In the Rangers season opener, Chris Kreider scored twice in the 6-0 destruction of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Perhaps an omen of what is to come this season, Kreider is chasing down two of the greatest Rangers to become the leading goal scorer for the Original Six organization. Already passing the likes of Mark Messier, Vic Hadfield, and Adam Graves, the other two members of the goal-a-game line sit ahead of the Boxford, Massachusetts, native.
With 30 more goals, which is a very achievable total for him, Kreider will sit at 336 goals for the Rangers, tied with the iconic Jean Ratelle. Ratelle was part of the Rangers roster and had scored so frequently for so long. In the dark days of the 54-year cup drought, the likes of Ratelle and Hadfield provided optimism for a Rangers fanbase that desperately needed it. To be sitting in such esteemed company is an incredible feat for Kreider.
If he catches Ratelle this season, the chase will be on for Kreider. At this moment, he needs precisely 100 more goals to catch Mr Ranger himself, the late great Rod Gilbert. Gilbert, the franchise leader in everything, was a pillar of the Rangers for many years. As a player, he was unmatched. His totals have stood alone in Ranger history for more than 40 years. It isn't imminent, but it's looking more like a case of when for Kreider, not if.
Kreider's scoring ability is unique. He's not the cleanest sniper like some other great scorers, but he uniquely achieves his goals. His hand-eye coordination and size allow him to sit in front of the net and tip pucks past netminders almost at will. I made a joke many years ago that he couldn't afford a place in Manhattan, so he lived in the blue paint at Madison Square Garden. All that has changed is that he can now afford to live in Manhattan.
It's not just his size and tips that make him deadly; he's also speedy. His top speed of 23.02 mph in the 2023-24 season puts him in the 86th percentile among all skaters. At 6'3, 230 lbs, and moving at 23 miles an hour, it's hard to stop him. You can't defend him like a standard net front because he'll race away. If you put someone faster out to defend him, he'll bully them. He's turned himself into a real handful for opponents to deal with.
All this to say, he's an incredible New York Ranger. Yes, there are times when he relies on the powerplay to make his money, but he's always the guy there tipping pucks and smacking home rebounds. He's the kind of guy every other team in the league wishes they had, and while Kreider might not be the same caliber as someone like Artemi Panarin, he's on the verge of writing Rangers history.