Bring up Chris Kreider‘s name to New York Rangers fans and it is guaranteed to start a debate. His supporters will maintain that he is one of the most valuable players on the team and tick off the following reasons. He is a game changer when he uses his size and speed. He’s a team leader and top scorer who is crucial to the power play. When the Rangers signed him for seven years at $6.5 million a year, they got a bargain and a guarantee that they will have a force on the left side until 2027.
His detractors will say that he is a streaky scorer, prone to long periods of low production. Although he is one of the strongest and fastest players on the team, he rarely uses those assets. He has the most seniority on a young team, but doesn’t acknowledge that he needs to be a team leader and doesn’t lead by example. They will say that the contract he signed will come back to haunt the team for years to come as it won’t expire until he is 36 years years old.
His detractors are winning the debate so far this season. He has scored one goal in four games. He has taken eight shots while averaging over 18 minutes per game. He hasn’t scored at even strength and his plus/minus is a-2.
At 5v5 his Corsi For percentage is 42.31%, meaning that when he is on the ice the Rangers have had 33 shot attempts compared to 45 for the opposition. It’s second worst on the team, ahead only of linemate Mika Zibanejad. He’s had only three high danger scoring chances at even strength. The only player (including defensemen) on the team with fewer is Kevin Rooney who has played only one full game this season.
Sure, Kreider is built for the power play, but he has scored only one power play goal despite more time with the man advantage than any player not named Artemi Panarin and that goal ricocheted off a defenseman.
In his favor, he is killing penalties for the first time in his career, logging 4:55 shorthanded, fifth most among forwards.