Kreider has everything a modern NHL power forward needs: top-end speed, game-breaking ability and a physical approach to the game. Those traits attracted the interest of the New York Rangers, who selected Kreider in the first round (No. 19) of the 2009 NHL Draft.

Kreider opted to play at Boston College and became one of the top players in the nation during his three seasons there.

As a freshman in 2009-10, Kreider had 15 goals and helped the Eagles to a national championship, scoring a goal in the title game against Wisconsin. He also helped the United States win the 2010 World Junior Championship, finishing with six goals and seven points in seven games, and represented the United States at the 2010 World Championship, scoring one goal in six games.

Kreider returned to Boston College for the 2010-11 season. He also played for the United States at the 2011 World Junior Championship, finishing with four goals and six points to help the United States place third, and had two goals and an assist in seven games at the 2011 World Championships.

In 2011-12, Kreider made history. He had 23 goals and 45 points to help Boston College win its second NCAA championship in three seasons, then signed an entry-level contract with the Rangers on April 10, 2012. He made his NHL debut six days later in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Ottawa Senators.

Kreider's first NHL goal was the winner in Game 6 against Ottawa on April 23, 2012. He also scored the winner in Game 1 of the second round against the Washington Capitals. Kreider finished with five goals and seven points in 18 postseason games, setting an NHL record for most playoff goals by a player who had yet to appear in a regular-season game.

After beginning the 2012-13 season with Connecticut in the American Hockey League, Kreider made his regular-season NHL debut on Jan. 19, 2013 against the Boston Bruins.

In 2014-15, he was the only player in the NHL with at least 20 goals, 40 points, a plus-20 rating and 80 penalty minutes. Kreider scored an NHL career-high 28 goals in 2016-17, matched that total in 2018-19 and was named to the NHL All-Star Game for the first time in 2020.

Kreider signed a seven-year contract with the Rangers on Feb. 24, 2020. He scored an NHL career-high 52 goals in 2021-22 to become the fourth 50-goal scorer in Rangers history, joining Jaromir Jagr (54 in 2005-06), Adam Graves (52 in 1993-94) and Vic Hadfield (50 in 1971-72). He scored his 20th goal of the 2022-23 season in his 700th NHL game, a 4-1 win against the Vegas Golden Knights on Jan. 27, to become one of six players in Rangers history with at least eight 20-goal seasons: Rod Gilbert (12), Jean Ratelle (nine), Graves (eight), Andy Bathgate (eight) and Camille Henry (eight).

Kreider scored his 35th and 36th playoff goals to pass Gilbert (34) for the most in Rangers history, helping New York to a 5-1 win against the New Jersey Devils in Game 1 of the 2023 first round. He scored scored twice to move into third place on the Rangers goals list in a 5-1 win against the Anaheim Ducks on Dec. 15, 2023. Kreider tied Graves for third with his 280th goal in the first period, which was also his 500th NHL point, all with New York. He passed Graves in the second period, scoring his 100th power-play goal, tied with Graves for fourth in Rangers history.

Three points (one goal, two assists) in a 7-4 win at the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 16, 2024, made Kreider the 10th Rangers skater to play 800 NHL games. His 298 goals were the second-highest total by anyone in team history through their first 800 games, trailing only Ratelle (306). He added to his legend with a natural hat trick in a span of 8:58 to help the Rangers advance to the 2024 Eastern Conference Final with a 5-3 win against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 6 of the second round. Kreider became the third player in Rangers history to score a hat trick in a potential series-clinching game, joining Mike Gartner (Game 5 of 1990 Patrick Division Semifinals) and Steve Vickers (Game 5 of 1973 NHL Quarterfinals). He was also the third player in team history with three goals in a playoff period (Mark Messier, Game 6 of 1994 conference final; Wayne Gretzky, Game 4 of 1997 conference quarterfinals).

Kreider was traded to the Anaheim Ducks by the Rangers on June 12, 2025, for forward prospect Carey Terrance and a third-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, New York also sending a fourth-round pick in 2025 to Anaheim. He left with 582 points (326 goals, 256 assists) in 883 regular-season games and 76 points (48 goals, 28 assists) in 123 playoff games, ranking seventh in Rangers history in games played, third in goals, tied for first in power-play goals (116) and 10th in points. He was also New York's all-time leader in the playoffs in games played and goals, and third in points.