New York Rangers: Chris Kreider’s time to shine in St. Louis

Normal service has taken a temporary break with all eyes on New York Rangers forward Chris Kreider in St. Louis.

This weekend is the 2020 Honda NHL All-Star Game in The Gateway to the West, and Kreider will be the lone representative for the New York Rangers.

It should have been Artemi Panarin but the Russian stud pulled out in order to recover from an upper-body injury, which is completely the right decision.

So, as a result, Kreider will now get his first taste of All-Star festivities and the chance to enjoy the spotlight along with some of the premier talent in the NHL.

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It is well deserved for the power forward who is quietly carving out a productive year, even with the backdrop of constant trade talk.

Through 48 games, Kreider has 17 goals and 15 assists for 32 points with a plus/minus rating of +1, with 10 of those points coming on the power play.

Furthermore, Kreider, who is in the final year of a four-year contract, has began to find his groove as of late having tallied 11 goals and eight assists for 19 points over the last 23 games.

And Kreider will be center stage in St. Louis this weekend as the forward is due to take part in the Bridgestone NHL Fastest Skater competition tonight.

We all know just how quick Kreider is but he will have his work cut out for him given that he will be going up against Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid, who can certainly move.

There is somewhat of a Metro Division feel to the Fastest Skater competition given that Jack Eichel (Buffalo Sabres), Mathew Barzal (New York Islanders) and Travis Konecny (Philadelphia Flyers) will also be taking part in the event, which should add an extra layer of intrigue to it.

Then Kreider will get the opportunity to pit his wits against the best the NHL has to offer on Saturday in the NHL All-Star Game, with the three-on-three format perfectly suited to Kreider’s skillset.

It wouldn’t surprise me if the forward went on a tear during the three-game tournament on Saturday, which could of course drive his trade value up.

There will be fans who will be hoping that Kreider does catch the eye of other NHL teams this weekend as we rapidly approach the Trade Deadline.

However, whatever you think of Kreider, he has earned the right to rub the shoulders with the best of the best in the National Hockey League this weekend, in addition to showcasing what he’s really made of.

Any talk of what may or may not happen over the coming weeks can wait.

Personally, I would love for Kreider to remain a Ranger given that he is a high-character player, while I still hold out hope, rightly or wrongly, that he will eventually put it all together on a more consistent basis.

However, this storied franchise is on a certain course and the front office must do what is best for this team with the long-term picture in mind.

But, for now at least, it is only right Chris Kreider enjoys his moment in the sun as he embarks on his first experience of the All-Star Game.

His immediate future, be it in The Big Apple or elsewhere, can wait for now.

In the meantime, let’s enjoy this weekend for what it is and hopefully Chris Kreider can do the New York Rangers proud by coming out on top in the Fastest Skater competition.