Player Discussion Chris Kreider Part II: Manimal

[Leonardo87]

Are you the fan that left when we traded Callahan? Not holding it against you, I just don't know how it's possible to leave your team. Unless you started following the Rangers because of Callahan. At worst I'll just stop following the sport. I'll never be able to start following a different team. My brain won't allow me to do that.

Like I said above did not think things through was pissed about the trade and them screwing up with my season tickets, two were not related but made it feel that way. They reached out to me in the beginning of last season and gave me some free games due to the screw up. How could I refuse?

Anyway getting back on topic. I see a different Kreider now. I see a guy using his speed in a smart way. (Not running into goalies anymore) lol. Taking less stupid penalties, and He is able to track down that puck fast, and think he has developed excellent chemistry with this current line. Zucc is not scoring as many goals, Just snake bitten imo, but Kreider is your goal scorer on that line, and if Zucc keeps feeding him the puck then all is good.

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

I think he came back because he realized Callahan is awful and an albatross.

 

[Bob Richards]

Alright, alright. Let's steer this back to Kreider please.

 

[Irishguy42]

I love Chris Kreider and how well he does a hockey

 

[Thordic]

Are you the fan that left when we traded Callahan? Not holding it against you, I just don't know how it's possible to leave your team. Unless you started following the Rangers because of Callahan. At worst I'll just stop following the sport. I'll never be able to start following a different team. My brain won't allow me to do that.

Unless you are under the age of 14 or so, definitely does not compute to me. Up until HS or so I feel like kids are free to switch allegiances. After that, you are stuck with your choices even if they are terrible.

The only caveat being that if you aren't a hardcore fan of the sport, I can understand having a second "favorite" in the opposite conference.

 

[Leonardo87]

I love Chris Kreider and how well he does a hockey

Looking at his stats one thing other than the points and goals that stands out is the Penalty mins. They are way down from previous seasons. I think playing smarter and staying out of the box has been a huge factor to his success this year.

 

[NickyFotiu]

Like I said above did not think things through was pissed about the trade and them screwing up with my season tickets, two were not related but made it feel that way. They reached out to me in the beginning of last season and gave me some free games due to the screw up. How could I refuse?

Anyway getting back on topic. I see a different Kreider now. I see a guy using his speed in a smart way. (Not running into goalies anymore) lol. Taking less stupid penalties, and He is able to track down that puck fast, and think he has developed excellent chemistry with this current line. Zucc is not scoring as many goals, Just snake bitten imo, but Kreider is your goal scorer on that line, and if Zucc keeps feeding him the puck then all is good.

Zooks and Stepan both keep feeding Kreider. Stepan passes to his left a huge majority of the time. That is both because Kreider is playing well but also Stepan's most natural inclination no matter who is his LW. CK is playing very well by often converting on their passes.

 

[Leonardo87]

Zooks and Stepan both keep feeding Kreider. Stepan passes to his left a huge majority of the time. That is both because Kreider is playing well but also Stepan's most natural inclination no matter who is his LW. CK is playing very well by often converting on their passes.

That line has found good chemistry more so when Nash was with Kreider and Stepan, it would seem. I've always liked the Stepan and Kreider connection. Adding Zucc to the mix just makes it even better. imo. With Mika back can get another top line going, would not touch this current line of 20-21-36 unless things go stale of course.

 

[NickyFotiu]

That line has found good chemistry more so when Nash was with Kreider and Stepan, it would seem. I've always liked the Stepan and Kreider connection. Adding Zucc to the mix just makes it even better. imo. With Mika back can get another top line going, would not touch this current line of 20-21-36 unless things go stale of course.

I agree with you. I think those 3 do a good job together and I think they like playing together. In my opinion they would be an amazing second line if we find another trio to become the first line.

 

[Leonardo87]

I agree with you. I think those 3 do a good job together and I think they like playing together. In my opinion they would be an amazing second line if we find another trio to become the first line.

Well Mika is back tonight, so now is the time to see if they can emerge a new top line. Think it will take a game or two for Mika to get fully back but apparently his skating has looked good, better than training camp I read. So all good things hopefully.

 

[Irishguy42]

Almost had 20 goals by the end of January. Not too shabby.

Really liking him this season.

 

[Leonardo87]

Goal number 20 and it was big!!

 

[FoxysExpensiveNYDigs]

Let's go CK! 30 goals, you can do it.

 

[Leonardo87]

Let's go CK! 30 goals, you can do it.

There are 30 games left, if he scores at a .33 rate for the rest of the season he will hit it. Don't think that is out of reach. He currently has 20 goals in 45 games. So is at at a .44 GPG rate this season. Think he has a very good chance actually.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Having the kind of season this year that I thought he'd have last year. Glad it played out the way it did or he'd be making even more $.

