April 30 Hockey Birthdays: Kreider, Liljegren, Smith – Hockey Writers – Hockey History

admin April 30, 2024

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April 30 Hockey Birthdays: Kreider, Liljegren, Smith – Hockey Writers – Hockey History

On April 30, we celebrate the birthdays of 32 past and present NHL players. Today's list includes the longest tenured member of the New York Rangers, a three-time Stanley Cup champion with the Edmonton Oilers, and one of the young defensemen guarding the blue line of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Let's take a look at some of the words that blow out the candles today.

Chris Kreider (1991)

The last time the New York Rangers won the Stanley Cup was in 1994 when Chris Kreider was three years old. After a successful stint with Boston College, where he won two NCAA championships, the Rangers made him the first pick (19th overall) in the 2009 Entry Draft. He will make his NHL debut during the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs in the first round against the Ottawa Senators.

Chris Kreider, New York Rangers (Jess Starr/Hockey Writers)

Now, Kreider is the longest-tenured skater on the roster, having just completed his 12th season with the Blueshirts. He is a 30-time treble scorer who nearly broke the club's record for goals in a single season, finishing the 2021-22 campaign with 52. In addition, he led the NHL in powerplay goals (26) and game-winners (11).

Related: Every NHL Team's Longest Retained Player

After 815 regular season games and 304 goals, he is closing in on Rod Gilbet's record of 406. Meanwhile, with another deep playoff game or two, Kreider has a chance to become the Rangers' all-time postseason scoring leader, sitting behind him with 22 points. Hall of Famer Brian Leetch.

Timothy Liljegren (1999)

Timothy Liljegren is another first round pick (17th overall) of the Toronto Maple Leafs from the 2017 Entry Draft. At 25, he is approaching 200 games in the NHL, making his debut in 2019-20 and skating 11 games before playing just two the following season.

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Eventually, Liljegren became a regular in Toronto's lineup, averaging more than 55 games over the past three seasons while scoring a career-high 23 points in 2021-22 and 2023-24. Born in Kristianstad, Sweden, Liljegren is one of four Swedish players on the Maple Leafs roster, including William Nylander, Pontus Holmberg and Calle Jarnkrok.

Steve Smith (1963)

Steve Smith was a three-time Stanley Cup champion, winning the championship with the Edmonton Oilers in 1987, 1988, and 1990. Despite his contributions to those winning teams, he is often remembered for his lone goal in the 1986 Smythe Division Final, which ended the Oilers' run as back-to-back champions. Although this moment lives on in disappointment, when Edmonton won the Stanley Cup again in 1987, Smith was the first person to receive the trophy from Wayne Gretzky, who understood how important this moment was for the player and the franchise.

Related: Today in Hockey History: April 29

In his final season (1991) with the Oilers, he made the All-Star team before leaving as a free agent to play with the Chicago Blackhawks. He finished his NHL career with the Flames from 1998 to 2001 before entering coaching, where he currently plies his trade in the American Hockey League.