Chris Kreider, the longest-tenured player on the New York Rangers, was a healthy scratch Monday against the New Jersey Devils.
The move, while aimed at shaking the lineup to try and provide it with another spark, was made by head coach Peter Laviolette but backfired massively as the Rangers fell 5–0 at the Prudential Center.
After the game, Laviolette offered a blunt explanation for his decision to bench the 33-year-old forward. “It was just a lineup decision,” Laviolette said, per Mollie Walker of The New York Post. “We just need more.” Kreider’s absence marks the first time since 2013–14 that he’s been scratched while healthy, according to Josh Erickson.
Adding to his comments on Kreider’s removal from the lineup on Monday, Laviolette emphasized the need for the whole team to improve its overall play.
“At the end of the day, we’re not playing a brand that we need to play in order to be successful,” Laviolette said, per USA Today’s Vince Mercogliano. “He’s a guy that we count on to help deliver that. For me, those conversations aren’t easy, but that’s the decision that I made today.”
Kreider’s scratch comes amid trade rumors and one of the least productive seasons of his career. With 11 goals and just one assist through 30 games, Kreider is on pace for his lowest points total since the 2012–13 lockout-shortened season.
That said, it’s not that all Rangers’ problems have their root on Kreider’s underperformance this campaign. On Monday, following his scratch, New Jersey gave New York no option beating them 5-0 with the Devils forcing New York to go 0-for-4 in the power play while scoring two power-play goals themselves.
The loss continued a difficult stretch for the Rangers, who have now dropped 13 of their last 17 games. As things stand entering the holiday break, New York boasts a 16-17-1 and is the second-worst team in the Metropolitan Division only above the 13-15-7 New York Islanders.
