Kreider has everything a modern NHL power forward needs: top-end speed, game-breaking ability and a physical approach to the game. Those traits attracted the interest of the New York Rangers, who selected Kreider in the first round (No. 19) of the 2009 NHL Draft.

Kreider opted to play at Boston College and became one of the top players in the nation during his three seasons there.

As a freshman in 2009-10, Kreider had 15 goals and helped the Eagles to a national championship, scoring a goal in the title game against Wisconsin. He also helped the United States win the 2010 World Junior Championship, finishing with six goals and seven points in seven games, and represented the United States at the 2010 World Championship, scoring one goal in six games.

Kreider returned to Boston College for the 2010-11 season. He also played for the United States at the 2011 World Junior Championship, finishing with four goals and six points to help the United States place third, and had two goals and an assist in seven games at the 2011 World Championships.

In 2011-12, Kreider made history. He had 23 goals and 45 points to help Boston College win its second NCAA championship in three seasons, then signed an entry-level contract with the Rangers on April 10, 2012. He made his NHL debut six days later in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Ottawa Senators.

Kreider's first NHL goal was the winner in Game 6 against Ottawa on April 23, 2012. He also scored the winner in Game 1 of the second round against the Washington Capitals. Kreider finished with five goals and seven points in 18 postseason games, setting an NHL record for most playoff goals by a player who had yet to appear in a regular-season game.

After beginning the 2012-13 season with Connecticut in the American Hockey League, Kreider made his regular-season NHL debut on Jan. 19, 2013 against the Boston Bruins.

In 2014-15, he was the only player in the NHL with at least 20 goals, 40 points, a plus-20 rating and 80 penalty minutes. Kreider scored an NHL career-high 28 goals in 2016-17, matched that total in 2018-19 and was named to the NHL All-Star Game for the first time in 2020.

Kreider signed a seven-year contract with the Rangers on Feb. 24, 2020. He scored an NHL career-high 52 goals in 2021-22 to become the fourth 50-goal scorer in Rangers history, joining Jaromir Jagr (54 in 2005-06), Adam Graves (52 in 1993-94) and Vic Hadfield (50 in 1971-72). He scored his 20th goal of the 2022-23 season in his 700th NHL game, a 4-1 win against the Vegas Golden Knights on Jan. 27, to become one of six players in Rangers history with at least eight 20-goal seasons: Rod Gilbert (12), Jean Ratelle (nine), Graves (eight), Andy Bathgate (eight) and Camille Henry (eight).

Kreider scored his 35th and 36th playoff goals to pass Rod Gilbert (34) for the most in Rangers history, helping New York to a 5-1 win against the New Jersey Devils in Game 1 of the 2023 first round.

NOTES & TRANSACTIONS

• Hockey East All-Rookie Team (2010)
• Hockey East Second All-Star Team (2012)
• Signed seven-year contract with NY Rangers, February 24, 2020
• Played in NHL All-Star Game (2020, 2022)