Why the New York Rangers should want Chris Kreider to end his career with New York

Despite having a historic National Hockey League career and having been with the New York Rangers since 2009, there are some so-called-fans of the Rangers who are tired of Chris Kreider.

Kreider — a Massachusetts native — is the longest tenured Ranger on New York's roster. Since being selected in the first round of the 2009 NHL Draft, he has made New York history. Kreider's first NHL goal was the winner in Game 6 against Ottawa in April of 2012. He also scored the winner in Game 1 of the second round against the Washington Capitals. Not to mention his 320 goals and 252 assists for 572 points which is tied with the great Vic Hadfield for the 10th most in the franchise's history.

His 320 goals are behind only Jean Ratelle and the late great Rod Gilbert on the all-time list for the New York Rangers.

Despite all of this, Talkin' Rangers recently posted a poll asking the fan base if they want to see Kreider traded away. Out of 205 votes, over 73% voted yes.

There are so many things wrong with this take. Let's break some of them down.

Representing the Franchise

Kreider worked his way up to the NHL. Before becoming a professional hockey star he played three seasons for Boston College and became one of the best collegiate players in the nation. As just a freshman he helped the Eagles to a National Championship during the 2009-2010 season. Also in his youth career, he helped the United States win the 2010 World Junior Championship with seven points in addition to competing in the WJC during 2011.

Since making his NHL debut on April 16, 2012, Kreider has only ever played as a Blueshirt. While hitting many, many milestones along the way, Kreider has said multiple times how important it is to represent the franchise well.

"[Being a New York Ranger] comes with a responsibility to conduct yourself in a certain way every day. I think about Henrik Lundqvist as the ultimate example of what a New York Ranger is; how to conduct yourself away from the rink, how to conduct yourself away and at the rink as a professional, your approach to winning, what you ask from yourself and from your teammates," Kreider has said. "It's an organization and a city that expects to be competitive and expects to win, expects their players to want to do whatever it takes to win ... I don't know what it's like to be anything other than a New York Ranger."

Team USA Moments

As previously mentioned, Kreider has represented his home country of the United States on an international playing level on multiple occasions. Most recently, he was the only goal scorer in Team USA's 4 Nations Face-Off loss to Sweden on Monday night.

He scored the game's first goal in the first minute of the first period by burying a rebound and proving he's a big-time player. For Americans in the audience, the celebration was extra sentimental given he scored a goal for the USA in under 40 seconds after puck drop in his very first shift of the tournament.

In fact, now-fellow Rangers teammate J.T. Miller said he looked on at Kreider's goal with pride.

"That was awesome. [His] first shift too, that was great. Chris has been a hell of a teammate and to get the chance to come in today and produce and get on the scoreboard, [I'm] happy for him."

J.T. Miller

Time is Running Out

The 33-year-old was drafted when he was just 18. Since making his debut when he was 21, basic math tells us he has had a career length so far of 12 years. But the average retirement age for NHL players is between 30 and 35 years old.

Given Kreider is only two years away from the older side of that age range, trading him away during his last year or so of play would be insulting to Kreider. Not only would it be a discredit to a player who has given his all to represent the Rangers to the best of his ability on and off the ice, but it would be an insult to the Blueshirt fan base. And those "fans" who want to get rid of him in exchange for younger talent need to wake up and realize that younger players need leaders with experience like Kreider to look up to.

Up Next for Kreider

Following his goal over Sweden, Kreider has a chance to secure a spot somewhere in Thursday’s lineup for the 4 Nations' Championship Game between Team USA and Canada. Following representing America in his home state — with the game being played at TD Garden in Boston — Kreider will return to action as a Blueshirt. New York's first game since the 4 Nations' break will be on Thursday in Buffalo.