It was April 11, 2012, and Chris Kreider was on the ice for his first day of observe with the Rangers, 4 days after profitable his second NCAA title in three years at Boston School, two days after the Nineteenth-overall choice of the 2009 draft signed an entry-level contract, and at some point earlier than the Blueshirts have been set to open the primary spherical of the playoffs in opposition to the Senators.
Kreider, a few weeks shy of turning 21, was skating laps with Brian Boyle, a fellow BC product who had reached out to him. And might you guess what the veteran was exhibiting the neophyte? As I jotted down in my pocket book that day, Boyle was exhibiting Kreider the best way to block pictures, which the latter would quickly admit he had by no means carried out.
After all he was. John Tortorella was teaching the staff.
The identical buzz that accompanied Kreider’s observe debut practically 13 years in the past was within the air on the rink on Tuesday when BC sophomore winger Gabe Perreault made his Rangers observe debut two days after the first-ranked Eagles have been upset within the NCAA regional finals by Denver and at some point after signing his entry-level contract.
