It’s no secret that the 2024-25 season has not been kind to the New York Rangers. For the first time in years, the Blueshirts are on the outside looking in for a playoff berth with just over a month left in the season.

Chris Kreider’s name was floating around before the NHL Trade Deadline, but he remains a member of the New York Rangers, at least for now.

To do so in a season that has been difficult to find hope in but is not yet hopeless, the Rangers president and general manager strived to make moves that made the most sense for the future while not sacrificing the team’s competitiveness for this final 20-game push to qualify for the 2024-25 playoffs.