Rangers' Prospect Chris Kreider; What Would Bill Gates Do?

Heading into the 2011-'12 NHL season, the New York Rangers have, on paper, a roster that is sufficiently talented, hard-working and disciplined to compete consistently with the best teams.

Offseason acquisitions and the development/arrival of some of the team's in-house talent have positioned the team well. While they are not among the elite teams in the league, they will, again, compete consistently. This has as much to do with the character of the team, their collective work-ethic and the relentless nature of their coach, John Tortorella, as it does with how fast they can skate and how hard they can shoot the puck.

When teams win championships, of course, it's the result of varying degrees of talent and character combined. Without question, though, every organization seeks talent first and hopes that the intangible qualities like character and work ethic are there as well. The New York Rangers, for several years now, have drafted some high-ceiling, high-character-type prospects and they've also made some nice trades to bring more of the same to the organization. Of these prospects, none is awaited with more anticipation than the 6' 2", lightning-fast winger Chris Kreider.

Kreider can skate with anyone and he's also that rare player that can create from the wing. His skills, actually, translate long term to the center position, although it remains to be seen where he is ultimately deployed. He would be poised to begin his professional career in just over a month from today if not for one nagging reality; Chris Kreider, you see, has not signed a contract with the New York Rangers.

As reported by Jim Cerney on Blueshirts United just this past week, Kreider has clearly reaffirmed his intention to finish his education at Boston College.

"You want to focus on professional hockey when that time comes," said Kreider. "I know my decision (to stay in school) was heavily scrutinized from the outside, but it's been hammered into me how important my education is and now is the time to take care of that. I don't want (finishing school) hanging over my head once I turn pro. I just want to focus on hockey at that point."

This is all really great stuff, postcard material, really, to promote the sublime experience and meaningful achievement that a college education represents. If you listen closely, you’ll likely be able to hear educators and university administrators all over academia leaping for joy right about now.

After all, without such glowing recommendations it would be that much more difficult for them to keep selling the idea that it's necessary to extend to four years what could be accomplished in two. That, though, is another discussion for another time.

Today, we'll be concentrating on Kreider's decision to stay in school and, quite possibly, find himself in jeopardy of looking from the outside in on an NHL career needlessly derailed by injury. While there is no guarantee that a player can avoid injury at any level of play, regardless of the sport, signing a contract and having several million bonus dollars in the bank is a guarantee against having to wonder what might have been.

It's nice to want the degree that a formal education results in, but someone should have told Kreider by now that a degree in America is primarily designed to position one's self to earn more money over a career. For the sake of discussion, though, let's say that Kreider's decision to stay in school is based on some innate desire he has to amass knowledge and not on the more pedestrian motivation of securing his degree.

If that were the case, wouldn’t it follow logically that he would be enlightened enough to understand that you can always gather knowledge and expand your education? Read a book, browse the internet, go to the library, regardless of which option you choose you will always have access to information and knowledge.

Additionally, with several millions dollars in the bank, still supposing that the pursuit of supreme knowledge is what's truly driving Kreider's decision, could Kreider not continue his education during the offseason? We are in 2011, after all, and anyone with a computer and wireless connection can take a course from the beach if they wanted to. Heck, with several million in the bank Kreider could even hire a small army of tutors to follow him around wherever he goes.

Is this all a bit harsh? Is this viewpoint all a bit too cynical? Does it seem as if we're picking on a young kid who many would feel is making an admirable choice? Perhaps, but that is not the intent here. I’m sure Chris Kreider and his family believe his decision is the best decision he can make, and there is more than likely nothing else to it.

The intent, rather, is to attempt to counteract the endless drone from the vast majority of observers of sport, who for years have self-righteously bemoaned the decisions by young athletes to leave school early, pounding the "stay in school" mantra into our collective heads as if they’re on the payroll of the NCAA. The hypocrisy is so thick that it's almost a living, breathing thing.

Kreider, he of the Boston College Eagles hockey team as opposed to the New York Rangers hockey team, may not be the prime example of a young athlete who should take every penny thrown at them while sprinting for the hills. By all accounts he comes from a stable background and, with a degree, he would more than likely do just fine in the world should his hockey career not flourish.

What of the athlete that cannot claim such a background, though? Should he pursue a degree and forego the opportunity for what essentially amounts to multi-generational security? Should he delay payment for his skills, all while his family continues to suffer financially and/or remain in an environment that threatens their very lives?

For every sports journalist who has ever suggested to any athlete, whether in print or conversation, that they should choose school over signing a contract, here's a simple question: if while in college you were approached by a major newspaper or sports magazine and offered a full-time staff writer's position, at an extraordinary rate of pay, would you have dutifully returned to class the following semester? If the answer to that question is anything but no, you're lying.

More to the point, when is the last time anyone has come across an article suggesting to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg or Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates that they should have stayed in school? These men are considered pioneers, brave firebrands who pursued their dreams, and they ironically had no guarantees of financial windfall when they decided to leave school.

In the end, the hope is that Chris Kreider truly gets it all, the education, the signing bonus and the great NHL career. The pursuit and ultimate acquisition of a rewarding and prosperous life is the essence of being American, really, and in times when that pursuit is as difficult as it is for many Americans we should all embrace the success stories as evidence that we're all still capable of such heights.

Going forward, though, let's look reality in the eye. Let's just recognize that there is a limited market out there for world-class talent, and very limited windows of opportunity for young athletes to attain the brass ring, so to speak.

A degree can be truly a wonderful thing, no doubt, and it truly can be the key to greater things in life. For certain people with certain skills, though, there are times when the pursuit of a degree can be put on hold. Chris Kreider is one of those certain people with those certain skills; let's hope his arrival in New York is merely delayed and not permanently postponed.