As more time progresses, it looks more like the Rangers are going to have to trade Chris Kreider. While that trade alone is not enough to get them under this year’s cap, it looks to be the path of least resistance in staying under the cap next season as well, before the Rangers clear $25.2 million in salary. This especially holds true if Kreider is looking for $7+ million in his next deal. It is worth noting, though, that we don’t know what Kreider is seeking, and it is all conjecture until then.
However in the event that the Rangers and Kreider have actually agreed on terms, but are concerned about the cap crunch next season, there are ways to keep him around that haven’t necessarily been talked about yet.