The Maple Leafs Help Facilitate Chris Kreider Trade Between Rangers and Ducks
The Maple Leafs were loosely involved in helping to facilitate the blockbuster trade between the New York Rangers and Anaheim Ducks for star winger Chris Kreider.
Chris Kreider's name was in the rumour mill for much of last season as the Rangers shockingly floundered and missed the playoffs a year after facing the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
At 34, Kreider is nearing the twilight of his career, but can still be an effective power-forward that not only produces offensively, but can be used in all situations.
While the Leafs missed out on a piece to replace the likely departing Mitch Marner, it is surely for the better given Kreider's injury history and the that fact he has two years left on his current deal that carry a $6.5M cap hit.
The Maple Leafs Inadvertently Helped Facilitate Chris Kreider's Move to Anaheim
At the 2024 deadline, the Leafs re-acquired Ilya Lyubushkin from the Anaheim Ducks in a three-team deal that saw them send their 2025 third-round pick to the Ducks in exchange for some salary retention. That pick was used by the Ducks on Thursday to complete the trade for Kreider as they sent the Leafs' pick and Carey Terrance to the Rangers for Kreider and their own 2025 fourth-round pick.
Without a first-round pick the next three drafts, the Leafs could certainly use their own 2025 pick to restock the barren prospect cupboards. But, at the very least, they do hold Colorado's third-round pick this year, which could help them nab a useful asset in the middle of the draft.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 12 | 3721 ANSWERS The Maple Leafs Help Facilitate Chris Kreider Trade Between Rangers and Ducks Should the Leafs have made more of an effort to land Chris Kreider, given the inexpensive cost? | ||
| Yes | 1203 | 32.3 % |
| No | 2518 | 67.7 % |
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