Last season, Kreider had 21 goals and was second on the Rangers with 177 hits. It was his second straight season with at least 20 goals and 160 hits. And among players to score at least 40 goals over the past two seasons, he is eighth with 339 hits.
"He is fast and one of the best-built players in the NHL," Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad said. "He hits hard and he plays the game at a high pace. He is very difficult to play against."
As physical as the 6-foot-3, 226-pound Kreider plays the game, it's his skating that stands out.
"Chris is the most explosive skater in the history of the NHL, in my opinion," said Moore, an unrestricted free agent who was Kreider's teammate in New York the past three seasons. "He's a game-changer because he can break out and do amazing things because he is a freak athlete. Guys like that don't grow on trees. He has earned his way into being a valuable player in the League."
Kreider was sixth among Rangers forwards in ice time last season at 15:57 per game, but that number could rise as he continues to skate through his prime as a forceful, skilled presence.
"Hopefully I am just scratching the surface," Kreider said. "I am of the mindset that I am trying to get better every single day. I guess if you are not improving, there's no point of doing it."
