably switched from a full no-move clause to a modified no-trade clause (15 teams) at the start of this season.

The 33-year-old had his most prolific season in 2021-22, scoring 52 goals – including 11 winners – and 77 points in 81 games.

Despite losing games to the Oilers and Calgary Flames over the weekend, the Rangers are still in the process of making their fourth straight playoff appearance — it’s not quite time to hit the self-destruct button on the roster just yet.