After netting nine points in his first six games of 2016-17 despite dealing with a neck injury, it looked like Kreider was primed for a huge breakout. While it didn't quite work out that way, the Boston College product nonetheless set new personal bests in goals (28), points (53), power-play points (13) and shots (186). He still has a penchant for pulling his patented vanishing act a little too often, so the Rangers and fantasy owners are still looking for a little more steadiness in his game, but the 26-year-old is locked into a top-line spot with top-unit power-play duty, so he'll have every opportunity to improve upon last year’s results. A big, fast winger who plays with an edge that can sometimes cross the line into recklessness, Kreider’s ceiling is still quite high; the degree to which he can improve his self-discipline will determine how close he comes to realizing it.
Expected to take a step forward last season, Kreider instead stagnated, ending up with the same goal total as 2014-15 (21) and three fewer points (43). He also saw his shot rate fall, though his shooting percentage rose a bit to make up for it. But the Rangers offered the 25-year-old winger a show of confidence by signing him to a four-year, $18.5 million contract extension this offseason, locking him up for what the team is clearly hoping will be his prime seasons. New York’s 2009 first-round pick is thus locked into a premier role, likely on a second line that’ll be centered by new acquisition Mika Zibanejad. Don’t price in the breakout, but Kreider has the size, the speed and the hands to be a star; power forwards like him sometimes take a little longer to develop, but they often make it worth the wait.
Kreider has been a bit of an enigma to this point -- his tools, pedigree, and propensity for scoring big goals have inflated his name value, but his fantasy production has been fairly modest to this point, as he's coming off a (career-best) 21-goal, 46-point campaign. Still, that represents some growth over the prior year's efforts, and Kreider can be expected to continue refining his game as he enters his third full NHL season. He's slated to skate top-line minutes for the Rangers this year, and if he can avoid falling into patches of inconsistent play, he has speed, power, toughness, and finishing ability -- and that adds up to the complete fantasy package.
If not for a late-season wrist injury, Kreider is fresh off his first full season (35 points in 66 games) in NHL, including 13 points in 15 post-season games. As a result, Kreider received his first non-entry level contract in the off-season, a two-year pact reportedly worth $4.9 million. Sure, one could argue his numbers are a result of the attention exhausted on linemates Rick Nash and Derek Stepan, but his speed and strength in the offensive zone cannot be denied. Although the 23-year-old may not get the nod for power-play minutes again this campaign and his positioning without the puck needs work, if anyone on the team's roster is due a fantasy draft ranking increase it’s the Boston College alumus.
What a difference a year can make for the Rangers' budding forward. After making a splash in his NHL debut during the 2011-12 playoffs, Kreider spent most of the lockout-shortened season with the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL), producing just 23 points in 47 games. Meanwhile, he played rather inconsistently in various third- and fourth-line situations with the big club. Despite logging just two goals, one assist and 19 shots on goal in 22 games at the NHL level, the sky’s the limit still for the Rangers' 2009 first-round pick (19th overall) out of Boston College. Additionally, the 6-3, 230-pound Kreider could be eligible at two positions (center and left wing) at some point this coming season. Both keeper and redraft owners should consider using a mid-to-late-round pick on the 22-year-old.
Kreider was a breath of fresh air for the Rangers in this past Spring's playoffs, as he matched a record for rookies that began their careers in the postseason with five goals, turning many heads in the process. As such, the former Boston College star will enter the 2012-13 campaign with extremely high expecations but owners shoud be careful not to overreach for the 21-year-old winger. That's not to say that he won't be a fantasy asset this season, but he'll likely be confined to the Blueshirts' third line, so his output may not match his draft position. Temper your expectations, but the potential certainly is there for Kreider to produce; those in keeper leagues will have to pull the trigger on him early if they want his services.
Kreider is a goal scorer with blazing speed and a hard shot, and he used both to help Boston College win a National Championship in 2010. Given that the Rangers picked him up as recently as the 2009 NHL Entry Draft and he's just 19 years old, Kreider will first have to pay his dues outside of the NHL.
The Rangers took Kreider 19th overall in this past June's draft. The 18-year old will likely be headed to juniors this season. He's about as fast on skates as them come and has a big shot, so he could make an impact down the line, though not for a few years.
