DENVER, Colorado — After missing four games with an upper-body injury, the longest-tenured veteran on the New York Rangers roster is slated to make his return to the ice against Colorado.
According to the NHL Media Site, Chris Kreider has been activated from injured reserve and was out on the ice for optional skate on Tuesday morning. Kreider is poised to link up with Filip Chytil (who was also out with an upper-body injury previously) and Arthur Kaliyev in a third-line role Tuesday.
In addition, the Massachusetts native should slide into a spot on one of the two power-play units. Prior to his four-game absence, Kreider was riding a three-game point streak during which he tallied two goals, one assist and six shots.
Benoit-Olivier Groulx was sent down to AHL Hartford in a corresponding move.
UPDATE: Bo Groulx has been assigned to the Hartford Wolf Pack.
— NY Rangers PR (@NYR_PR) January 14, 2025
On the 2024-25 season so far — Kreider has recorded 13 goals, two assists and 15 points in 34 games while averaging 17:37 minutes. The alternate captain appeared in just two games during January. For the month, he logged a goal and an assist while averaging 18:52 per game which is the highest he's logged all season.
According to USA Today's Vince Z. Mercogliano, the belief for weeks has been that Kreider’s back has been an ongoing issue, which is what likely kept him out and was the reason for him being placed on IR on Jan. 7th.
Hopefully that is behind Kreider and he will be able to put up points as the Blueshirts try and push to make the playoffs given their recent two game winning streak ahead of puck drop against the Avalanche.