It is rerported by many sources, that Chris Kreider has come to an agreement with the New York Rangers for the rest of this year and the two following year. It is a risk to bring him along and using up 1 of his 3 years of his 1st contract, but GM Glen Sather has wanted this to happen for weeks. Kreider doesn't get any yearly salary of signing bonus since the regular season is over, but is eligible for performance bonus for playoff games played and gets him a year closer to restricted free agency. There are alot of opinions on this signing, but no matter who you talk to, they all say the same thing--Kreider has the speed, body size, and playing at Boston College is playing the same style that his new team, the New York Rangers play. Kreider this season has won the Beanpot Tournament, the NCAA National Title, and now is visions of helping to win the Stanley Cup.

Kreider is supposed to sign the contract when he reports to the Rangers practice facility in Tarrytown tomorrow. He was a linemate of Derek Stepan and Ryan Bourque on the USA Jr. team 2010 that won the gold medal.  It would seem like Coach John Tortorella would try to put him together with Stepan which wouldn't mix around the lineup too much. The Rangers could keep the GAS line of Carl Hagelin-Brad Richards--Marian Gaborik / the PACK line of Brandon Dubinsky--Artem Anisimov--Ryan Callahan/ Chris Kreider--Derek Stepan--Ruslan Fedetenko / and Mike Rupp--Brian Boyle--Brandon Prust.  The Rangers could roll 4 lines and wear teams out like they did earlier in the season, but going by coach Tort's past, he is more likely to roll 3 lines and use the 4th line for 5 minutes a game.

 John Mitchell would seem like the odd man out since Tort's says how much Ruslan Fedetenko and Michael Rupp's playoff and Stanley Cup winning experience is so important at this time of year. So it comes down to who would you rather have playing in the playoffs, Chris Kreider who has been a winner at every level he has played at to date, or John Mitchell who has played as a solid roll player during the season. The Rangers brass thinks they have made the right choice by going with a proven winner in his past, now if he can only bring it to the highest level and help bring Lord Stanley's Cup back to New York. The team has had great success in the regular season because they were a tight team, now if only Kreider can step in seemlessly and make them better.

Prediction: Rangers in 6 over Senators