Chris Kreider Becomes The Fourth Ranger To Score 50 Goals

On Tuesday night, history was made at Madison Square Garden. Chris Kreider scored his 50th goal of the 2021-22 season against the Hurricanes.

Although it came in a 4-2 loss, the big goal allowed Kreider to become only the fourth Ranger to score 50 goals in a season. With Igor Shesterkin off for an extra attacker, the team’s leading goal scorer was able to put in a rebound of an Adam Fox shot that both Ryan Strome and Andrew Copp got a piece of to get number 50 with 1:38 remaining.

In scoring his 50th, the 30-year old forward joined Vic Hadfield, Adam Graves and Jaromir Jagr as the only Blueshirts who are part of the 50-Goal Club. A great achievement for the former 2009 first round pick whose previous career high was 28 goals. Something he reached twice in ’16-17 and ’18-19.

Not only has he attained new personal bests in goals, but also in points (71), power play goals (25), shorthanded goals (3), game-winners (10), shots (235) and power play points (32). The 25 power play goals are also a new team record with Kreider passing Jagr, who had 24 in ’05-06. The 25 PPG’s lead the league.

With seven games remaining, he still can match Jagr’s single season franchise record in goals. Sixteen years ago, Jagr set a new mark for most goals by a New York Ranger in a season. He scored 54 to break Graves’ record of 52 that was achieved in ’93-94. That same season, Jagr also broke Hadfield’s record with 24 power play goals. One better than Hadfield’s 23 in ’71-72.

That same year, Hadfield became the first Blueshirt to score 50 over a season. His 50 goals and 56 assists for a total of 106 points with a plus-60 rating came during the Golden Era when he teamed with Rod Gilbert and Jean Ratelle as part of the famed GAG (Goal-A-Game) Line.

For Kreider, it’s already been a banner year. He has new season marks by a Ranger in power play goals with 25 and game-winning goals with 10. Previously, six different Rangers shared that record with nine. That included former captains Don Maloney, Mark Messier, Jaromir Jagr and Ryan Callahan. The other two were Brad Richards and Rick Nash.

In fact, the next goal Kreider gets would tie him with Rangers legend Bill Cook for 10th on the all-time franchise list. Cook was a prominent goal scorer when the franchise was established in 1926.

Despite playing in a lot less games due to the schedule and number of teams, Cook scored 228 goals in 11 seasons. He scored 30 or more three times and was a four-time All-Star who finished second for the Hart twice. All while playing with brother Bun and Frank Boucher on the famed Bread Line. The trio are all Hall Of Famers who aren’t discussed enough by the franchise.

Cook won two Stanley Cups in ’27-28 and ’32-33 with the Rangers. That included arguably the biggest goal in franchise history. He scored the overtime winner on the power play at 7:33 of sudden death to beat the Maple Leafs in Game Four to win the Cup. The 89th anniversary just passed on Wednesday, April 13.

For Kreider to be mentioned in the same sentence as a Hockey Hall Of Famer who is one of the all-time greatest Rangers, it speaks volumes about the kind of season he’s had. Here’s hoping there are a few more goals left on that stick to tie and pass Jagr.

NEW YORK RANGERS 50-GOAL CLUB

+1. Jaromir Jagr 54 goals ’05-06

2. Adam Graves 52 goals ’93-94

*3. Chris Kreider 50 goals ’21-22

4. Vic Hadfield 50 goals ’71-72

+current record holder

*active season

NEW YORK RANGERS MOST PPG IN SEASON

1. Chris Kreider 25 ’21-22

2. Jaromir Jagr 24 ’05-06

3. Vic Hadfield 23 ’71-72

4. Marcel Dionne 22 ’87-88

5. Mike Gartner 22 ’90-91

NEW YORK RANGERS GWG IN SINGLE SEASON

1. Chris Kreider 10 ’21-22

2. Six tied with 9 including Don Maloney, Mark Messier, Jaromir Jagr, Ryan Callahan, Brad Richards and Rick Nash

Watch all 50 of Kreider’s goals.