MONTREAL — The Rangers could have 4 gamers representing Group USA on the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off event, however simply three might even see the ice Thursday night time after they open towards 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 able to do no matter it takes to assist the group,” Kreider stated after Group USA’s apply in Brossard, Quebec, on Wednesday. “The quantity of expertise that this roster has — that each roster has — is unimaginable. It’s an unimaginable honor to be right here. No matter they want me to do, simply be prepared. Taking in all the knowledge and being prepared in case your quantity is known as.”
Head coach Mike Sullivan stated he spoke to Kreider after they all arrived, noting that he’s tried to satisfy with as many gamers as he can by means of the primary few days in an effort to be clear and simple with the group’s recreation plan.
In Sullivan’s eyes, explaining to gamers how he expects them to contribute and what their position is was an necessary duty of his.
He added that he has an excessive amount of respect for these top-tier gamers to not have these kinds of conversations.
“He’s a high-character individual, at first,” Sullivan stated of getting Kreider in a depth position. “I feel Kreids is a man that we may plug into any line, and he’s going to carry sure attributes. His measurement, his skating skill, the north-south recreation, he has the flexibility to attain objectives, he can play the net-front on the facility play, he can play on the penalty kill. We’ve performed towards him quite a bit, clearly, being in the identical division, so I’m very conversant in his recreation, however he’s only a nice individual at first.”
He’s an actual good teammate, and the flexibility is without doubt one of the explanation why he’s on this roster.”
“Whenever you take a look at among the gamers that we’ve got in a few of these supporting roles, versatility is an actual necessary factor — the flexibility to play a number of positions or a number of roles, and I feel he checks numerous packing containers with respect to that.”
Whereas Kreider took reps as an additional skater, the remainder of the Rangers on Group 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.