Chris Kreider stayed mostly quiet throughout what he repeatedly described as a “challenging” season, but Monday offered a chance for the longest-tenured Ranger to finally tell his side of the story.
It started with a laundry list of ailments that undoubtedly contributed to the worst statistical season since his 2012-13 rookie campaign.
Just a bunch of weird, fluky things this year,” the 33-year-old forward explained on breakup day at the MSG Training Center. “The first half of the year, we were trying to get my back figured out. And then when I got that figured out, I had a weird illness coming out of Christmas break that went to my inner ear and got me vertigo, which I don’t recommend. And then finally, when I felt like I was getting a little bit of rhythm, getting traction, felt healthy, back felt good, I messed up my hand.”
Kreider suffered the left-hand injury during the third period of a Feb. 22 loss in Buffalo. It would cost him the next six games but was never quite right after.
It may require offseason surgery − “I’ve got to talk to the hand doctor a little bit more,” he said − but mounting injuries weren’t the only challenge the 13-year veteran faced.
Multiple reports, including one from lohud.com, part of the USA TODAY Network, uncovered that team president Chris Drury included Kreider in a league-wide memo soliciting trade offers in late November. The franchise’s third all-time leading goal scorer found out secondhand − or even third, you might say − and had to deal with the awkward fallout for the rest of the season.
