Chris Kreider
American winger, Rangers playoff goals leader, now with Anaheim Ducks.
Chris Kreider is an American professional ice hockey winger who plays for the Anaheim Ducks in the NHL. He holds the league record for the most playoff goals scored before ever appearing in a regular-season game, and he is the New York Rangers’ all-time leader in playoff goals, playoff power-play goals, and playoff game-winning goals.
Kreider was born on April 30, 1991, in Boxford, Massachusetts, to Kathy and David Kreider, and grew up with his younger sister Katie. He played for the Valley Jr. Warriors from 2004 to 2008 before attending Masconomet Regional High School, where he became an All-League player as a sophomore and helped the Chieftains win the Cape Ann League championship. He then transferred to Phillips Andover for his junior year, repeating his sophomore year there but graduating on time through an accelerated summer program. Before leaving Masconomet, he had a breakout season with 28 goals and 13 assists in 23 games, earning Salem News Player of the Year honors. At Phillips Andover, he led the team in goals with 28 points in 21 games as a junior, then improved to 56 points in 26 games as a senior, leading the team to the New England Prep semifinals and being named New England Prep Player of the Year.
Kreider played college hockey at Boston College from 2009 to 2012, majoring in communications. Before his freshman season, the New York Rangers selected him in the first round, 19th overall, in the 2009 NHL entry draft. He was rated 14th among North American skaters and first among high school players by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau. In his NCAA debut on October 18, he recorded four shots on net against Vermont, and he got his first NCAA point—an assist on Ben Smith’s goal—in the next game against Notre Dame. Before joining the U.S. junior team for the 2010 World Junior Championships, he led all Boston College rookies with four goals and four assists in 12 games. After returning, he tallied 12 goals and four assists in 12 games, with a six-game point streak from February 14 to March 5. He finished his rookie season second among conference freshmen with 14 goals and tied for ninth in points with 21, earning a spot on the Hockey East All-Rookie Team. In the 2010 Hockey East semifinals, he had a goal and an assist in a 3–0 win over Vermont, and in the championship game against Maine, he recorded two assists in a 7–6 overtime win.
Quick Facts
- Birth Date
- 1991-04-30
- Birth Place
- Boxford, Massachusetts, U.S.
- Height Ft
- 6
- Height In
- 3
- Weight Lb
- 232
- Position
- Winger
- Shoots
- Left
- League
- NHL
- Team
- Anaheim Ducks
- Former Teams
- New York Rangers
- Ntl Team
- USA
- Draft
- 19th overall
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Kreider grew up in Boxford, Massachusetts, playing for the Valley Jr. Warriors before attending Masconomet Regional High School, where he became an All-League player and helped win the Cape Ann League championship. He transferred to Phillips Andover for his junior year, leading the team to the New England Prep semifinals and being named New England Prep Player of the Year. He then played college hockey at Boston College from 2009 to 2012, winning two NCAA championships and being named to the All-Hockey East Rookie Team and All-Hockey East Second Team.
Drafted 19th overall by the New York Rangers in 2009, Kreider made his NHL debut during the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs, setting a record for most playoff goals before playing a regular season game. He split the next two seasons between the NHL and the Rangers' AHL affiliate before becoming a full-time NHL player in 2014–15. Despite injuries, he set personal and franchise records in both regular and postseason play, earning two NHL All-Star Game selections and the Rangers' Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award. During the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs, he became the Rangers' all-time leader in playoff goals, playoff power play goals, and playoff game-winning goals.
Reader's Guide
Chris Kreider's career is defined by his immediate impact in the NHL playoffs, setting a record for most playoff goals before ever playing a regular season game. His collegiate success at Boston College, where he won two NCAA championships, established him as a clutch performer. With the New York Rangers, he overcame injuries to become the franchise's all-time leader in several playoff scoring categories, including playoff goals, playoff power play goals, and playoff game-winning goals, a feat achieved during the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs. His contributions were recognized with two NHL All-Star Game selections and the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award from fans. Internationally, Kreider represented the United States at the junior level, winning a gold medal at the 2010 World Junior Championships, and later earned two bronze medals with the senior team across four tournaments. His path from Boxford, Massachusetts, through high school and college hockey to NHL record-setting performances underscores a career marked by postseason excellence and durability.
Did You Know?
- Kreider set an NHL record for most playoff goals before playing in a regular season game.
- Kreider won two NCAA championships with Boston College (2010 and 2012).
- He won a gold medal at the 2010 World Junior Championships with the United States.
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