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William Cuylle | LW
Alexis Lafrenière | LW
Artemi Panarin | LW
Chris Kreider
ON-ICE VALUE
Top-Six Forward
STRENGTHS
Skating: Kreider is a powerful straight-line skater. Once he gains some momentum in the neutral zone, he’s one of the few remaining power forwards who consistently look to dip their shoulder and drive the puck to the opposition’s front door. With his size and speed, he’s a real handful in such scenarios.
Finish: The veteran winger keeps things simple on the offensive end. He converts at a stellar rate because he shoots almost exclusively from high-danger areas. As he’s matured, he’s increasingly embraced his role as a net-front presence, setting good screens and battling hard for rebounds.
Size: At 6’3” and 217 pounds, Kreider is an imposing forward—especially when you consider the pace at which he plays. He isn’t exactly a bruising player, but he can throw a solid check. More importantly, he’s strong down low, leaning on opponents or fending them off to retain possession.
WEAKNESSES
Defense: From a defensive standpoint, Kreider isn’t disciplined. He gets caught puck-watching in the neutral zone, which leads to outnumbered situations. He also takes poor angles on his mark in the defensive zone, conceding point shots and extra opportunities. He isn’t as active as he should be defensively.
Consistency: Though he boasts phenomenal raw tools, Kreider doesn’t use them on a nightly basis. He’ll often sleepwalk through games and only liven up when he has the puck in the slot. Given his combination of strength and speed as well as his high-quality linemates, he should be a menace on every single shift.
