With it officially Christmas break for the NHL, it allows for teams to get some much- needed time off. For the New York Rangers, they can use a reset to try to mentally recover from what’s been a challenging month. Following a 5-0 blowout loss to the New Jersey Devils on Monday, Dec. 23, they fell to 3-8 in December. During that span, opponents have outscored them 37-21.

Prior to Monday’s game, Rangers coach Peter Laviolette decided to make an example of Chris Kreider by healthy scratching him against the Devils. It’s been a challenging time for the longest tenured Blueshirt. Since having his name mentioned in trade rumors due to a misguided memo Rangers team president and general manager Chris Drury sent to rest of the league, Kreider’s struggled mightily. He hasn’t performed up to expectations. After a promising start in which he scored six goals in nine games in October, he has totaled five goals and an assist in 21 games since. That includes just two goals and a helper in 10 games this month.

While it was understandable why Laviolette opted to sit Kreider on Monday night, it was a bit disrespectful to one of the most well-respected Rangers. A proven finisher who’s one of the best power forwards in the game, Kreider has totaled 127 goals over the past three seasons. That included posting a career high 52 goals in 2021-22 to tie Adam Graves for the second most goals scored by a Ranger in a single season. He also broke Jaromir Jagr’s record with 26 power-play goals that season. Kreider followed that up with 10 goals and six assists in the postseason to help lead the Rangers to the Conference Finals.

After scoring 36 goals in 2022-23, he had 39 last season. That included a team-leading 18 power-play goals and two shorthanded goals, which tied him with Mika Zibanejad for the team lead. In another run to the Conference Finals, Kreider finished with eight goals and four assists. His most memorable moment came when he recorded a natural hat trick in the third period of Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals to lead the Rangers to a come from behind 5-3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on May 16 that sent them to the Eastern Conference Final against the Florida Panthers. Ultimately, the Rangers fell short by losing that series in six games.

Following the elimination, both Kreider and Zibanejad faced criticism for not being more effective at five-on-five against the Panthers. However, they weren’t alone. Until he scored a goal late in Game 6 with Igor Shesterkin lifted for an extra attacker, leading scorer Artemi Panarin was shut down by the Panthers. His first goal of the series came too late in a 2-1 loss. He finished with a goal and three assists in the series. Kreider had a goal and helper. Zibanejad had two assists. The lack of production from their biggest stars was a big reason they were eliminated. Only Vincent Trocheck (2-4-6), Alexis Lafreniere (4 goals), and Barclay Goodrow (3 goals) performed well in that series. Unfortunately, Shesterkin couldn’t do it alone against the eventual Stanley Cup champs. It was a disappointing end to a great season.

Kreider Is Always Made an Example of

Whenever things go wrong, it’s usually Kreider who takes the blame. He’s always made an example of by coaches. Under former coach Gerard Gallant, he was dropped to the fourth line when things didn’t go well. In Year 2 under Laviolette, with the team in freefall, he dropped Kreider to the fourth line in a recent loss. The following game, he started on the same line before working his way back up.

In a 3-1 win over the Dallas Stars on Dec. 20, Kreider scored an empty netter for his first goal in eight games. Laviolette trusted him to be out to protect a one-goal lead. While he isn’t known for his defensive play, Kreider is a trusted player who has become one of the best shorthanded threats in the league. Including the two shorthanded goals he has this season, he now has 11 shorthanded goals since the 2021-22 season when he paced the Blueshirts with three. No other player has scored that many during that span. Adrian Kempe and Travis Konecny each have 10. Sam Reinhart has nine.

After a 3-1 loss at home to the Hurricanes on Sunday, Dec. 22, Kreider became a healthy scratch against the Devils on Festivus. Following the latest defeat that dropped the Rangers to seventh place in the Metropolitan Division, Laviolette explained his lineup decision.

“At the end of the day, we’re not playing a brand that we need to play in order to be successful. 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.”

