When the New York Rangers released The Letter announcing a rebuild in 2018, many wondered where Chris Kreider fit going forward.
He was just 26 years-old at the time, but would be two years older when his contract expired in the summer of 2020. So it was reasonable to question if Kreider was a fit for the Blueshirts long-term plans.
On trade deadline day (February 24, 2020), Kreider looked like a goner and considered a prime rental candidate as a pending UFA. However, management deliberated the pros and cons of keeping him around coming to a key decision that continues to pay off big dividends.