Kreider on a roll
Chris Kreider (Boxford, Mass.) was the region’s top NHL draft pick last June, going 19th overall to the New York Rangers (who also drafted fellow Boxfordite Ryan Bourque two rounds later).
Too often, I heard Kreider downgraded by some draft experts and pundits because he played prep hockey last year. In fact, his decision to forego another year at Phillips Andover Academy in favor of completing his graduation requirements and enrolling at Boston College this year might have been a key factor is his being picked inside the top-20 because of that bias that seems to be in vogue when it comes to the NHL draft these days.
One thing I heard several times about Kreider (even though he was a torrid scorer with the Big Blue last season) was that he was a questionable finisher. Some scouts weren’t sure he was a natural shooter despite hitting 33 markers last season (Brooks Dyroff, Andover’s second-leading scorer, had a total of 30 points)
However, Kreider has done a lot to silence the critics this year. He started out with a tremendous performance at the World Junior Championship (Under-20) tournament in December and January, tying for the team lead in goal scoring and showing off a wicked wrist shot that he unleashed from the outside for several goals to go with his prolific finishing skills in close.
This week, Kreider scored a highlight reel goal in the Beanpot championship game when he used his blazing speed to get by BU defenseman Max Nicastro on the outside, then swoop in on Kieran Millan and tuck the puck just inside the right post.
The tally gave Kreider 5 goals in as many of the previous contests for BC (good for 7 goals, 10 points in 22 games on the season), and prompted me to place a call to one of the scouts I talked to about Kreider last season.
“He’s really showing everyone why (chief scout) Gordie Clark (Stratford, N.H.) and the Rangers were comfortable taking him where they did,” he said. “Kreider really stepped up in Saskatoon (at the World Jrs.) and I think Jerry York and his staff are handling him the right way. He’s really proving himself to be a gamer.”
Kreider’s speed, intelligence and character turned a lot of NHL teams’ heads last year, but his impressive scoring prowess of late has a few more who could’ve taken him but passed perhaps wishing they’d put a little more faith in Kreider and the prep competition he thrived in.
Tags: Kreider, New England, prospects, USA Hockey
