Kreider played for Masconomet Regional High School, and later Phillips Academy, a preparatory school in Andover, Massachusetts. Kreider scored a goal in the 2010NCAA title game in which Boston College defeated the University of Wisconsin to win the national title; he was also named to the 2010 Hockey East All-Rookie Team. Kreider was named Most Valuable Player of the 2011 Beanpot Tournament, as Boston College won the tournament for the second-straight time. He was also selected to the senior United States to compete in the 2011 IIHF World Championship in Slovakia. In the 2011–12 season Kreider won a second NCAA title with Boston College, where he led the team in scoring with 23 goals and 45 points in 44 games. His 23 goals were second overall in the Hockey East conference and tied for eighth in the NCAA; his 45 points were fifth in Hockey East and tied for 19th in the NCAA. Kreider was also tied for the Hockey East lead in game-winning goals, short handed goals and short-handed points. He also finished in the top ten in Hockey East with seven power play goals and 17 power play points.
Professional
On April 10, 2012, Kreider signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Rangers. He joined New York the following day for practice, and was declared eligible to participate in the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs. He made his NHL debut a few days later in a Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Quarter-finals on April 16, 2012. He scored his first career NHL goal in Game 6 of that series on April 23 with an assist from former World Junior Championship teammate Derek Stepan, which proved to be the game-winner. Kreider's second NHL goal was also a playoff game-winning goal, this time coming against the Washington Capitals on in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semi-finals on April 28, making him the first player in NHL history whose first two goals were playoff game-winners. He ended the 2012 playoffs with five goals, an NHL record for most playoff goals before playing his first regular season game. The prior record of four such goals was held by Eddie Mazur, and the prior record of three goals in a single post-season prior to playing a regular season game was held by George McPhee and Ray Cote. Kreider scored his first career hat-trick on November 30, 2013, against the Vancouver Canucks in a 5–2 Rangers victory. On May 17, 2014, in game one of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Montreal Canadiens, Kreider crashed the net of Canadien's goaltender, Carey Price, resulting in a Price sustaining a sprained knee. Price would miss the remainder the round of the playoffs. The Rangers would go on to claim a 4-2 series victory. On July 23, 2014, Kreider and the Rangers agreed to a two-year, $4.95 million contract extension. On October 28, 2014, in a game against the Minnesota Wild, Kreider received a major penalty and a game misconduct for dangerously checking Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin from behind into the boards. Despite an injury to Brodin, Kreider was not suspended for the hit. On July 22, 2016, Kreider signed a four-year, $18.5 million contract extension with the Rangers, avoiding arbitration. Kreider would then have a solid 2016-17 season, setting new career highs in both goals and points. During a game against the Washington Capitals on December 27, 2017, Kreider left the game for an undisclosed reason. It was later revealed that Kreider had a blood clot in his right arm, and would be out indefinitely. On January 8, 2018, it was announced that Kreider would undergo rib resection surgery, and would be out of the lineup for about 5–7 weeks. Kreider played his first game back on February 24, 2018 against the Minnesota Wild after missing 24 games. On February 24, 2020, Kreider signed a seven-year, $45.5 million contract extension with the Rangers.
International play
Kreider scored six goals for the gold medal-winning United States World Junior Championship team in 2010. He was chosen to represent the United States once again at the 2011 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, and led the team with four goals in six games as Team USA won the bronze medal. Two of his goals were scored in the bronze medal game, and he was named the USA's best player for that game. Kreider's ten goals in World Junior Championship play tied him with John LeClair and Mike Modano for third all-time among American players, behind just Jeremy Roenick's 13 and Brian Gionta's 11. In 2018, Kreider, along with teammate Neal Pionk, were the only Rangers players selected to represent the United States at the 2018 IIHF World Championship. He posted 10 points through 10 games, helping the United States claim the Bronze Medal in Denmark. On April 19, 2019, Kreider was selected to represent Team USA at the 2019 IIHF World Championship, held in Bratislava and Kosice, Slovakia.
