Chris Kreider laughs at the irony of it.

He's currently in White Plains, N.Y., halfway through his first Prospects Camp with the New York Rangers after being drafted by the team in the first round of last Friday's NHL Entry Draft. There, Kreider, other Ranger draft picks and still other veteran players trying to land a job as they all go through plenty of conditioning drills and on-ice work in an attempt at making a positive impression with the team's decision makers.

He's doing so wearing a National Hockey League jersey for the first time.

And he's keeping his equipment in his old high school hockey bag.

"Kind of funny, isn't it?" mused Kreider, the left wing from Boxford who was the 19th overall selection in the NHL Draft. "I'm wearing a half-shield (helmet) for the first time and putting on that Rangers' jersey ... it's the greatest feeling in the world. I still feel like I'm a little kid trying on a pro's jersey when I put it on."

The 18-year-old, however, is anything but. In fact, it's a good bet most eyes are on the Rangers' prized rookie this week, seeing how the 6-foot-2, 201-pound scoring forward who skates like a cheetah runs adjusts to his first time at the big league level.

Rangers general manager Glen Sather is on record that the team had Kreider ranked as the 11th best player at the draft; they were elated when he fell to them at No. 19.

Sather, among other Rangers executives, met with Kreider and interviewed him as part of the frenzy that is the NHL Combine in the weeks leading up to the draft.

"It was a good meeting I had with the Rangers," said Kreider, who met with all but two of the NHL's 30 clubs during his time at the Combine, "but I didn't think I had that level of interest on their part. I had no idea they liked me to that extent.

"When they called out my name on Friday night ... it was like an out-of-body experience. I mean, it was just surreal."

Since he was selected, Kreider said it's been "crazy, the amount of people I've heard from." He was offered congratulations from many of the people he's met along his hockey journey, as well as friends from Boxford and other well-wishers.

"We were roaming the whole time we were in Montreal at the Bell Centre (where the draft was held) that I don't even want to see the phone bill," Kreider laughed.

As of right now, the plan is for Kreider to finish up his week in White Plains, return home and skate on his own until he leaves for the U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp, taking place Aug. 6-15 in Lake Placid, N.Y. While several cuts will be made during those 10 days, expect Kreider to stick around for the duration as the USA Hockey folks evaluate those players who hope to play for the 2010 U.S. National Junior Team. That team will compete in the 2010 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship Dec. 26 through Jan. 5, 2010, in Saskatoon and Regina, Sask.

"It should be a good experience, just like this is," said Kreider. "It's another step on the rung of the ladder for me."

From there, Kreider is ticketed for Boston College to begin his freshman season of college under head coach Jerry York.