MONTREAL — The Rangers could have 4 gamers representing Crew USA on the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off match, however simply three may even see the ice Thursday night time after they open in opposition to Finland.
Chris Kreider seems to be the odd ahead out of the U.S. lineup and can seemingly function a wholesome scratch within the first of three spherical robin video games.
“I’m ready to do whatever it takes to help the team,” Kreider mentioned after Crew USA’s observe in Brossard, Quebec, on Wednesday. “The amount of talent that this roster has — that every roster has — is incredible. It’s an incredible honor to be here. Whatever they need me to do, just be ready. Taking in all the information and being ready if your number is called.”
Head coach Mike Sullivan mentioned he spoke to Kreider after they all arrived, noting that he’s tried to fulfill with as many gamers as he can by the primary few days to be able to be clear and easy with the workforce’s recreation plan.
In Sullivan’s eyes, explaining to gamers how he expects them to contribute and what their function is was an vital duty of his.
He added that he has an excessive amount of respect for these top-tier gamers to not have these sorts of conversations.
“He’s a high-character person, first and foremost,” Sullivan mentioned of getting Kreider in a depth function. “I think Kreids is a guy that we could plug into any line, and he’s going to bring certain attributes. His size, his skating ability, the north-south game, he has the ability to score goals, he can play the net-front on the power play, he can play on the penalty kill. We’ve played against him a lot, obviously, being in the same division, so I’m very familiar with his game, but he’s just a great person first and foremost.”
He’s an actual good teammate, and the flexibility is likely one of the the explanation why he’s on this roster.”
“When you look at some of the players that we have in some of those supporting roles, versatility is a real important element — the ability to play multiple positions or multiple roles, and I think he checks a lot of boxes with respect to that.”
Whereas Kreider took reps as an additional skater, the remainder of the Rangers on Crew USA — Vincent Trocheck, J.T. Miller and Adam Fox — have been a part of line rushes Wednesday.
Fox continued to skate on the top-four pairing with Jaccob Slavin, in addition to on the highest power-play unit with Matthew Tkachuk, Jake Guentzel, Auston Matthews and Jack Eichel.
Miller centered the third line between Brady Tkachuk and Matthew Boldy, and Trocheck skated in the course of the fourth unit with Brock Nelson and Dylan Larkin.
