Chris Kreider

Kreider played for Masconomet Regional High School, Kreider scored a goal in the 2010 NCAA title game in which Boston College defeated the University of Wisconsin to win the national title; he was also named to the 2010 Hockey East All-Rookie Team.[1][2]

Kreider was named Most Valuable Player of the 2011 Beanpot Tournament, as Boston College won the tournament for the second-straight time.[3][4] He was also selected to the senior United States national team to compete in the 2011 IIHF World Championship in Slovakia.[5]

In the 2011–12 season Kreider won a second NCAA title with Boston College, where he led the team in scoring with 23 goals and 45 points in 44 games.[6][7][8] His 23 goals were second overall in the Hockey East conference and tied for eighth in the NCAA; his 45 points were fifth in Hockey East and tied for 19th in the NCAA.[9][10] Kreider was also tied for the Hockey East lead in game-winning goals (5), short handed goals (3) and short-handed points (5). He also finished in the top ten in Hockey East with seven power play goals and 17 power play points.[9]

Kreider officially concluded his collegiate career on April 10, 2012 by signing a three-year, entry-level contract with the Rangers.[11] He immediately participated in the Rangers practice, burning the first year of his contract, but was not guaranteed a spot in the lineup.[12] When the Rangers began their 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs series against the Ottawa Senators, Kreider served as a healthy scratch for their first two games.[13] However, after teammate Carl Hagelin was suspended for three games, Kreider made his NHL debut in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals on April 16, 2012. He played just over 11 minutes of ice time and recorded one shot on net and one hit.[14] After playing over 11 minutes in his debut, he played just 3:29 in his following game and 7:34 in Game 5.[15] Despite his decreased ice time, Kreider remained in the lineup for Game 6 where he played on the second line as a replacement for Brian Boyle. In his fourth career playoff game, Kreider scored his first career NHL goal, the game-winning goal, to help the Rangers stave off elimination.[16] In Game 7 of the Quarterfinals, Kreider forced a turnover which allowed for Marc Staal to score and help the Rangers clinch the series with a 2–1 win.[17]

Kreider's momentum continued into their Eastern Conference Semifinals series against the Washington Capitals. In Game 1 of the series, Kreider tallied his second NHL goal to give the Rangers a 2–1 lead seven minutes into the third period. He finished the game playing 15:35 of ice time and adding an assist as the Rangers won 3–1.[18] Kreider subsequently set numerous franchise records with his third-period goal as he became the youngest Rangers player to record two points in a playoff game since 1996 and the first rookie to register a multi-point game in the postseason since 2008. He also became the first Rangers rookie to register two game-winning goals in the postseason since Mike Allison in 1981.[19] Despite his game-winning goals, Kreider still experienced slow starts as he became acclimated to the NHL. In Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, Kreider's turnover led directly to an Alexander Ovechkin goal and eventually a Rangers' loss.[20] The Rangers eventually eliminated the Capitals and faced off against the New Jersey Devils in the Eastern Conference Final. Kreider scored his third post-season goal in Game 1 to help the Rangers shutout the Devils 3–0. He subsequently tied a league record for most playoff goals scored in a single postseason by a player who has not yet skated in a regular-season game.[21] He would score again in Games 2 and 3 to set a new NHL record for most playoff goals before playing his first regular season game.[22]

