The eyes of general managers around hockey turned immediately to Chris Kreider after the Devils shipped Taylor Hall to the Arizona Coyotes on Monday. Although Kreider isn't in the same stratosphere of Hall's projected 65 points, he's established himself as a consummate power forward and is a guaranteed 20-goal getter.
Undoubtedly, there's a long list of teams that will hope to add Kreider as a reinforcement ahead of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Kreider was a crucial contributor to the Rangers' squad that advanced to the 2014 Stanley Cup Final, having tallied 13 points in 15 postseason games.
I'm sure a lot of GMs are thinking the same thing: the rebuilding Rangers aren't likely to re-sign Kreider given their complicated salary cap situation and no. 20's ability to command a very lucrative, long-term contract like former Blueshirts Kevin Hayes and Mats Zuccarello before him.
Kreider is a bit of a unicorn. It's not easy to find a 6-foot-3, 217-pound wing that skates like the wind and gets his body to the high traffic areas to terrorize opposing netminders through his hard drives to the net and expertise at screening goalies' vision.
On top of this, Kreider hasn't participated in the playoffs since 2017 and is looking to maximize what he'll earn in his next deal. All of this adds up to a hungry player and we all recognize the way Kreider competes and takes care of his body.
The 28-year-old has eight goals and 10 assists through 33 games. He is currently on pace to finish the season with 20 goals, 25 assists and 45 points. Kreider will turn 29 in late April. By that time, it's possible that he's suiting up for a Stanley Cup contender in the middle of a Conference Final.
Lately, he's been in a good groove. Kreider scored a goal and peppered six shots on goal in his most recent contest against the 16-12-5 Nashville Predators Monday night. He has collected two goals and three assists over his last five games.
As the Hall trade proved, big deals aren't always struck in the final hours before the trade deadline. If the right deal is dangled now, I'm sure Jeff Gorton would take it. Plenty of teams would be prepared to part with a first-round pick and more to add Kreider (even as a rent-a-player) to their playoff arsenal.
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