Blues and Avalanche are the top contenders to land Chris Kreider
There’s been talk of the many teams possibly in on Chris Kreider. According to the most recent reports there are at least 8 in the mix. They are your usual suspects of contenders but when it comes to likely landing spots, two teams stand out and they are both in the Western Conference. Even better still, they are in same division. They are the Colorado Avalanche and the defending Champs, St. Louis Blues.
Colorado Avalanche and CK20
So what would a deal with the Avalanche look like if Kreider is indeed traded as a rental at the deadline? Even if the Rangers decide to retain 50% of Kreider’s salary, the asking price starts with a 1st rounder. I reached out to Adrian Dater of ColoradoHockeyNow.com to get his thoughts on a deal.
According to Dater, he feels the Avs would likely be willing to part with their 1st rounder and a prospect. Another name connected in possible Kreider rumors is Avs prospect and 2018 first round pick Martin Kaut. When asked about the talented Czech prospect, he said it’s either Kaut or their first, not both.
Drawing some comparisons to 2017 first-rounders and countrymen Martin Necas and Filip Chytil, who went 12th to the Hurricanes and 21st to the Rangers respectively, Kaut is touted as yet another skilled Czech forward with strong hockey IQ and playmaking ability.
Sportsnet
Now enter the St. Louis Blues. Do the Avalanche want to see Kreider end up there and have to face him in the playoffs too? I highly doubt it, thus making the possibility of first and Martin Kaut evermore likely.
St. Louis Blues and CK20
The Blues sit atop the division and will likely be without Vlad Tarasenko for the stretch run. Now that the league is aware of that situation the rumor is buzzing with the Blues going hard after Kreider who would be a perfect fit in that system.
As for what a deal would look like, Pierre Lebrun put one together in his latest for the Athletic. The trade proposal starts with St. Louis first round pick and highly touted forward prospect, Jordan Kyrou.
A prodigious playmaker with breakaway speed and finishing abilities, Kyrou bounced between Sarnia’s top two lines and has the potential to be an impact forward. He’s battled through inconsistent play and is prone to turning the puck over at inopportune times, but he’s too tantalizing a prospect to pass over in a draft thin in pure skill. Kyrou’s what we’d call a “Spotlight Ranger” who beefed up his stock with solid all-around play at high-profile events like the U18 Hlinka, the CHL Top Prospects Game and the U18 worlds. You can say almost any skill forward in this year’s draft leaked defensive prowess from start to finish, but in Kyrou’s case, it’s a serious concern. Nevertheless, he’s a dangerous player at even strength – more so than on the power play, as only five of his 51 points came with the man-advantage. He can play either center or wing, and won close to 50 percent of his 301 faceoffs (72 percent in the postseason).
Steve Kournianos
Regardless, the Blues will require the Rangers eat 50% of his salary this season to make it work. Still, adding another RW to an over crowed pool on that side isn’t ideal. If they see Kyrou as a center then it makes more sense. That’s why I believe the Blues will open up the deal further by adding more to deal.
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