As far as making players accountable, it’s understandable why Laviolette took the action. Kreider hasn’t been producing, and his game has slipped dramatically. In the loss to the Hurricanes, he wasn’t noticeable. It’s my opinion that he doesn’t fit with Will Cuylle and Filip Chytil, who hasn’t been the same since he returned from the mysterious upper-body injury he sustained in a collision with K’Andre Miller on Nov. 14. In 12 games since returning on Nov. 30, Chytil has two goals and an assist. Without the key center contributing, the Rangers are much weaker offensively. Especially with scoring drying up.

Laviolette is desperate to find a solution. Most notable is that by sitting out Kreider yesterday, he took out one of his best finishers against a quality opponent. Even in a scoring slump, Kreider’s currently tied with Cuylle for second on the team in goals with 11, trailing only Panarin (15). He also has a good track record against the Devils. In 51 career games, Kreider has 24 goals and 18 assists. Eleven of those 24 have come on the power play. You’re telling me they couldn’t have used him. Compared to Zibanejad firing wide, Kreider provides the dirty work in front. Jacob Markstrom had an easy time.

Lafreniere’s Disappearing Act

Alexis Lafreniere has turned into a ghost since signing his new contract extension. In fact, Lafreniere has only lit the lamp once over the last 16 games. After scoring his ninth in a 7-5 loss to the Seattle Kraken on Dec. 8, he’s gone eight straight games without a goal.

He’s been taking a lot of bad penalties, including an unnecessary slash that led directly to the Devils’ fifth goal scored by Dawson Mercer in the third period. In the previous game, it was his high-sticking double minor that led to Jack Roslovic getting the winner for the Hurricanes. Aside from the lack of discipline, the 23-year-old forward has been victimized on goals against. He wasn’t in the right spot on Stefan Noesen’s goal that put Monday night’s game out of reach.

Lafreniere’s minus-15 rating is the second worst on the Rangers. Even with most of his production coming at even strength where he has 19 of his 21 points, he’s been a defensive liability. Laviolette hasn’t taken any action. That brings me to my next point.

Missing Mika

Of all the Rangers, nobody has been more disappointing than Zibanejad this season. Missing Mika has been in rapid decline for all to see.

Still only 31, his overall play has sunk to new levels. Once considered a defensively responsible forward, Zibanejad can’t even do that anymore. There have been too many instances when number 93 was lagging behind while an opponent scored. Either he’s too slow to get back or in the wrong defensive position. A key player who makes $8.5 million, Zibanejad is a team worst minus-19.

Only recently has Laviolette begun to limit his ice time at even strength. However, when push comes to shove, Laviolette will still have Zibanejad out on the declining top power play unit and at the end of games. He isn’t holding him accountable. The numbers for the Rangers’ top center aren’t good. In 34 games, he’s scored just six goals. According to Natural Stat Trick, when Zibanejad is out, he’s been outscored 25-12 at five-on-five. By comparison, Kreider’s been outscored 13-9.

Why isn’t Zibanejad being held to the same standards as Kreider? It’s a good question for the media to ask Laviolette. Is it easier to make an example of Kreider because he’s been here the longest and can take it? According to Larry Brooks of the New York Post, Zibanejad is very sensitive to criticism. If he isn’t scoring or playing consistently, which has been the case for most of the season, why can’t he sit out a game? His lackluster play deserves to be punished.

While Trocheck puts out an honest effort, even taking on Devils forward Paul Cotter on Monday night, Zibanejad can’t be bothered to get physically involved in a scrum. Even Panarin doesn’t back down from opponents. He’s in there battling while his teammate skates away. What kind of message does that send?

Something has to give. When the Rangers finally return from the holiday on Dec. 28 to visit the Tampa Bay Lighting, Laviolette can either continue to cater to Zibanejad or send a message. The sad part is that he probably won’t scratch Zibanejad when play resumes before the New Year. But if number 93 has another bad showing, Laviolette shouldn’t hesitate to bench his star center for the Panthers on Dec. 30. The losses are mounting. Unless something changes real soon, the Rangers won’t make the playoffs. The coach can’t play favorites here. Enough is enough.