Rangers' Chris Kreider Out 4-6 Weeks With Fractured Foot

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Chris Kreider has fractured his foot at a truly unfortunate time.

Kreider had only just signed a contract extension with the Rangers when he suffered the injury in the first period of Friday’s game against the Flyers. Now, the left winger faces a spell out of action.

General manager Jeff Gorton told the NHL Network at the GM meetings in Florida that the expectation is that Kreider will be out four to six weeks.

The injury comes at a bad time because of the new contract, but also because the Rangers are still trying to push for the playoffs. This year was supposed to be another year of rebuilding, but New York is only four points out of the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

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Kreider was one of the biggest names believed to be available before last week’s trade deadline, but the Rangers were able to reach an agreement with him on a seven-year extension reportedly averaging $6.5 million a season.

The Rangers’ regular season will end on April 4, in exactly a month, so Kreider will most likely be unable to return until the postseason, if New York can find a way in.

Kreider has skated in 63 games this season and has 24 goals and 21 assists for 45 points. He had been on pace to set career highs in both goals and assists and was selected to his first All-Star Game last month, replacing the injured Artemi Panarin.