Christopher James Kreider (born April 30, 1991) is an American professional ice hockey player who is a winger for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Growing up in Boxford, Massachusetts, Kreider played high school hockey for Masconomet Regional High School and Phillips Andover. As a junior at Phillips Andover, Kreider led the team to the New England Prep semifinals and was named New England Prep Player of the Year. Following high school, Kreider played college ice hockey for the Boston College Eagles from 2009 to 2012. Before the start of his freshman season, Kreider was drafted in the first round, 19th overall, by the New York Rangers in the 2009 NHL entry draft. At Boston College, Kreider was named to the All-Hockey East Rookie and All-Hockey East Second Team before turning professional in April 2012 after winning his second NCAA championship.
Kreider made his NHL debut during the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs, where he set a new NHL record for most playoff goals before playing in a regular season game. Kreider split the next two seasons between the NHL and the Rangers American Hockey League affiliate before becoming a mainstay on the NHL roster in the 2014–15 season. Although his next few seasons were marred with injuries, Kreider continued to set personal and franchise records in both the regular and postseasons. His efforts were recognized by the league with two selections for the NHL All-Star Game and by the fans with the Rangers' Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award. During the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs, Kreider became the Rangers' all-time leader in playoff goals, playoff power play goals, and playoff game-winning goals. In the 2025 off-season, Kreider was traded to the Anaheim Ducks, with whom he spent one season before mutually parting ways with the team.
Kreider has represented the United States internationally at both a junior and senior level. He first represented his home country during the 2010 World Junior Championships, where he won a gold medal. Since 2010, he has represented senior team at four international tournaments and won two bronze medals.
Early life Kreider was born on April 30, 1991, in Boxford, Massachusetts, to parents Kathy and David Kreider. He grew up alongside his younger sister Katie.
Playing career Amateur Growing up in Boxford, Kreider played with the Valley Jr. Warriors for four years from 2004 to 2008 before enrolling at Masconomet Regional High School. Although he was accepted into Pingree and St. John's Prep coming out of middle school, Kreider and his family chose to enroll him in public school. As a sophomore at Masconomet, he became an All-League player and helped the Chieftains win the Cape Ann League championship. Although he transferred to Phillips Andover for his junior year, Kreider repeated his sophomore year at the private school. Kreider was still able to graduate high school within four years by taking an accelerated summer program. Prior to leaving for Phillips Andover, Kreider experienced a breakout season with 28 goals and 13 assists through 23 games and was named Salem News Player of the Year. In his first year at Phillips Andover, Kreider quickly led the team in goals and accumulated 28 points through 21 games. He improved the following year as he finished with 56 points through 26 games to lead Phillips Andover to the New England Prep semifinals. Although they fell short of the championship, Kreider was named New England Prep Player of the Year.
Collegiate Following high school, Kreider enrolled at Boston College for three years where he majored in communications. Prior to the start of his freshman year, Kreider was drafted in the first round, 19th overall, by the New York Rangers, in the 2009 NHL entry draft. He had entered the draft rated 14th among all North American skaters, and first among high school players, by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau. Kreider recorded four shots on net in his National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) debut on October 18 against the Vermont Catamounts. He recorded his first NCAA point, an assist on Ben Smith's second-period goal, the following game to lift Boston College over Notre Dame. Prior to joining the United States junior team at the 2010 World Junior Championships, Kreider led all rookies on the team with four goals and four assists for eight points through 12 games. After returning from the tournament, Kreider quickly tallied 12 goals and four assists through 12 games and maintained a six-game point streak from February 14 to March 5. He finished his rookie season second in the conference among freshmen with 14 goals and tied for ninth in points with 21. As a result, he was named to the 2009-10 Hockey East All-Rookie Team. As the Boston College Eagles qualified for the 2010 Hockey East semifinals, Kreider tallied a goal and an assist in a 3–0 win over Vermont. In their championship game against the Maine Black Bears, he recorded two assists in their 7–6 overtime win. Kreider scored a goal in the 2010 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament title game to help the Eagles defeat the University of Wisconsin to win the national title. He subsequently became the second American to capture a World Junior Championship gold medal and NCAA title in the same year.
