Rangers, Kreider agree on 7 years, $45 million

Chris Kreider is staying with the New York Rangers after the speedy forward and the team agreed to terms of a seven-year contract extension Monday.

Kreider, 28, was considered one of the top potential trade candidates at the NHL deadline.

Instead, the Rangers have won 10 of 13 games out of the All-Star break and bridged the gap with Kreider on the the long-term deal he wanted. The contract is reportedly worth $45 million.

The Rangers, though, might have lost a key component to their playoff drive.

Rookie goalie Igor Shesterkin suffered a “small rib fracture,” in a car accident in Brooklyn Sunday night, team president John Davidson said.

Davidson also said the rib “is non-displaced,” and Shesterkin will be “reassessed regarding this in a couple weeks.”

Teammate Pavel Buchnevich was in the car with Shesterkin, who was driving. According to Davidson, the players were treated by team physicians at New York Presbyterian Hospital.

Davidson said Buchnevich “was quite shaken up,” but suffered “no significant injuries and he’s listed as day to day.”

Davidson said “a vehicle pulled a U-turn in front of them and there was a collision. The airbag was deployed immediately,” adding that Shesterkin and Buchnevich were wearing seat belts.”

The Rangers recalled Shesterkin from AHL Hartford Jan. 6, and he has a 9-1-0 record with 2.23 goals against average and .940 save percentage in 10 games.

Buchnevich has 14 goals, 23 assists in 61 games this season.

Kreider has 24 goals and 21 assists for 45 points in 60 games this season.

Sharks

If, as reported by numerous sources, future Hall of Famer Joe Thornton was willing to waive his no-trade clause and make a stab at winning an elusive Stanley Cup, it did not happen. As the trade deadline passed Monday afternoon, the former No. 1 overall pick was still with San Jose, where he has flourished at center.

The 6-foot-4 Thornton, 40, originally was picked by Boston in the 1997 draft in Pittsburgh then traded to San Jose during the 2005-06 season.

According to several sources, he said he would consider a trade to the Penguins, Colorado, Dallas, Tampa Bay and Boston.