Should Chris Kreider Be Called Up for the Playoffs?

Recently, many speculations have been made by reporters who are around the New York Rangers of a possibility of start prospect Chris Kreider being called up after he finishes the tournament taking place on the college level. Kreider has had quite a bit of buzz around him ever since he was drafted, and expectations are rising as his performance in his current league is fairly well. However, is bringing in a new face to the Rangers starting in the playoffs really a good idea?

The Rangers don't pour on goals, and that is a fact. Their recent performances have managed to pot a few, but some nights, it isn't enough. Perhaps the Rangers feel they need a shake-up out on offense, but is that really the best idea for Kreider's development?

We have seen it happen in not just hockey, but sports in general, of players who are thrust into the limelight when they are not ready, end up slumping, and get into a rut that lowers their value, sometimes for their entire career. Would bringing in a kid who has never played an NHL game in his life be prepared to handle to the pressure of the NHL playoffs right out of the gate? This blogger's opinion says no.



It's easier to call up players like Carl Hagelin in the middle of the season, when the team is trending in a fairly good direction. But the Rangers have been spotty as of late. I'm not sure whether they're holding up to leave some gas in the tank for the playoffs, or to avoid injury that would keep them from the big dance, but either way, they've been streaky recently. Putting the pressure on Kreider to be the messiah on a year where the team is still growing is a tall order for any athlete.

That's what the Rangers are, they're still a growing team. This year, the Rangers managed to keep the top spot in the Eastern Conference for a good portion of the year in their first season with Brad Richards and Carl Hagelin. Can you imagine what they'll look like next season when this team has all summer to work even harder to repeat the same performance they put on this year? And, if Kreider gets his chance to be the call-up next season, I'd say the Rangers can make something happen.

So, as a plea, this blogger says leave Kreider alone. Let him do his thing on his own time, he'll be ready, and the team will be ready to work with him.