Boston College's Kreider Could Join Rangers Before End of NHL Season

Drafted 19th overall in the first round by the New York Rangers in 2009, Boston College junior forward Chris Kreider could be joining the NHL's Eastern Conference front-runner sooner rather than later. The college season ends on April 7 in Tampa, and assuming top-ranked BC goes all the way again, Kreider could ink a deal with the Blueshirts not long after.

One of the fastest skaters in college hockey, the 6'3", 225-pound Kreider had posted career-high totals of 21 goals and 41 points heading into Saturday night's Hockey East Association championship game against No. 11 Maine at TD Garden in Boston.

Seven of his goals had come on the power play, while three were short-handed and five were game-winners. For his career to date, the Boxboro, Mass., native had 47 goals and 41 assists for 88 points in 109 contests, while also collecting 133 penalty minutes.

Kreider made ESPN's SportsCenter as a freshman with his highlight-reel goal in BC's 2010 Beanpot Tournament win over rival Boston University, and later scored an insurance marker in the Eagles' 5-0 win over Wisconsin in the 2010 NCAA championship game at Ford Field in Detroit.

He had 24 points last season, despite missing several games due to a broken jaw. This season, he scored the winning goal short-handed in BC's 2-1 win over Northeastern in an outdoor contest at fabled Fenway Park, and is also leading the Eagles in scoring.

Rangers coach John Tortorella had hoped to already have Kreider in the fold in Manhattan.

"We're anxious to get him involved in pro hockey because we think he's got some good stuff to offer and want to get him tracked up here with us as soon as possible," said Tortorella to the New York Daily News last year.

A two-time member of the U.S. National Junior Team, where he earned both gold and bronze medals, Kreider, 20, has also participated in two World Championships alongside professional players, including the 2010 event in Germany where he was the only college player on the roster. 

“Chris has the strength and speed of a pro,” said Gordie Clark, the Rangers’ director of player personnel, to the New York Times in February. “He has a pretty rare ability to create offense on his own, and he has developed every aspect of his game while in a great college hockey program. He has a chance to be a valuable player for us in the near future.”

Kreider, who has been working on finishing his bachelor's degree in the Carroll School of Management at BC, starred at both Masconomet Regional High School and Phillips Andover Academy for two years apiece before enrolling at the Heights.

Now, with the pros calling, his time in Chestnut Hill and in college hockey may be coming to a close. 

"It's another part of the process," said Kreider to the Wall Street Journal earlier this month. "When the time comes, that's something I'll deal with."