Leading up to the 2012–13 season, Kreider was expected to begin his rookie year playing on the Rangers' second line alongside Derek Stepan and Ryan Callahan with occasional time on the top line with Brad Richards and Rick Nash.[23] Prior to the start of training camp, Kreider participated in the National Hockey League Players' Association Rookie Showcase.[24] However, due to the 2012–13 NHL lockout, Kreider began the 2012–13 season playing on the Rangers' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Connecticut Whale.[25] He made his debut for the team on October 12, 2012, in a 6–4 loss to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.[26] He scored his first career AHL regular season goal later that month on October 27 against the Providence Bruins.[27][28] By December 3, Kreider had accumulated four goals and six assists in 19 games for the Whale.[29] He improved to five goals and seven assists for 12 points through 22 games by the time the NHL resumed play in January.[30] However, after going pointless in his first three NHL regular season games, Kreider served as a healthy scratch for their game against the Philadelphia Flyers.[31] In his third game of the season, he originally started on the Rangers second line with Ryan Callahan and Derek Stepan but was quickly demoted to the fourth line and played only 7:21 of ice time.[32][33] After the demotion, Kreider served as a healthy scratch and coach John Tortorella debated sending him back to the AHL.[34] Shortly after serving as a healthy scratch, it was revealed that Kreider had suffered a bone chip in his ankle.[31] He subsequently missed five games before returning to the Rangers lineup on February 5.[35] In his first game back, Kreider recorded his first career regular-season NHL goal in a 3–1 loss to the New Jersey Devils.[36] He later recorded his first career regular season assist on February 7 against the New York Islanders.[37] Despite his success, Kreider served as a healthy scratch after playing in four consecutive games and was re-assigned to the AHL on February 15.[38] However, he was recalled the following day as a possible replacement for Rick Nash.[39] Although he did not play that night, he played in the following four games but saw his ice time diminish from 14:37 to 4:43.[40] After being sent back to the AHL on February 28, Kreider accumulated six goals and one assist in eight games for Connecticut before being recalled for the third time on March 20.[41] He remained the NHL for a short while before returning to the AHL on April 3. He spent six games in the AHL, tallying one goal and three assists to maintain tied for sixth on the team in goals and third on the team with six power-play goals. His efforts were recognized by the Rangers coaching staff and he was recalled to the NHL on April 17.[42] Kreider finished his rookie season with the Rangers having accumulated two goals and an assist over 23 games.[43] Although he tallied more points in the AHL, Kreider struggled offensively and scored just 12 points in 33 games for the Whale.[44]

As the Rangers qualified for the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs, Kreider rejoined the team to help them clinch their Eastern Conference Quarterfinals series over the Washington Capitals. He played in Game 1 against the Capitals before serving as a healthy scratch for Games 2 to 5. Kreider returned to the Rangers lineup for Games 6 and 7 as the Rangers shutout the Capitals and qualified for the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Boston Bruins.[45] Although he had only registered an assist in one out of six games for the Rangers, Kreider saw increased playing time throughout their series against the Bruins. In Game 3, Kreider was promoted to the second line with Rick Nash and Derick Brassard late in the second period before he suffered a facial injury.[44] He was again inserted into the lineup for Game 4 in place of Brad Richards where he then scored the overtime game-winning goal to force a Game 5.[43] Kreider finished Game 4 with a postseason-high 18 shifts and 13:50 of ice time.[44] After the Rangers were eliminated in Game 5, the team fired Tortorella as their head coach.[46]

Kreider returned to the Rangers' training camp ahead of the 2013–14 season but was re-assigned to their new AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, to begin the season.[47] During the Wolf Pack's opening weekend, Kreider tallied a goal and an assist.[48] He added another goal and assist over the following five games before being recalled to the NHL level as the Rangers were struggling to produce offensively.[49] Under new head coach Alain Vigneault, Kreider thrived and began to produce points at a rapid pace. In his first seven games with the Rangers, Kreider scored two goals and four assists while playing top six minutes.[50] As he became a mainstay on a line with Derek Stepan and Mats Zuccarello, Kreider tallied two goals and six assists through 10 games while the Rangers enjoyed a record of 7–3–0.[51] Although he was praised for being a physical force, he narrowly avoided supplemental discipline for cross-checking Scottie Upshall during a game against the Florida Panthers.[51][52] On November 2, Kreider and Zuccarello assisted on all three of Stepan's goals in the Rangers' 5–1 win. This marked the sixth time since the start of the 2005–06 season that a trio accounted for all of the scoring on a hat trick.[53] On November 30, Kreider recorded his first career NHL hat-trick to lift the Rangers to a 5–2 win against former coach John Tortorella and the Vancouver Canucks.[54] He subsequently became the third Rangers rookie in the last 20 years to record a hat trick and finished the month tied for second among NHL rookies with 16 points.[55] By December 18, Kreider had accumulated 18 points over 27 games as he became a consistent left winger on the Rangers' top line.[56] He continued to improve as the season continued and quickly became a frontrunner to win the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's rookie of the year. By early January, Kreider had accumulated 11 goals and 24 points with a plus-9 rating through 37 games while also leading all Rangers forwards with 93 hits.[57] Although he had only added three points by mid-February, Kreider helped his new linemate Rick Nash score goals by assisting on three of his seven goals over an eight-game period.[58] By the start of February, Kreider had accumulated 13 goals, 17 assists, plus-14, 62 penalty minutes, 11 power-play points, and 105 shots on goal.[59] Throughout February and March, Kreider added seven more points along with 72 penalty minutes and a plus-14 rating through 66 games. He was also tied for the team lead with six power-point goals, second in goals, and sixth in points.[60] Despite suffering a hand injury on November 21, Kreider played 10 minutes of ice time in the following two games before undergoing surgery on March 28.[61] While Kreider was recovering from his hand injury, newly acquired Martin St. Louis replaced him on the top line with Nash and Stepan.[62]

