The New York Rangers have sent Chris Kreider to the minors. It will be a big disappointment for Kreider who also struggled last season after exploding onto the NHL scene during the 2012 playoffs and scoring some big goals. He should return at some point this season but could use top-six minutes and that may be hard to accomplish at this time with the Rangers.

Chris Kreider might fall short of making the Rangers' opening game lineup. That would obviously be a blow after Kreider struggled to get playing time under former coach John Tortorella and was given a fresh start with the coaching change. Kreider will get one more chance to show what he can do on Friday.

Rangers coach Alain Vigneault is interested in having Chris Kreider station himself in front of the net in power-play situations. With Kreider's 6-foot-3, 226-pound frame, he should have the size and strength to pull off that role. Kreider has the potential to become a solid top-six forward, but he struggled to get playing time under former coach John Tortorella. He has a new opportunity under Vigneault and Kreider might have some fantasy value this season as a result.

Coach Alain Vigneault likes what he's seen from Chris Kreider and he's going to give him a chance to succeed. He skated with Brad Richards and Rick Nash again at Monday's practice and the combination is slated to play against New Jersey in preseason action. "The reality is he's one of the Rangers' high-end prospects. His size, his skill, we want to give him every opportunity to show what he can do," Vigneault said. "By putting him with Brad and Rick, we're sort of showing our hand a little bit here that [he's] getting a good opportunity, let's see what you can do."

Early on, New York Rangers youngster Chris Kreider is lining up with Brad Richards and Rick Nash. The key, then, is to make it stick. Even if he's been a little over-hyped at the NHL level, any player with decent talent could really take advantage of having such high-scoring linemates.

Chris Kreider should benefit from a fresh start with whoever takes over as the new head coach of the New York Rangers. Reports indicate that former Vancouver bench boss Alain Vigneault will take over for John Tortorella, who was also let go after his team's 2013 playoff defeat. Under Vigneault a player like Kreider could thrive because he should get more freedom to create offense off the rush and use his speed.

Chris Kreider scored the overtime winner for the Rangers Thursday in a 4-3 overtime win over Boston. The win keeps the Blueshirts alive despite now trailing 3-1 in their second round playoff series. Derek Stepan picked up a goal and an assist in the victory while Brian Boyle and Carl Hagelin also found the back of the net. Derick Brassard contributed to the cause with a pair of assists in the win.

Chris Kreider is starting Game 4 of the second-round series on the Rangers' second line. The key word here is "starting" because coach John Tortorella is a notorious line-juggler. For now, though, he has a chance to play with Derrick Brassard and Rick Nash on the line he played on before leaving Game 3 after getting hit in the forehead with a stick.

Chris Kreider is projected to play in Game 4 after he missed most of the third period on Tuesday. He was struck in the forehead by the stick of Tyler Seguin and didn't skate on Wednesday. However, he is apparently fine to play.

Chris Kreider didn't skate Wednesday after getting hit in the forehead by Tyler Seguin's stick in Game 3 Tuesday night. If Kreider cannot play Thursday then Darroll Powe is a possibility to return from injury in his place.