The Rangers, struggling to find consistency and rhythm through the first third of the season to snap them out of a weeks-long funk, are continuing to mix up the lineup.
This time it was veteran forward Chris Kreider sitting out as a healthy scratch for the Blueshirts' matinee at the Devils on Monday, an eventual 5-0 loss to New Jersey.
The 33-year-old has been dealing with a back issue that kept him out of the lineup for three games in November, but USA Today’s Vincent Z. Mercogliano reported Kreider was deemed healthy enough to play on Monday.
Kreider, the longest-tenured Ranger, played in 82 games, 79 and 81 in the last three seasons. After being a strong contributor during that time – including a 52-goal outburst in 2021-22 – he has just 12 points (11 goals and one assist) through 30 games and is a minus-four while averaging 17:26 time on the ice per game this season.
And team-wide the results haven't been there as New York has lost 12 of its last 16 games. At 16-16-1 (33 points), they are now five points out of the two Wild Card spots.
General manager Chris Drury has already executed a pair of moves – trading defenseman Jacob Trouba to Anaheim and forward Kaapo Kakko to Seattle. Reports indicate Kreider, Reilly Smith and Ryan Lindgren could also be among those who could be dealt.
"I’m not opposed to making more changes," Drury told reporters on Dec. 9. "But big picture, the team has been through a lot the last couple of weeks. We’d like to let the dust settle a little bit. Let some new players we acquired from Anaheim, [Brett] Berard, [Victor] Mancini, different pieces. We’d just like to let the team settle in a bit with this."
No move is imminent as the NHL holiday roster freeze prevents clubs from trading or waiving players until the early hours of Sunday, Dec. 29.