There is, however, no debate about the off-ice legacy Kreider established through his career, in which his popularity perhaps exceeded his production.

The New York Rangers found a way to free up cap space to use this summer in one of the hardest ways for their fan base when they traded team leader Chris Kreider to the Anaheim Ducks.

Moving on from Kreider is general manager Chris Drury’s first offseason change to a roster that underachieved and missed the playoffs.