Chris Kreider certainly didn’t seem injured as he racked up 10 goals and 16 points in 20 playoff games, but apparently he was. The New York Rangers announced Friday that Kreider underwent successful wrist surgery to remove a small bone fragment. Luckily, he won’t be forced to miss any important time, as full recovery is expected in two to four weeks.
Kreider, 31, was one of the most impressive goal-scorers in the entire league this season, racking up 52 tallies in 81 games. Twenty-six of those came on the power play and an incredible 11 of them were game-winners, as the veteran forward continued to prove he is one of the most clutch performers in the sport. From the moment he entered the league, Kreider has been a playoff force, racking up 34 postseason goals in 100 contests. His three game-winners this year still lead all players in the playoffs, and if the Rangers expect to have any more success in the next few years, he’ll be a huge part of it.
Hopefully, this surgery doesn’t affect Kreider’s ability to shoot the puck next season, and he’ll be able to continue playing at the high bar he set this year. His mix of speed, power and finishing ability is rare around the league, and the Rangers would certainly not have reached the Eastern Conference Finals without him.
Kreider is signed through the 2026-27 season and carries a cap hit of $6.5M.
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