Lariviere: Chris Kreider Fits Well With The Montreal Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens’ signing of veteran forward Chris Kreider may have come as a shock to many on Saturday, but it makes a lot of sense for both the organization and the player. 

One of the biggest needs the Montreal Canadiens had going into the off-season was a big power-forward type who could produce offence and bring physicality to their lineup. At 6-foot-3 and 231 pounds, Chris Kreider can be that guy. At this point in his career, Kreider also brings plenty of experience that could be great for one of the league’s youngest teams. 

Meanwhile, the Montreal Canadiens make a lot of sense for Kreider because of relationships that he had early in his NHL career. During parts of his first two full seasons in the NHL, one of Kreider’s linemates was current Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis. On top of that, Canadiens President of Hockey Operations Jeff Gorton was the General Manager of the New York Rangers from 2016-2021 as well as part of the organization when they drafted Kreider 19th overall in 2009. 

With Chris Kreider having a cap hit of $2.15 million and a possibility of making $3.2 million more in performance bonuses for the 2026-27 season, the Montreal Canadiens may have gotten another steal of if Kreider can put up similar numbers to last season when he scored 22 goals to go woth 28 assists in 75 games. 

While Kreider may not be the player that he was with the Rangers during his prime, he is still able to score 20-25 goals and 50 points over a full healthy season. Given his size and playing style, he will also be a physical force that will be hard to play against.

Kreider may not be as fast a skater as he was during his prime, but he has proven to adapt well as he approaches his later years in the NHL. The 35-year-old has built himself a reputation as one of the best players in front of the net. By using his size and strength, along with being great at tipping pucks, he is still a serious threat on the power play. 

Considering the Canadiens’ top power play unit will likely stay the same, Kreider will likely be a very important part of the second wave as a big body screening the goalie. However, if the Montreal Canadiens’ top unit struggles at some point during the 2026-27 campaign, he could be moved up to shake things up. He could also be a great option to move up if injuries strike the team. 

Although he and the Ducks agreed to a mutual buyout this past Friday, it was less about Kreider’s performances and more about the team’s need to shed cap space to sign star RFA forward Cutter Gauthier. With the way he plays, there shouldn’t be any reason that Kreider can’t put up similar numbers with the Canadiens this upcoming season. 

How well do you think Kreider will do with the Montreal Canadiens?