Kreider returned to the Ranger's lineup in Game 4 of their Metropolitan Division Finals series against the Pittsburgh Penguins on May 7.[63] Upon rejoining his former line, Kreider made an immediate impact by tallying a goal and an assist in Game 5 to push the series to Game 6 and eventually eliminate the Penguins.[64] During Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Montreal Canadiens, Kreider injured goaltender Carey Price when he crashed his net in the second period.[65] This resulted in Price sustaining a sprained knee and caused him to miss the remainder of the playoffs.[66] In Game 5 of the series, Kreider established numerous single-game playoff career-highs with three assists, four points, and six shots on goal. He subsequently became the first Ranger to record three points in one period of a playoff game since Jaromir Jagr in 2007.[67] The Rangers would go on to win the series and they met with the Los Angeles Kings in the 2014 Stanley Cup Finals.[68] Heading into the Final, Kredier was on a point-per-game pace with 10 points over 10 games.[69] Despite missing the first 10 games of the playoffs, Kreider finished with career-highs in assists, points, power play goals, power play assists, power-play points, and average ice time. On July 23, 2014, Kreider and the Rangers agreed to a contract extension worth $4.95 million over two years.[67]

On October 28, 2014, in a game against the Minnesota Wild, Kreider received a major penalty and a game misconduct for dangerously checking Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin from behind into the boards. Despite an injury to Brodin, Kreider was not suspended for the hit.[70]

On July 22, 2016, Kreider signed a four-year, $18.5 million contract extension with the Rangers, avoiding arbitration.[71] Kreider would then have a solid 2016-17 season, setting new career highs in both goals (28) and points (53).

Kreider playing against the Washington Capitals on December 27, 2017.

During a game against the Washington Capitals on December 27, 2017, Kreider left the game for an undisclosed reason. It was later revealed that Kreider had a blood clot in his right arm, and would be out indefinitely.[72] On January 8, 2018, it was announced that Kreider would undergo rib resection surgery, and would be out of the lineup for about 5–7 weeks.[73] Kreider played his first game back on February 24, 2018, against the Minnesota Wild after missing 24 games.[74]

On February 24, 2020, Kreider signed a seven-year, $45.5 million contract extension with the Rangers.[75][76]

On February 1, 2021, Kreider scored his 161st NHL career goal during a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, passing fellow Ranger Cecil Dillon on the all-time franchise list. He became the second American-born player on the Rangers' all-time goal-scoring list behind Brian Leetch.[77]

In January 2022, Kreider was chosen to the 2022 NHL All-Star Game, which was held at T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada.[78] It turned out to be a career year for Kreider. On April 5, during a game against the New Jersey Devils, Kreider recorded his 25th power play goal, the most in a single season in Rangers history, breaking the team's record previously held by Jaromír Jágr (24), Vic Hadfield (23), Marcel Dionne and Mike Gartner both with 22 goals. Also, in the same game, he scored his 10th game-winning goal, a new franchise record, beating the Devils 3–1. On April 11, during a game against the Carolina Hurricanes, Kreider scored his 50th goal for the season. He became the fourth player in Rangers franchise history to score 50-plus goals in a single season, joining Jaromír Jágr (54), Adam Graves (52), and Vic Hadfield (50). On April 26, Kreider was named the recipient of the Steven MacDonald Extra Effort Award. On April 27, Kreider was named the recipient of the inaugural Mr. Ranger Award presented in memory of Rod Gilbert.

Kreider in November 2022.

During Game 6 of the Stanley Cup playoffs against the Pittsburgh Penguins on May 13, Kreider scored his 8th career game-winning playoff goal, setting a new franchise record. After scoring a goal in Game 7, Kreider tied Mark Messier with the second most playoff goals in Rangers history with 29, moving one past Ron Duguay, Adam Graves, and Brian Leetch. In Round 2 of the playoffs during Game 7 against the Carolina Hurricanes, Kreider scored his 15th goal in his 26th career playoff game. He has 15 goals when facing elimination in the playoffs, the most in Rangers franchise history.

In Game 1 of the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs, Kreider became the Rangers' all-time leading playoff goal scorer and powerplay goal scorer, notching his 36th and 14th respectively.[79]