Does anyone really know what the New York Rangers will look like once they return from the 4 Nations Face-Off break? I certainly don’t. But one thing seems certain—general manager Chris Drury is likely to make a few more moves before the NHL trade deadline, which means some players will be leaving Manhattan for new opportunities.
Would any of these potential departures be missed? Perhaps one might come back to haunt the Blueshirts, but if the trades improve the team, fans probably won’t dwell on it for long.
So, who’s unlikely to stick around after the deadline? I’m confident that the following three players have already played—or will soon play—their final games as a Ranger.
Chris Kreider
I know, I’ve been tough on Chris Kreider all season—but this time, I mean it. Kreider just hasn’t been himself in 2024-25, and if the Rangers want to get a decent return for him, they need to make that trade now.
Through 47 games, he’s put up 20 points—16 goals and just four assists. Sure, you could argue his goal-scoring is still solid, but his shooting percentage has dipped by about two points, and he’s done little to help his linemates finish plays. With two-thirds of the season gone, that’s a problem.
If there were any signs of Kreider improving as a playmaker, we’d have seen them by now. But that hasn’t happened, and at this point, there’s no reason to keep believing in a forward who’s been underwhelming all year.
That said, plenty of teams know what Kreider is capable of, and the Rangers should take advantage of that. If another team is willing to offer more than he’s worth, why not make the deal? These organizations are looking to contend, and they’ll take a gamble on him. For the Rangers, it might just be time to say, “He’s your problem now.”
K’Andre Miller
K’Andre Miller has plenty of qualities that playoff contenders will covet. And with rumors swirling, it’s looking more and more like his time with the Rangers could be coming to an end—especially if the team positions itself as a buyer at the deadline.
Statistically, Miller hasn’t done himself any favors this season, tallying just four goals and 13 points in 49 games. This marks another step back after posting 30 points last year, which was already a drop from his 43-point campaign in 2022-23.
That said, Miller is a big, physical defenseman—exactly the type of player teams want for their bottom pairing when the games get more intense and the hits start piling up.
Could he still play that role for the Rangers? Sure. But at this point, he’s looking more like the odd man out in Manhattan. The likely scenario? Miller ends up with a contending team that could use a young defenseman for the future if they don’t land one now.
In return, the Rangers should aim for another defenseman—one who fits their system better and brings more consistency than Miller has shown. It’s disappointing given his potential, but if he’s stagnating, is there really a reason to keep him past March 7th?
Kaapo Kakko
Oh, are you surprised to see Kaapo Kakko on this list? Didn’t he already get traded to the Seattle Kraken earlier this season? Or did Todd miss something? Ha! Gotcha—look at the headline again. I specifically said “won’t return following the 2025 trade deadline” for a reason.
Players sometimes get moved before the deadline, only to find their way back to their original team later on. But why Kakko and not Jacob Trouba or Filip Chytil, you ask?
Look, I’m not going to pretend Kakko suddenly turned into a breakout star, but I have to admit, he showed flashes during his final 30 games with the Rangers. He wrapped up his time in New York with 14 points and four goals. Sure, his shooting percentage sat at 8.9, but he was getting pucks on net and even winning half of his faceoffs when needed.
Since heading to Seattle, Kakko has put up 17 points and five goals in 24 games—on a struggling Kraken team, no less. So, yeah, he’s proving he can contribute. Still, the odds of the Rangers picking up the phone and working out a deal to bring him back? Pretty slim—at least for this season.
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