Trading Chris Kreider would send the wrong kind of Rangers message

Chris Kreider is not the problem. He is not an issue in the room. Fact is, he is not among the most pressing dozen or so matters the Rangers and GM Chris Drury are dealing with at the moment. 

But by highlighting Kreider’s name in Chris Drury’s league-wide memo, the GM created more than some shock value. We are told that Drury has engaged in multiple conversations over the last 48 hours with counterparts about the Blueshirts’ senior player. 

I don’t buy the suggestion that Drury used the memo-leak tactic to motivate his underachieving team. It is my understanding that the GM recognizes that it is imperative to change the dynamic, and the sooner the better. 

So I kind of get it. Among the team’s veterans, Kreider has the most value. He has played up to at least every cent of his $6.5 million AAV on a contract that has two seasons remaining after this one. He might be able to bring a bounty in return. He has no baggage.