And a child shall lead them? Not quite.
The crown jewel of the farm system, Chris Kreider, joined the Rangers Tuesday after playing a key role in Boston College winning its second national championship in his three years at the Hockey East power. According to industry site capgeek.com, Kreider signed a three-year deal worth $2.4 million.
But do not expect to see him in the lineup unless things go drastically wrong or there is a catastrophic injury.
“It’s probably a little too soon,” Kreider said after the Thursday morning skate at the Garden. “I think the learning process will probably help.
“It’s been an extremely fast turnaround. I wouldn’t have it any other way, but it’s a bit surreal.”
Listed as a left wing, the 6-foot-3, 230-pound Kreider scored 49 goals and had 92 points in 114 games with Boston College. He has also represented the United States in international competition, having played in the World Junior and World Championship tournaments in 2010.
Back in the tri-city
This series marks a homecoming of sorts for Senators Matt Gilroy and Zenon Konopka.
Gilroy, a defenseman from North Bellmore, Long Island, spent his first two seasons with the Rangers before signing a free agent deal with Tampa Bay in the offseason. Ottawa acquired Gilroy from the Lightning at the deadline for Brian Lee.
Konopka, a center, played for the Islanders last year. He signed a one-year UFA deal worth $700,000 with Ottawa during the free-agency period.
“You have a lot of good friends in the area. It’s a nice four days here. You get to relive some memories with old teammates and see some friends,” Konopka said when asked if the series was special for he and Gilroy.
Gilroy noted that he “had to get 12 tickets and there’s been offers from 30 people to buy tickets.”
Shea gets off light
The NHL announced that Nashville defenseman Shea Weber was fined $2,500 for “delivering a blow to the head of [Detroit Red Wings left wing] Henrik Zetterberg,” in the final seconds of the Predators’ 3-2 win in Game 1 Wednesday night.
Weber punched Zetterberg, and then drove the Red Wings’ star head first into the glass behind the Nashville net.
“This was a reckless and reactionary play,” said NHL discipline czar Brendan Shanahan in a statement published on the league’s website. “As is customary whenever Supplemental Discipline is being considered, we contacted Detroit following the game and were informed that Zetterberg did not suffer an apparent injury and should be in the lineup for Game 2. This play and the fine that addressed it will be significant factors in assessing any incidents involving Shea Weber throughout the remainder of the playoffs.”
Both Zetterberg and Weber practiced with their teams yesterday. Weber told reporters in Nashville that he was “glad” that Zetterberg “wasn’t hurt.”
Follow Rangers beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.