Following the NCAA title, Kreider was also selected to take part in the 2010 U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp in August 2010 before returning to Boston College for his sophomore season. While leading the Eagles through the 2011 Beanpot Tournament, Kreider tallied two goals and an assist on the overtime game-winner to help the team clinch their second-straight title. He was subsequently named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament for his efforts. His momentum was cut short in March after he suffered a broken jaw when teammate Brian Gibbons accidentally struck him during a game. While he was recovering, the Eagles improved their record to 30–7–1 to clinch the Hockey East title and qualify for the 2011 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament. Despite undergoing surgery, Kreider returned to the lineup on March 25 and tallied an assist in their 8–4 loss. He finished the regular season with 11 goals and 13 assists through 32 games although the Eagles were eliminated from the NCAA tournament in the semifinal of the Western Regional by Colorado College. Following their elimination, Kreider announced his intention to return to Boston College for the 2011–12 season. When speaking on his decision to return to Boston College, Kreider said: "Education is very important to me ... and regardless of how long it takes, I will finish my BC degree. There is life after hockey, and whether it is after next year or regardless, it's just one step closer to getting my degree, which is very important for myself and for my family."
Kreider returned to Boston College for his junior year, as promised, where he led the team to a second NCAA title with 23 goals and 45 points in 44 games. Kreider scored his first collegiate short-handed goal on December 4, 2011, against Boston University. While leading the Eagles through the 2012 Beanpot Tournament, Kreider tallied a goal and an assist to help the team clinch their third-straight title and establish new career-highs. Kreider finished the regular season with a team-leading 23 goals and 22 assists for 45 points over 44 games. His 45 points were fifth amongst Hockey East players and tied for 19th in the NCAA. As a result of their on-ice success, Kreider and the Eagles qualified for the 2012 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament. In their first round matchup against the Air Force Falcons, Kreider scored the Eagles' only goals in the 2–0 win. In the next round, he tallied a goal and an assist in the Eagles' 6–1 win over the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the semifinals. During the National Championship game against the Ferris State Bulldogs, Kreider led all skaters with six shots on net in their 4–1 win to lead the Eagles to another Hockey East Tournament title. At the end of the season, Kreider was selected for the All-Hockey East Second Team.
Professional
New York Rangers
2011–2012 Kreider officially concluded his collegiate career on April 10, 2012, by signing a three-year, entry-level contract with the Rangers. He immediately participated in the Rangers practice, which per league rules reduced the length of his contract by a year, but was not guaranteed a spot in the lineup. When the Rangers began their 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs series against the Ottawa Senators, Kreider served as a healthy scratch for their first two games. However, after teammate Carl Hagelin was suspended for three games, Kreider made his NHL debut in game three of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals on April 16, 2012. He played just over 11 minutes of ice time and recorded one shot on net and one hit. After playing over 11 minutes in his debut, he played just 3:29 in his following game and 7:34 in game five. Despite his decreased ice time, Kreider remained in the lineup for game five where he played on the second line as a replacement for Brian Boyle. In his fourth career playoff game, Kreider scored his first career NHL goal, the game-winning goal, to help the Rangers stave off elimination. In game seven of the quarterfinals, Kreider forced a turnover which allowed for Marc Staal to score and help the Rangers clinch the series with a 2–1 win.
Kreider's momentum continued into their Eastern Conference semifinals series against the Washington Capitals. In Game one of the series, Kreider tallied his second NHL goal to give the Rangers a 2–1 lead seven minutes into the third period. He finished the game playing 15:35 of ice time and adding an assist as the Rangers won 3–1. Kreider subsequently set numerous franchise records with his third-period goal as he became the youngest Rangers player to record two points in a playoff game since 1996 and the first rookie to register a multi-point game in the postseason since 2008. He also became the first Rangers rookie to register two game-winning goals in the postseason since Mike Allison in 1981. Despite his game-winning goals, Kreider still experienced slow starts as he became acclimated to the NHL. In game four of the Eastern Conference semifinals, Kreider's turnover led directly to an Alexander Ovechkin goal and eventually a Rangers' loss. The Rangers eventually eliminated the Capitals and faced off against the New Jersey Devils in the Eastern Conference final. Kreider scored his third postseason goal in game one to help the Rangers shutout the Devils 3–0. He subsequently tied a league record for most playoff goals scored in a single postseason by a player who has not yet skated in a regular season game. He scored again in games two and three to set a new NHL record for most playoff goals before playing his first regular season game. The Rangers were eventually eliminated from the playoffs after losing in overtime of game six.
2012–2013