Canadiens should put the Chris Kreider history aside and make the call
Over the past 20 years, there may not be a bigger villain for the Montreal Canadiens than Chris Kreider. Fans don’t easily forget that he might have cost the Canadiens a Stanley Cup in 2014 when he slid into Carey Price, resulting in a knee injury that forced Price to miss the remainder of the playoffs.
Ironically, the same player who might have cost the Canadiens a Stanley Cup could help them win on this season as Chris Kreider surprisingly is now available. The Anaheim Ducks placed Kreider on waivers for contract termination and this should at least get Kent Hughes and the Montreal Canadiens thinking about the addition.
Kreider, who spent 13 seasons with the New York Rangers, was traded before last season to the Anaheim Ducks and reportedly wants to head back East. The Canadiens have two options if they want Kreider. The first is that they could claim him on waivers, but then would need to take on his contract, which has an AAV of $6.5 million and only one more year.
In addition to having to take on the contract, Kreider has already made it clear he won’t report to a team that he doesn’t want to play for.
If the Canadiens and the rest of the league let him clear waivers, then it doesn’t get any easier for Montreal as he will be an unrestricted free agent. Even at 35 years old, the former All-Star will have plenty of interest around the league, even at 35 years old, as he is coming off a 50-point season.
Chris Kreider would be an ideal addition to the Canadiens Top 6 at this point of the offseason
The Montreal Canadiens have been shut out to this point in their pursuit of upgrading their Top 6. It has certainly been a challenge because there really weren’t many options in free agency and little movement in the trade market.
Kreider doesn’t help them at center, but he does help them get bigger up front and brings a little physicality. He may not be as physical as he was earlier in his career; Kreider is still 6’3″ and would be one of the bigger forwards on the Canadiens roster.
At this point in his career, Chris Kreider is probably hoping to finally win a Stanley Cup. The Canadiens may be the only team that gives him that chance along with a path to Top 6 minutes. He could be a great fit on the second line with Ivan Demidov on the wing, and the addition of Kreider would allow the Canadiens to slide Alex Newhook inside to center.
If the Canadiens do end up adding Chris Kreider, it might leave fans conflicted as 2014 will still be on their mind. However, if this is the season they finally get back to and win the Stanley Cup, then that play on Price may not be forgotten but could be forgiven.
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