Kreider Scores In Second Straight Game
Chris Kreider scored for the second game in the row to help the CT Whale defeat Springfield 3-2 and give them a sweep of both their games this weekend.
Kreider had just five goals in 31 games for the Whale during the lockout, but now has six goals in the eight games since being assigned back to the Whale this month.
Here's video of the goal (00:36 mark)...
...there's two trains of thought with Kreider. One is that he's finally playing well, so why not leave him down there to continue his development and re-building of his confidence. The other is that he's seems to have worked out whatever issues he may have had this season, so lets get him up here asap to help revive the Rangers dormant offense.
...if you read the blog this weekend, you know I'm a huge fan of the latter. Now obviously that option is filled with pitfalls as Kreider still might not be ready for the NHL game and if Torts loses confidence in him and begins cutting his ice time again, we're back at square one. I think it's worth the gamble, but only if Torts is willing to give him a longer leash than earlier this season.
...i've really been impressed with Kreider's willingness to get to the front of the net since re-joining the Whale. He also had a little fire in the celebration, which he was sorely lacking with the Rangers this season.
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i guess i'm the only one who thinks bringing him back up is a bad idea. i thought it was a bad idea to have him start the season with the big club to begin with. i just don't see him as being ready for the NHL yet, and even if he is on a bit of a run right now, i don't think two weeks in in CT has somehow turned him into a top-6 or even top-9 player.
There's something special about Kreider, I believe this kid is going to be a super star. He needs to add a bit of grit to his game and use thaose 226 pounds, and with that speed and soft hands no reason he can't become a premium power forward in the game.
I'm glad he's getting some confidence back, a little bit more and he should be ready to step back up to the Rangers. He was also looking a bit flat playing in the NHL this season, which just seems like a team wide thing. But I'd like to see some hits from him and more Callahan style play.
@TheNYRBlog they should bring the kid up and let him play. He could add a new dimension to this team. Give him confidence Torts!
Torts does not sit or scratch kids for taking chances, he sits them for being timid. Miller made a horrific turnover last game, at for a shift or 2 and then was back on the ice. If Kreider is ready to play like he's not afraid to mess up the tape job on his stick blade, then by all means give him the minutes. He cannot be timid. THAT'S where Torts loses confidence.
@gravey94 In that case he should be benching Richards and Gaborik this season, because they've been a heck of a lot more timid than Miller.
@gravey94 Agreed. I want to see the aggressive Chris Kreider. He was not very noticeable in the games that he played with the Rangers this year. He needs can be like Nash was earlier this year, very noticeable even when he wasn't scoring goals. Goals will come for the kid as long as he's aggressive.
@KevinDeLury But that's on Kreider, because Torts has shown time and time again that he gives young players the chance to take chances (see Miller, MDZ, Hags, Step, etc.). It's when they stop taking chances (see Boyle, Kreider, Mashinter, etc.) that he feels they need to sit. Kreider needs to be himself and nobody can do that for him except #20.
@TheNYRBlog He's got to stay in the A if they call him up and he struggles then what? Send him back down and mess with his head more?
@TheNYRBlog I want to see him continue playing at that level after he thinks he should be back in the show. Show the mental thoughness
@TheNYRBlog Replace Pyatt with Kreider, move Pyatt down to 4th line and sit Haley. That is what I would do, so it is prob wrong!
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Bring him back up, and give him 15 minutes a night instead of Boyle... The upside with Kreider is so much higher than with Boyle
