New York Rangers’ Chris Kreider: First rounder to team leader
From being selected in the first round to being recently extended for another seven seasons, Chris Kreider has become a New York Ranger cornerstone.
American-born winger Chris Kreider has spent an eight year tenure with the New York Rangers which resulted in 523 games played, 316 points, and 19 career game-winning goals. Although the scope of his efforts may not be the most obvious to see, the 29-year old forward is making an indelible impact with the Original Six team.
At age 18, Kreider was selected by the Rangers in the 2009 Entry Draft using their 19th pick. He went on to play at Boston College in his native hockey-obsessed grounds where he had several successful seasons, netted 49 goals and collected 43 assists in 114 career BC games. He was an undeniable factor in helping his college win two NCAA Championship titles.
In the 2011-12 NHL season, Kreider debuted during the postseason. Starting off hot, he tallied five goals seven points in 18 games. In the 2011-12 NHL season, Kreider debuted during the postseason. Starting off hot, he tallied five goals seven points in 18 games. That set a NHL record, as he became the first player to score five goals in the playoffs before scoring in the regular season (since broken).
Despite his heroics, the Rangers were eventually eliminated by the New Jersey Devils in the Conference Finals.
A permanent Blueshirt
He was up for contention to win the esteemed Calder Trophy, given to the best rookie in the 2013-14 season. His competition included generational talent Nathan MacKinnion, Torey Krug, and current-teammate, Jacob Trouba. Ultimately, Kreider received the tenth highest portion of the voting percentage.
His recognition didn’t end there, however. In the 2016-17 he was considered for the Selke Trophy, awarded to the best deemed defensive forward. Rightfully so, Kreider plays with a rugged style and is not dialed in only on scoring. He is remarkably quick to defend his teammates and plays hard, yet quick at both ends of the ice.
There are a few huge goals that come to mind when a Rangers fan thinks of Chris Kreider. In fact, since the 2014-15 season Kreider was able to crack the 20 goal mark and since then he has scored over 20 goals a season, with the exception of the 2017-18 season when he missed two months with a blood clot. Kreider has become a massive part of the Rangers identity.
He also has significant postseason experience under his belt, which allows him to shine in the playoffs. Kreider has joined his team in the playoffs for a long stretch of successful seasons starting 2011 and ending recently in 2017. In those six years he produced 37 total points, 23 being goals. He is productive on the power play, collects many primary assists, steadily lays hits and reliably takes shots on net. Kreider’s contributions in many aspects of the game make him a vital weapon.
The human side of hockey
Although the winger has been with the Rangers for some time, his presence can sometimes be overshadowed by the amplitude of star power (and youth) on this team. Statistics aside, Kreider brings an insurmountable range of intangible leadership qualities. Incredibly disciplined, bold yet refreshingly humble and introspective, he has all the skills to be a successful leader.
A well-rounded individual in general, Kreider is the ideal piece to build a team around. There are numerous accounts in which Kreider went the extra mile to help make a new member feel comfortable and anyone can see how respected he is among his teammates. He has worked for, and earned all of this.
Current Kreider
This season signified another special year for the steady Kreider. He was the representative for the New York Rangers at the 2019-20 All Star Event replacing an injured Artemi Panarin, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t deserve to be there. Even though Kreider seems to fly under the radar, it was impossible to ignore him that weekend.
No. 20 was set to compete in the “Fastest Skater” challenge and he did so being the first to attempt it. He clung to his impressive time-to-beat until it was former champion Connor McDavid’s turn, but both ultimately were beaten by New York Islander Mathew Barzal. Not bad for being up against two kids.
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Not too long ago, Kreider was first awarded an alternate captain role in the 2018-19 season by coach David Quinn, sharing with four other teammates and was chosen to wear his “A” on the road games. Since then, he has become a top candidate for captaincy, despite those persistent rumors that he would be traded in February of 2019. Although his trade value was on the rise, his importance to the Blueshirts outweighed the potential trade return. With that, Kreider signed a seven-year, estimated $6.5 million-per-year contract extension to stay with the Rangers. It would also be hard to find a fan that would have wanted him traded anyways.
Not long after the ink had dried, Kreider sustained a broken foot from a blocked shot in a match against the Philadelphia Flyers. Just like that, Rangers fans no longer got to see him on the ice, despite the promise of his extended roster spot.
With a seemingly promising season return on the cusp, Kreider had time to heal and train. It is reported that he is back to full health and imaginably so, anticipating playing hockey even more. In typical Kreider fashion, he is sure to put on a great postseason display.
A player like Kreider does not come around often. But he’s here and he’s ours.
Must Read. A happy anniversary. light