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Chris Kreider shines bright in New York Rangers history

By Jason Katinas

Mar 17, 2022; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers left wing Chris Kreider (20) celebrates his 40th goal of the season during the second period against the New York Islanders at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 17, 2022; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers left wing Chris Kreider (20) celebrates his 40th goal of the season during the second period against the New York Islanders at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 08: Mark Messier and the New York Rangers Stanley Cup winning team of 1994  (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Sad to see you go

The Rangers have made a habit of giving up on players too soon, trading the potential of their young players for established and aging stars.  Unfortunately, 40 goal scorers have not been exempted from this habit. Four New York Rangers draft picks have potted forty after departing the Rangers organization, with two doing so multiple times. Middleton reached the 40 goal mark in five consecutive years for the Bruins from 1979 to 1984. Tony Amonte scored 40 plus for the Chicago Blackhawks in three out of four season dating from 1996 thru 2000.  Dave Gagner scored 40 in 1990-91 for the Minnesota North Stars and Alexei Kovalev reached 44 with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2000-01.

Trying to rekindle past glory

The Rangers have also made a habit of bringing in marquee names to Madison Square Garden. In doing so, though many were past their prime, six of the top ten goal scorers in NHL history have worn the Broadway Blueshirt. Gretzky (1st all time) from 1996-99 added 57 goals with the Rangers. Jagr (4th all time) from 2003-08 would add 124 goals, while Marcel Dionne (6th all time) would net 42 goals from 1987-89 and Phil Esposito (7th all time) would put the biscuit in the basket 184 times.

Mike Gartner (8th all time) would score 173 goals over parts of five years for the Rangers from 1990-94. He would be traded at the 1994 trade deadline before finding glory with the team that year. Lastly, and most importantly, the Messiah, Mark Messier (9th all time) scored 250 goals with the Rangers over 10 seasons. Messier is seventh all time in the Rangers record books.  He should really be in third, but his 52 goals scored for the Vancouver Canucks don’t count.

Climbing the charts

Kreider is currently twelfth all time in the Ranger goal scoring history. At his current pace, he could finish the season in tenth place, passing both Walt Tzchuck and Bill Cook with just ten more goals. How next season or the rest of his career plays out is anyone’s guess, but with five years remaining on his contract and a new found level to his game, he could easily find himself as second all time in goals scored in New York Rangers history behind number 7, Rod Gilbert.

Must Read. The New York Rangers have found the IT factor. light

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