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When the two sides exchanged briefs 48 hours ahead of their player-elected salary arbitration hearing, which is scheduled for Wednesday morning, it turned out that the New York Rangers and forward Chris Kreider were only $750,000 apart. Though that gap seems meager, it would appear that the two sides aren't close to working out a settlement ahead of Wednesday's hearing, according to a report from Larry Brooks of the New York Post:
In his first full season as a regular NHL player, Kreider shone with the Rangers and played a key role in the club's run to the Stanley Cup Final.
Blessed with a freakish combination of size and speed, the 6-foot-3, 225 pound forward managed 17 goals and 20 assists in 66 games in the regular season; adding an additional five goals and and 13 points in 15 Stanley Cup playoff games.