MONTREAL — The Rangers may have four players representing Team USA in the NHL's 4 Nations face-off tournament, but the ice will be seen playing Finland on Thursday night.
Chris Kreider appears to be a strange forward from the US lineup and could serve as a healthy scratch at the beginning of three rounds Robin games.
“We're ready to do whatever it takes to help our team,” Claider said Wednesday after Team USA practice in Brosard, Quebec. “The amount of talent this roster has – all the rosters have – is incredible. It's an incredible honor to be here. Whatever they need from me. Just prepare. Take all the information and be ready if your number is called.”
Director Mike Sullivan said he spoke to Clyder when they arrived. He said he tried to meet as many players as possible in the first few days to be transparent and easy on his team's game plan.
In Sullivan's eyes, we expect players to contribute and explain how their role is his important responsibility.
He added that these top players have too much respect for not having these types of conversation.
“He's the most important person to be highly traited,” Sullivan said of deepening Kryder. “Clyde is a guy we can plug into every line and I think he's going to bring certain attributes. His size, skating ability, North-South game, he has the ability to score goals. He can play netfront in power play and play in penalty kills. We were clearly in the same division as him, so I'm very familiar with his game. But he's first and foremost a wonderful person.”
He's a really good teammate and versatility is one of the reasons he's on this roster. ”
“If you look at some of the players we have in some of the supporting roles, versatility is really an important factor: the ability to play multiple positions or multiple roles, and he has a lot of experience in that regard. I think you're checking the box.”
Kreider made the rep an extra skater, but the rest of Team USA rangers (Vincent Trocheck, JT Miller, Adam Fox) were part of Wednesday's Line Rush.
Fox continued his skating with a top four pairing with Jaccob Slavin and a top power play unit with Matthew Tkachuk, Jake Guentzel, Auston Matthews and Jack Eichel.
Miller centered around the third line of Brady Tokachuk and Matthew Boldy, while Trokek skated in the middle of the fourth unit along with Brock Nelson and Dylan Larkin.
