Chris Kreider will return to the New York Rangers lineup on Saturday, when they visit the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena. And he’ll begin the contest on the fourth line.
Not necessarily an appealing position for the 23-year-old Kreider to find himself in, as he looks to get back into game action after missing Monday’s overtime victory over Pittsburgh with reported neck spasms.
AV confirms J.T. Miller will start on second line tomorrow--"I don't want to break that line up..J.T. has played well"--Chris Kreider on 4th
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) December 12, 2014
Last season, Kreider scored 17 goals and 37 points in 66 games for the Rangers. His production has fallen off that pace from 2013-14. He’s scored only four times this season, and has gone 11 games without a goal, with just three assists in that span.
Perhaps putting Kreider on the fourth line is Alain Vigneault’s way of trying to send a message, get his player’s attention.
“I don’t need anybody to send me a message, I put more pressure on myself than anyone else,” said Kreider, as per the Rangers’ Twitter account.