BC Interruption, a Boston College Eagles community

The defending national champions are one of the elite programs in the nation and always have to deal with quality players leaving the program due to graduation or professional hockey opportunities. This year might have hurt more than most, but the Eagles are certainly still among the top teams in the country. We’re a little concerned about where some of the scoring might come from with Chris Kreider already joining the New York Rangers and the graduation of Barry Almeida and Paul Carey who combined to score 40 goals last year. Milner proved he’s one of the nation’s best goalies and might have to carry this team as it finds its way in the first half, but as usual, BC will be there in the end.

Did You Know? #NYR's Chris Kreider is the 1st player in NHL history to score 2 GWGs in same postseason in which he played his 1st NHL game.

"You have to remember, he didn’t come from the University of Nowhere," York said. "Chris played in two world junior championships for Team USA and was a part of two N.C.A.A. titles with us. But you do have to give him credit for stepping into the biggest market in the country and not just looking comfortable, but excelling."

York is not alone with his Boston College pride. After Kreider’s third-period star turn, Parker Milner, his goaltender at Boston College, wrote on Twitter: "Are you kidding me, Kreids. Word is they are chanting Kreider at MSG."

Kreider has an entire NHL organization and its fan base wondering whether he'll begin his career with the Rangers this spring or return to BC for his senior season.

"It's not something I enjoy at all," he said. "Imagine if you're on my team in college. I'm telling the New York media, 'Yeah, I'm gone. I can't wait to join them.' How does that look? I'm supposed to be a leader in one facet or another, and I'm almost writing off the season

"What Chris had to learn, as he gets towards the NHL, is that the pros have a lot of very smart defenseman, and they're as strong as he is and some guys are even as fast as Chris," Clark said. "So he had to learn how to play a team game. And that's what [Boston College Head Coach] Jerry York was able to provide for him. And he and that coaching staff have done a great job. Everything isn't just dependent on him. At prep school it was "if Chris went we won." At Boston College you're one of the team; he's learned how to play a team game and learned how to play his position."

At this point, it is unlikely Kreider will play in the best-of-three quarterfinals. But he could be available to York at some point in the latter stages of the Hockey East Tournament or the NCAA Tournament, where the Eagles will likely be a No. 1 seed.