Chris Kreider
(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

New York Rangers forward Chris Kreider will replace Artemi Panarin in the NHL All-Star Game, scheduled for Jan. 25 in St. Louis. 

New York Rangers forward Chris Kreider will be the team representative at this weekend’s NHL All-Star Game, which is being played in St. Louis.

This will be Kreider’s first All-Star Game appearance.

Kreider will replace Artemi Panarin, who cannot attend the game due to an upper-body injury that forced him to miss his first game as a Ranger when the Blueshirts hosted the New York Islanders at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night.

The Islanders defeated the Panarin-less Rangers, 4-2.

Panarin had missed the team’s last two practices, but had not missed any games until Tuesday. The Russian phenom has carried the Rangers all season, recording 26 goals and 42 assists for 68 points in 47 games.

Kreider had a slow start to the season, but has put up points over the last 20 games. The 28-year-old has scored eight goals to go along with 10 assists in that time playing with Mika Zianejad and Pavel Buchnevich.

For the season, Kreider has 31 points (16 goals, 15 assists) in 47 games.

This could be the last season the Rangers have Kreider on their roster. The Boxford, MA native will be an unrestricted free agent when the season concludes.

The NHL All-Star festivities begin Friday with the skills competition taking center stage. Then, the four division teams battle in a three-on-three tournament Saturday.

A graduate of St. John's University class of '91. I have been a fan of the New York Rangers since the days of Peter Puck. Founder of Ranger Proud, the Facebook page that covers all news, notes, pre /post-game stats, and player quotes. I can be reached at [email protected]