Chris Kreider Signing Proves Canadiens Are Again a Destination for NHL Players – The Hockey Writers – Montreal Canadiens

For years, one of the biggest questions surrounding the Montreal Canadiens’ rebuild was whether the organization could eventually become an attractive destination for established NHL players. Montreal has always had history, passionate fans and one of the biggest markets in hockey, but those things alone do not necessarily convince players to sign. Winning does.

That is why Chris Kreider’s arrival in Montreal is about more than simply adding another veteran forward. The fact that Kreider reportedly reached out about the possibility of joining the Canadiens says a lot about how the perception of the organization has changed.

Kreider Wanted Montreal

There is obviously plenty of history between Kreider and the Canadiens. Montreal fans have not forgotten his collision with Carey Price during the 2014 Eastern Conference Final, and Kreider spent years playing for another Original Six franchise with the New York Rangers.

That makes the circumstances surrounding his arrival in Montreal even more interesting. Instead of the Canadiens having to convince a veteran player to take a chance on their young roster, Kreider showed interest in coming to Montreal. For a player who spent most of his career in New York and has experienced plenty of playoff hockey, seeing the Canadiens as an attractive option is a significant development.

Montreal is no longer simply selling players on what the team could eventually become. The Canadiens can point toward what they are already building.

The young core is established. Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, Ivan Demidov, Lane Hutson and Noah Dobson give Montreal a foundation capable of competing for years. After another step forward in 2025-26, expectations have changed considerably.

The Canadiens Are Becoming a Destination Again

For much of the rebuild, Kent Hughes’ biggest additions came through trades, the draft or taking chances on younger players who needed bigger opportunities. That is normal for a rebuilding organization. Established veterans looking to win generally prefer teams already considered Stanley Cup contenders.

The Canadiens are beginning to enter that conversation. Montreal’s progression over the past few seasons has changed how players around the league can view the organization. This is a young team, but it is no longer a team waiting three or four years for its window to open. The Canadiens have already shown they can compete, and their best players are either entering their primes or still improving.

There is also something appealing about the opportunity itself. A veteran joining Montreal now has a chance to play meaningful hockey while becoming part of a young team trying to take the next step. Kreider doesn’t have to arrive and be the player carrying the offense. He can complement the existing core, bring experience and provide another scoring option.

A Big Win for Hughes

Kreider choosing Montreal should also be viewed as a victory for Hughes and the organization. When Hughes took over, the Canadiens were near the bottom of the standings and needed significant work. The goal wasn’t simply to accumulate prospects. It was to create an organization capable of sustained success and eventually make Montreal an attractive place for players around the league.

That could become extremely important over the next few seasons. Kreider does not have to be the last veteran who looks at Montreal and sees an opportunity. If the Canadiens continue winning, Hughes could have more options when pursuing free agents or working on trades involving players with no-trade protection.

Players talk. Agents pay attention. Around the NHL, teams develop reputations quickly. Montreal has the market, the history and the fan support. What it needed was a competitive team and a clear direction to make those advantages matter again. The Canadiens now have both.

Of course, signing Kreider doesn’t suddenly mean every free agent will have Montreal at the top of his list. Taxes, pressure, weather, family considerations and plenty of other factors will always influence where players want to go. But this is another positive sign.

Perhaps the most interesting part of Kreider joining the Canadiens isn’t what he can bring on the ice. It’s what his desire to come to Montreal represents. The Canadiens spent the first few years of their rebuild trying to convince everyone that something special was being built. Now, players around the NHL are beginning to notice it themselves.