Chris Kreider's number should be retired - Blue Seat Blogs

"Chris Kreider was one of the best Rangers players in team history. Full stop. You could say whatever you want about Kreider, but for his entire career with the team, he exemplified what it meant to be a Ranger. Kreider of course got traded to the Anaheim Ducks this offseason, ending his illustrious Rangers career with a whimper of a season. Fans were saddened by the departure, but most understood that it was time for both parties to move on."

"Following the trade, there was plenty of discussion surrounding whether or not Chris Kreider's number should be retired. I was staunchly in the "he should not" opinion, believing that numbers should be retired for those who won the ultimate prize. I've since had some time to reconsider, and after a lot of consideration, I lean more toward that Chris Kreider's number should be retired."

"Normally I have been one to believe that a player should win a championship with the team to be considered to have their number retired. But after a lot of thinking, I believe that's foolish. The Stanley Cup is incredibly difficult to win. Kreider reached the Conference Finals four times and the Stanley Cup once, contributing heavily each time. In the Rangers Stanley Cup run in 2014, Kreider was one of the top performers along the way."

Chris Kreider established himself as one of the New York Rangers' most impactful players, exemplifying the team's identity over a long career. Kreider was traded to the Anaheim Ducks after a down season, prompting debate about retiring his number. Different teams apply different criteria for retiring numbers, and the Rangers lack a clear rule. Kreider reached the Conference Finals four times and the Stanley Cup once, contributing heavily and being a top performer during the 2014 Cup run. The difficulty of winning the Stanley Cup and comparisons to Henrik Lundqvist's jersey retirement support reconsideration of championship-only criteria.

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