In developing the identity of the New York Rangers, David Quinn has put Chris Kreider into a position he’s been reluctant to take on in the past: Vocal leader.
It took Chris Kreider the better part of two and a half seasons to fully break into the NHL for a variety of reasons. His first two professional coaches, John Tortorella and Alain Vigneault always called the forward on his inability to be consistent in spite of his considerable talents. Make no mistake, physically, Kreider is one of the NHL’s biggest freaks.
At 6 foot 3 inches tall and weighing 215 pounds, the fact that the Boston College product can skate like he’s shot out of a cannon should strike fear into other teams. However, the conventional counting stats never really hit that next level. While a more physically gifted player, Kreider never has scored 30 goals in a season like Anders Lee of the New York Islanders.
Aside from Kreider’s physical gifts, he’s recently taken the onus of leadership on. At age 27, Kreider is one of the few remaining members of the 2014 Ranger team that went to the Stanley Cup final. After years of watching veterans like Brad Richards, Martin St. Louis, Rick Nash and Dan Boyle, Kreider knows what it means to be a leader.
Take the forward’s comments to the New York Post late last week about the team’s perception coming into the year.
"“There’s a strong element of accountability here. If you’re a young guy and are helping the team, you’ll play. If you’re an older guy and are helping the team, you’ll play. If you’re young and you’re not contributing, you’ll sit. If you’re older and not contributing, you’ll sit,” Kreider said. “We’re developing but at the same time we’re trying to win games, we’re trying to make the playoffs."
This is a clear-cut case of a player finally coming into their own as a leader because he finally has a coach that he believes in. With few veterans around him save for Henrik Lundqvist and Marc Staal, this is Kreider’s extended audition for the role. With little to play for this year, the forward is off to the best start of his career through 20 games.
This ultimately asks: Why not Kreider?
The prevailing wisdom was that the team needed to figure out its timeline for contention before naming a player captain. Since the Boston native only has the remainder of this season and next year on his contract, the team would need to ensure he was part of the long-term plan to avoid naming a lame duck captain.
If Kreider can continue at his current pace, the Rangers’ front office needs to think long and hard about offering the forward an extension. He’s clearly embraced both Quinn as a coach and a leadership role which has enabled a breakout offensive season.
This is a recipe for both a long-term extension that’ll take Kreider into his mid-30s as captain of the Rangers. It’s pretty straightforward, Kreider makes the most sense based on his current attitude and level of play.
If Kreider can be the Dwight Schrute to Quinn’s Michael Scott, the Rangers would be in business.