Chris Kreider is quickly climbing the list of the NHL’s most divisive players. But even after being ejected for boarding Minnesota’s Jonas Brodin last night at MSG, it doesn’t sound like the young Rangers forward has any plans to dramatically alter his game.
“It’s a bang-bang play,” Kreider said, per the Daily News. “I can’t play the game slow. I can’t not get in on the forecheck.”
He added: “I don’t want to get kicked out of a game. But at the same time I’ve got to keep moving my feet and keep trying to initiate contact on the forecheck and I have to keep on driving the net hard because that’s how I play.”
Brodin was not hurt on the play, and Kreider -- who admits he may have to be “a little bit more aware” out there -- was thankful for that.
Montreal goalie Carey Price was, of course, injured in a collision with Kreider in last season’s playoffs.
Kreider has never been suspended by the NHL (though he’s been close), and he won’t receive supplemental discipline for the Brodin hit. He was, however, suspended a game in the AHL, for boarding.