New York Rangers: Top Players of 2016-17

Chris Kreider

After four years with the Rangers, Chris Kreider finally hit the 50-point mark with the Rangers. He led his teams in goals (28) and had 25 assists for a total 53 points through the regular season.

His size and speed have always been two of his most important characteristics in his role on the Rangers roster. The 25-year-old faced some challenges with consistent production last year. Almost half of his points came in the second half of the 2015-16 season.

Kreider’s main focus in the offseason and coming back in October 2016 was reverting to his power-forward role on the roster. He did just this, and his play this season was vital to the Rangers success.

He played on the top line for the Rangers the entirety of the 2016-17 season though the players around him changed, sometimes from game-to-game, but Kreider was able to remain consistent.

Throughout the playoffs, Kreider had a hard time putting up points. He is at his best when he can use his speed to enter the zone or when he can showcase his physicality in front of the net and work pucks around behind. Part of his struggle to get pucks in the net during the postseason a result of his physicality not being focused in the right places.

Kreider’s playoff performance in the postseason does not diminish what he accomplished during the regular season. He is and will be a vital part of the Rangers’ continued success.