New York Rangers Demote Kreider After Rookie Postseason Debut

The New York Rangers sent Chris Kreider to the Connecticut Whale of the American Hockey League, less than a year after he became the first player in more than two decades to win a college title and debut in that year’s National Hockey League playoffs.

The 21-year-old forward had a goal and an assist with four penalty minutes in seven games for the Rangers this season. His five postseason goals last year tied an NHL record for playoff scoring by a rookie without participating in a regular-season game.

Kreider won the National Collegiate Athletic Association championship with Boston College in April 2012 and then signed with the Rangers, who selected him in the first round of the 2009 entry draft in time to participate in the playoffs.

Kreider was the first player to jump from a college championship win to the NHL postseason since 1987, when Tony Hrkac won a college title with the University of North Dakota before playing for the St. Louis Blues.

The Rangers announced Kreider’s assignment to the Whale in a news release.

To contact the reporter on this story: Aaron Kuriloff in New York at akuriloff@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Michael Sillup at msillup@bloomberg.net.