He's always been one of the more unfairly criticized players on this board. Glad that the "lack of hockey sense" nonsense as stopped.

 

[Igor Shestyorkin]

Yeah, people calling Kreider a stupid hockey player has always been a pretty unfair criticism.

That contract looks like a steal this season.

 

[Blueblood2]

He hasn't wrecked any goalies lately. When do we next play Montreal?

Save it for April

 

[Ghost of jas]

Career high in goals with just about a third of the season left. He's on pace to score 35 goals. But his college career didn't indicate that.

 

[RangerBoy]

I remember that guy. Ryan Callahan. Yzerman regrets that contract the same way Rangers management regrets the Girardi contract. You can't allow sentimentality to get in the way of business. That is a major reason why the Pats continue to win. Ruthless. Cut throat. Pro sports. Back on topic. Kreider is on pace for 35 goals. Will he get close to that number? 62 points.

 

[Ghost of jas]

I remember that guy. Ryan Callahan. Yzerman regrets that contract the same way Rangers management regrets the Girardi contract. You can't allow sentimentality to get in the way of business. That is a major reason why the Pats continue to win. Ruthless. Cut throat. Pro sports. Back on topic. Kreider is on pace for 35 goals. Will he get close to that number? 62 points.

Just to piggyback on the first part of your post, I said at the time that I would have moved all three of Callahan, Staal and Girardi, instead of signing them long term. Oh well.

 

[Leonardo87]

I remember that guy. Ryan Callahan. Yzerman regrets that contract the same way Rangers management regrets the Girardi contract. You can't allow sentimentality to get in the way of business. That is a major reason why the Pats continue to win. Ruthless. Cut throat. Pro sports. Back on topic. Kreider is on pace for 35 goals. Will he get close to that number? 62 points.

Callahan was good till he had that major injury last year. Not his fault. I miss Callahan here and for what he did while in NY. Watching him in Tampa has not been the same for me. Yeah he screwed up priced himself out of NY. At this point just hope his career is not over, because a healthy Cally will help Tampa or any other team win. He deserves a better fate.

Anyway Kreider reminds me of Callahan a little, physical guy hitting, gets in your face, willing to drop the gloves, and can score those goals around the net. Kreider has more speed and skill but Callahan made up for it in his PK'ing skills. Maybe that's why I like his game so much and the player.

 

[GAGLine]

Just to piggyback on the first part of your post, I said at the one that I would have moved all three of Callahan, Staal and Girardi, instead of signing them long term. Oh well.

The problem was, we didn't have replacements for Girardi and Staal. That's what happens when teams trade away their picks and prospects, and why we need to rebuild our farm system now. McDonagh will be up for a new contract in 2019. He'll be 30. Do we give him a 5 or 6 year deal for 6+ mil and then end up regretting it a year or two later? Will we have a choice?

 

[Ghost of jas]

The problem was, we didn't have replacements for Girardi and Staal. That's what happens when teams trade away their picks and prospects, and why we need to rebuild our farm system now. McDonagh will be up for a new contract in 2019. He'll be 30. Do we give him a 5 or 6 year deal for 6+ mil and then end up regretting it a year or two later? Will we have a choice?

We didn't? We've been down this road too many times. They didn't have to extend either player when they did. They could have opted to re-sign Stralman and replace Girardi with Boyle. They had Hunwick in house who could have been a placeholder for Skjei. There was no foresight on either case.

 

[GAGLine]

We didn't? We've been down this road too many times. They didn't have to extend either player when they did. They could have opted to re-sign Stralman and replace Girardi with Boyle. They had Hunwick in house who could have been a placeholder for Skjei. There was no foresight on either case.

Boyle sucked and Stralman could have ended up being a bad contract too. It hasn't worked out that way for Tampa and I wish we had re-signed Stralman rather than Girardi, but if we had young, inexpensive players pushing for playing time, it makes the whole situation a lot easier.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

The problem was, we didn't have replacements for Girardi and Staal. That's what happens when teams trade away their picks and prospects, and why we need to rebuild our farm system now. McDonagh will be up for a new contract in 2019. He'll be 30. Do we give him a 5 or 6 year deal for 6+ mil and then end up regretting it a year or two later? Will we have a choice?

The Rangers had traded away a single 1st that had been used by another team at the time G was signed. Them not having an ELC replacement isn't on them for trading away picks.

They had his replacement on the roster at the time he was signed. Picking G over Stralman (who wanted to stay and would have been signed for less) may have cost this team a cup in 2015, at the very least it cost them another trip to the finals.

LHD stop gaps who are better than Staal could have been signed too, assuming the Rangers still decide not to re-up Yandle after trading for him. 2 years into his extension, hes the 4th best LHD on the roster.

Frustrating when you consider that those 2 decisions are what separates this team being 1st round fodder from a core that wins multiple championships.


On topic: Kreider is awesome.