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New York Rangers Stock Market: Scoring surges and offensive droughts

By Jennifer Moglia

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 09: The New York Rangers salute the crowd after defeating the New Jersey Devils 4-2 at Madison Square Garden on March 9, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 09: The New York Rangers salute the crowd after defeating the New Jersey Devils 4-2 at Madison Square Garden on March 9, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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CALGARY, AB – MARCH 15: Chris Kreider #20 of the New York Rangers skates against the Calgary Flames during an NHL game on March 15, 2019 at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Gerry Thomas/NHLI via Getty Images)
CALGARY, AB – MARCH 15: Chris Kreider #20 of the New York Rangers skates against the Calgary Flames during an NHL game on March 15, 2019 at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Gerry Thomas/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Down: Chris Kreider

Now, let’s get one thing straight; this isn’t a dig at Chris Kreider in any way, shape, or form. He’s been one of the New York Rangers’ best players this year, and it’s important to have bright sports like him in the midst of a season this bleak.

However, he has seemed to slow down a bit recently. In his last five games, he has just one point, an assist on Libor Hajek’s goal against the New Jersey Devils.

Looking back a bit further, Kreider only has five points in his last 14 games. He hasn’t gone through a dry spell like this yet this season, and it’s coming about a month after losing the team’s two best offensive players at the trade deadline, which is why the fanbase is noticing a bit more.

Now, there really isn’t much reason to worry about the forward; he’s still on pace to have one of his best seasons to date. He’s averaging 0.68 points per game, which is great on a team struggling this much with scoring.

If he continues at this pace, he’s projected to finish with about 56 points (approximately 30 goals and 26 assists), a career-high and his best campaign since earning 53 points (28 goals and 25 assists in 75 games) during the 2016-2017 season. He’s still second on the team in points (49), assists (23), and goals (26).

As mentioned before, there’s clearly no reason to be seriously concerned about Chris Kreider, considering all of these great numbers from this season, and especially considering his streaky tendencies from the past. However, it’s important that he picks up his pace again as soon as possible.

In the absence of Zuccarello and Hayes, he needs to step up and be a leader on this team, on the scoresheet and in the locker room. He’s one of the longest-tenured Rangers right now and needs to serve as a leader for the younger players being drafted, coming up in the system, and being traded to New York, both on the ice and off.

Next. New York Rangers sign Jake Elmer. dark

His drought won’t last forever, and he’ll almost definitely come back stronger than ever offensively to finish out the season. It’s okay to be annoyed at his slump right now, but have faith; Chris Kreider is going to be just fine.

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