New York Rangers General Manager Jeff Gorton announced that the team has agreed to terms with restricted free agent forward Chris Kreider on a new contract.
Kreider, 25, skated in 79 games with the Rangers this past season, registering 21 goals and 22 assists for 43 points, along with a plus-10 rating and 58 penalty minutes. He established career-highs in even strength goals (16) and hits (177), and he tied his career-high in goals in 2015-16 (he also recorded 21 goals during the 2014-15 season). Kreider was one of six NHL players who registered at least 20 goals, 40 points, a plus-10 rating, and 50 penalty minutes this past season (along with Alex Ovechkin, Jonathan Toews, Milan Lucic, Brad Marchand, and James Neal). He ranked second on the Rangers in hits, tied for third in power play goals (five), ranked fourth in even strength goals, ranked fifth in goals and even strength points (35), and tied for fifth in points. Kreider also led the Rangers in goals (15) and ranked second on the team in points (26) on the road in 2015-16. He recorded 25 points (15 goals, 10 assists) over the Blueshirts’ final 40 games of the regular season, and he led the team in goals over the span.
The 6-3, 226-pounder skated in five playoff contests with the Rangers in 2016, registering two goals and posting a plus-one rating. Kreider tied for the team lead in goals, plus/minus rating, and power play goals (one), and tied for fourth on the team in points (two) in the playoffs.
Kreider has skated in 248 career NHL games, all with the Rangers, registering 61 goals and 68 assists for 129 points, along with a plus-47 rating and 224 penalty minutes. Kreider is the only Ranger who has recorded at least 20 goals in each of the last two seasons. He is one of six NHL players who have recorded at least 50 goals, 100 points, a plus-40 rating, and 200 penalty minutes since the start of the 2012-13 season (along with Corey Perry, Chris Kunitz, Milan Lucic, Brad Marchand, and James Neal).
Since the start of his first full season with the Rangers in 2013-14, Kreider ranks second on the team – and leads team forwards – in plus/minus rating (plus-48), ranks second in power play goals (18), ranks third in goals per game (0.26), ranks fourth in goals (59), and ranks fifth in assists (67), points (126), power play points (28), and shots on goal (474). He ranks second on the Rangers in goals per 60 minutes of ice time since the start of the 2013-14 season (1.00). In addition, Kreider leads the Rangers in points (53), plus/minus rating (plus-22), and power play goals (seven), and ranks second on the team in goals (27) and game-winning goals (five) on the road over the last two seasons (2014-15 – 2015-16).
Kreider has skated in 65 career NHL playoff games, all with the Rangers, registering 20 goals and 13 assists for 33 points, along with 40 penalty minutes. Kreider is tied for eighth in the NHL – and leads the Rangers – in playoff goals since the start of the 2012 Playoffs (20). He also ranked second among NHL players 24 years old or younger in playoff goals over the last five years (2012 – 2016). Kreider is tied for second in franchise history in playoff game-winning goals (six) and he ranks 10th on the Rangers’ all-time playoff goals list.
The Boxford, Massachusetts, native was selected by the Rangers in the first round, 19th overall, of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
