“It is so surreal. It’s not something that can really be explained. It is something that just has to be felt, but it was awesome. I’m just excited to give these guys an opportunity to play another game.”
—CP
It’s possible that Chris Kreider will enter the Rangers lineup today for the injured Ryane Clowe and play for the first time since game one.
Kreider told the NY Times that he thinks, if given the opportunity, he can help a lot more than he did last year because he feels he is now able to be a much more consistent player.
He said that his skating and skills are better than where they were and that mentally he has gotten much stronger when it comes to being a professional hockey player and handling the ups and downs that come with that.
Kreider told Newsday that no matter what happens, Kreider wants to have a positive attitude and help the team in any way that he can.
In the Daily News and in the NY Post, both Pat Leonard and Larry Brooks wonder why Chris Kreider isn’t getting a chance to play and potentially spark the Rangers offense like he did in situations during last year’s run.
Brooks says that dressing Kreider and at least putting him on the second power play option could open up some options for the Rangers, “maybe the, ah, uh, specialty team could use a specialist who can fire the puck from the circles even if pulling the trigger appears to be a fireable offense under the Blueshirts’ power play work rules.”
Leonard spoke with Kreider and Kreider said that while he had some chances in game one, he didn’t execute or help the team. Kreider, who had two shots on goal, one that was blocked and three that missed the net, said that the shots that missed the net were his best chances and the ones he really had some power behind.
Kreider was scratched in game two but played 8:23 in game one, 3:40 of which came in the third period.
Adam Rotter: The Rangers have enough players who can/should score in their top nine, Rick Nash, Ryan Callahan, Brad Richards, Derek Stepan, Derick Brassard, Mats Zuccarello and Ryane Clowe if he plays, where Kreider shouldn’t have to be put in a position to be a difference maker. Those players, some who have played well, have not been able to register on the score sheet yet so maybe it’s a good idea to put Kreider in tonight since putting him into the lineup. He would at least bring some more speed and skill into the lineup. It’s up to John Tortorella though to make this decision. If he thinks that Kreider can help the Rangers win tonight’s game, he will be in the lineup. If Tortorella thinks that having other players in the lineup as opposed to Kreider will help them win, then they will play and Kreider will sit.
With Brian Boyle and Ryane Clowe injured and out for an undisclosed amount of time, Chris Kreider stays in the Rangers lineup and will likely skate on a line with Derick Brassard and Taylor Pyatt.
He played 15:05 in the Rangers regular season finale after playing under 10 minutes in the previous five games.
Kreider made his debut last year in the playoffs and scored 5 five goals in 18 games.
He told Ranger Rants that he is a better player than he was a year ago, has learned a lot, and understands that a key to being a good pro hockey player is being consistent and bringing the same level of effort every night.
Kreider told the NY Post that he is looking forward to being a dependable contributor who can help the Rangers win games in the playoffs.
Following the injury to Ryane Clowe on Thursday night, Chris Kreider moved up into a top-nine role and played 7:05 against the Hurricanes.
Kreider played 3:10 in the third period on Thursday, after only played 3:55 through the first two periods.
He has no shots in the last four games.
Adam Rotter: By default, it would seem like Kreider will start the playoffs with a bigger role since there doesn’t seem to be a time table for Derek Dorsett, Brian Boyle or Clowe. I think he could see a nice amount of ice time today, especially if the Rangers take an early lead,and John Tortorella can make his evaluations from there. He doesn’t need to bear the brunt of responsibility in a bigger role, he just needs to use his speed, get to pucks and try to create chances.
Last night, the Whale were eliminated from playoff contention after dropping six straight games and falling into ninth place.
Yesterday against the Devils, Chris Kreider played his third game since being called up but also played his fourth straight game, third since being called up, under 10 minutes.
Kreider has one shot in the three games and is a minus one.
When he was called up, due to Brian Boyle’s injury, John Tortorella said that he was not thrilled with the idea of putting a kid into this situation.
Kreider has played in a total of 68 games this season between the AHL and NHL. He turns 22 next week.
Adam Rotter: It would seem that unless the Rangers go through a string of injuries over the last three games/in the playoffs, Kreider’s season is likely going to be over soon. Brian Boyle may be able to return and Derek Dorsett is getting close as well. It wouldn’t be a shock if Kreider was asked to play in the World Championships for Team USA, which he has done twice before, but the Rangers may want to keep him around to work with him in practice and as insurance against injuries.
There was an adjustment that Kreider needed to make this season, but as the year went on he started to develop and get better. In his first 33 games with the Whale Kreider had five goals and seven assists. He played one game for the Whale in February and then 14 games in March and April. In those 14 games, Kreider had seven goals and four assists.
Last night against the Panthers, Chris Kreider played 7:02 and had one shot on goal.
Kreider’s shifts broke down as:
In the third period, his first shift was at 9:03. His second shift was the faceoff following Derick Brassard’s goal and his third shift was the faceoff following Brad Richards goal.
In a chat with Sam Rosen before the game, John Tortorella said “we talked about a number of players, but what overrides the other guys are his speed, his legs. He has to learn that he has to sustain it and develop offense. I’m not crazy about a kid coming into this situation. We feel he is the best guy right now and maybe he can do some good things. “
Adam Rotter: Everything with Kreider gets put under a microscope and then blown out of proportion. John Tortorella doesn’t hate Kreider and Kreider doesn’t hate John Tortorella. This is part of the process when it comes to young players. Kreider understands that he needs to get better to be a regular NHLer and the improvements he has made since the start of the season have shown that. This was his first full season of pro hockey and there was bound to be a learning curve. He has this summer to work on more of what he needs to and then come to training camp and earn a full-time roster spot.
Chris Kreider took part in the Rangers morning skate today and then met with the media.
The Rangers have called up Chris Kreider according to the AHL Transaction Wire.
Kreider has played six games since being sent own to Hartford and has one goal, three assists and is a minus three. He has 13 shots in those six games and eight penalty minutes. He was a minus four in the past two games.
He has primarily skated on a line with Kris Newbury and had a rotating RW.
CLICK HERE to see Kreider’s last goal with the Whale.
For everything on Chris Kreider, CLICK HERE.
Kreider was sent down, along with JT Miller, to try and develop the proper way.
For more on Kreider’s season, CLICK HERE.
Kreider scored his 12th of the season for the Whale and had three shots.
He also had a roughing penalty and a tripping penalty.
