Stanley Cup Odds 2012: Chris Kreider Makes New York Rangers Tough to Beat

The New York Rangers wisely decided not to package rookie forward Chris Kreider in a possible trade for Columbus Blue Jackets superstar Rick Nash at the trade deadline and are now starting to see the rewards of that decision.

Kreider's ability to step into the high pressure of the NHL playoffs and perform at a high level is very impressive, and it proves why scouts think he has a very bright future ahead of him.

Per Christopher Botta of the New York Times:

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“He is such a key guy for us,” defenseman Ryan McDonagh said. “We told him to keep moving his feet and keep moving his legs and get in on the forecheck. His shot’s awesome. It’s lethal. If he gets a second to get it off, scary things can happen.”

"

One of the reasons the Rangers were thinking about acquiring Nash was because they didn't have a lot of depth at left wing this season.

Kreider, the 19th-overall selection in the 2009 draft and just weeks removed from leading the Boston College Eagles to an NCAA title, has been able to step into that position to give the Rangers some great offensive production and the physical play you would expect from a power forward. However, the most impressive part of Kreider's game is his composure.

He has seldom looked like a rookie this postseason and plays with a level of poise beyond his years. With the Rangers playing 14 games through the first two rounds, and many of those games being close contests, Kreider has given John Tortorella some needed scoring.

The Rangers have had to battle through some very physical games thus far, and having someone like Kreider who can bring some youthful energy and intensity to the lineup is quite valuable.

With Kreider in the fold, the Rangers will be a challenging team to beat in the playoffs and are my favorites to win the 2012 Stanley Cup.

Nick Goss' Stanley Cup Odds

Team	Odds
Rangers	3/2
Kings	3/1
Coyotes	5/1
Devils	7/1

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Nicholas Goss is an NHL Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and was also the organization's on-site reporter for the 2011 Stanley Cup Final in Boston.