Chris Kreider's Legacy as a New York Ranger

Photo Courtesy of Jenn G

The day that many Rangers fans have been preparing for has finally come. Chris Kreider is no longer a member of the team. Late Tuesday night, the news broke that Kreider would be traded to the Anaheim Ducks, ending his tenure as a New York Ranger after a team-leading 13 seasons. Though he never made it to the promised land, Kreider should be considered one of the best Rangers of all time.

When it comes to the stats, Chris Kreider ranks 8th all-time in games played with 883, 3rd all-time in goals with 326, and 10th overall in points with 582. He is tied for first in all-time power-play goals with 116. However, when it comes to Kreider, he will be remembered for his playoff performances. Kreider leads the list of playoff goals by a Ranger with 48. The closest is Rod Gilbert, who has 34. For playoff points, Kreider ranks 3rd all-time with 76.

Many fans will remember Kreider for his last season, when he was a shell of his former self, scoring 22 goals and recording just 30 points. That was a significant drop from his previous season, when he scored 39 goals and tallied 75 points. The way Kreider went out has muddied the opinions of many fans and has somewhat diminished his legacy as a Ranger. But when it comes down to it, he is an all-time Ranger.

Even without the stats and production, Kreider has been the face of the offense for over a decade. He was one of two players left on the roster from the 2014 Stanley Cup Final run against the Los Angeles Kings, the other being recently reacquired J.T. Miller. However, what cements Kreider's legacy isn’t the stats, but the moments he was a part of. The day Chris Kreider cemented his place in the rafters of Madison Square Garden came on May 16, 2024.

In the second round against the Carolina Hurricanes for the second time in three years, the Rangers went up three games to none, but then lost two straight and headed back to Carolina for Game 6. At the start of the third period, the Rangers were down 3-1. With about 15 minutes left in the game, Kreider scored his first goal of the night, cutting the lead to 3-2. Just five minutes later, Kreider scored again from his office on the power play, redirecting a shot from Artemi Panarin to tie the game. Finally, and most likely Kreider’s last playoff goal as a Ranger, would be the game-winner—a natural hat trick to send the Rangers back to the Eastern Conference Final.

With a core that many criticize for being unable to “rise to the occasion,” Kreider was the ultimate riser. Time after time, he would be the guy to get the last-minute goal or the power-play goal to turn the tide.

In 2012, Kreider scored five goals in the playoffs as a rookie. In 2015, when facing elimination against the Capitals in the second round, Kreider scored three goals in two games, helping the Rangers beat the Caps in Game 7. Kreider is tied for first all-time in the NHL with Mark Messier for goals scored when facing elimination, with 16 goals in 30 such games. In the playoffs, Kreider has 10 game-tying goals, 12 game-winning goals, 18 go-ahead goals, and 48 total goals in 123 games. He has scored at a 30-goal pace over 82 games in the playoffs.

Kreider’s legacy is not about what he did in the regular season; his legacy is built on what he did in the playoffs. You cannot think about the deep runs in 2012-2015 or 2022-2024 without thinking about Chris Kreider. Until the later years of his career, Kreider was never an overly impressive regular-season scorer, but he was always a playoff performer. That’s not to say Kreider didn’t contribute in the regular season. Before his disappointing 2024-25 season, Kreider had scored 52 goals, 39 goals, and 36 goals in the previous three years. Kreider had 10 seasons with 20 or more goals, including seven consecutive seasons with 20 or more goals, his last seven seasons as a Ranger.

It’s hard to look at Kreider’s career as a Ranger and not place him among the greats. This organization is not the Montreal Canadiens; there are not dozens of Stanley Cup winners ahead of Kreider in the history books. Looking at the stats, Kreider’s number should be lifted into the rafters. Yes, he didn’t get the job done, but no one has in New York in over 30 years. To hold that against him is an unfair measuring stick.

Kreider is a legacy Ranger—one who should have worn the red and blue for his entire career. Unfortunately, Father Time and the need to focus on the next window of opportunity caught up with him. He is a divisive player, but he was a great Ranger, both on and off the ice.

When Kreider decides it’s time to hang it up, he should be welcomed back by Rangers fans and given his due as one of the greatest Rangers, especially in the playoffs. Chris Kreider should be the last Ranger to wear No. 20.