When it was announced that Chris Kreider would not return for the last two periods of the Rangers’ game against the Capitals last night, the first speculation was that he was involved in a trade or had left the game within an illness. After the contest, the reason why Kreider was pulled was termed an upper-body injury and more word would be known today. That diagnosis came this morning: blood clot in his right arm and out indefinitely.
If there is a silver lining, it’s how the player and the team treated the injury yesterday. Kreider informed New York that his arm felt strange and it got worse after the first period, so he was scratched for the remainder of the contest. First, good for Kreider for pointing out his concern immediately. Second, even better than the training staff pulled him. If he had gone back out and got jostled, a likelihood based on Kreider’s style of play, who knows what could have happened.
Per AV today: “.…Kreider felt swelling in his arm prior to last night's game. Doctors checked him but didn’t see “anything out of the ordinary.… After the 1st period, the swelling had increased and he was sent to the hospital to undergo testing and the blood clot was discovered.
While Kreider has not always maximized his skillls, the power forward has scored at least 20 goals each of the last three years. Last season, he posted career-highs with 28 goals and 53 points. Kreider’s absence removes a physical presence from the lineup, especially in front on the power-play, and one who can change the tone and tenor of a game in a minute. While much of the focus is on how his absence impacts the lineup, for me, primary is concern over the player and then the team itself.
To replace Kreider on the roster, the Rangers recalled 22-year-old winger Vinni Lettieri. Many of us have been speculating that Lettieri would be next in line if a promotion was made. The former University of Minnesota product nearly made the Rangers' opening-night roster with a strong training camp and preseason, but just missed out breaking camp with the team. He channeled that disappointment into his play at Hartford, posting 12 goals and nine assists in 31 games, earning the nod over Peter Holland.
With Kreider out, Pavel Buchnevich is skating with David Desharnais and Jimmy Vesey, as he did after Kreider left yesterday game. Lettieri is on the fourth line with Paul Carey and Boo Nieves, a trio that should be able to create chances with their size and willingness to use the body on the forecheck. In addition, Lettieri is skating on the second PP unit along with Ryan McDonagh, Vesey, Desharnais and J.T. Miller.
With Kreider out and New York in the midst of a massive battle to make the playoffs due to the strength of the Metro Division, the Rangers will have to decide if they will be buyers or sellers. Part of that may depend on how long Kreider is sidelined. That timetable is almost impossible to know. If it’s solely a blood clot and not Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, then Kreider might be looking at anywhere from a 4 to 8 week absence, though that might be optimistic. Andrei Vasilevskiy missed that amount of time with a similar injury but each case is different.
My view is that they stay the course. Jesper Fast comes back this week and he could slot on the third line. Lettieri will get a chance to show what he can do and the fourth line will be very difficult to play against. If Carey is scratched, Fast can slide down. New York still needs more scoring, which is why I think Filip Chytil will be in Broadway Blue by mid-January. New York has a ton of cap room and can be aggressive in the market place. If CK20 is out long-term, he can be placed on LTIR freeing up more cap room to be used via trade acquisition.
Praying for a full and speedy return for Kreids