Ex-Rangers star Chris Kreider joins Canadiens on 1-year contract
Former New York Rangers forward Chris Kreider, whose contract was terminated by the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday, has a new home. And he’ll now be playing in a city where he’s long been considered a villain, in front of a fan base that booed him throughout most of his NHL career, after the Montreal Canadiens signed Kreider to a one-year contract on Saturday.
The deal has an average annual value of $2.15 million, according to Puckpedia, but includes performance bonuses that could be worth an additional $3.25 million. Kreider had one season left with a $6.5 million salary-cap hit on the six-year, $45 million contract he signed with the Rangers on Feb. 24, 2020.
The new contract’s bonus structure means the AAV fits easily under the cap without Montreal needing to make a separate money-shedding move.
Jeff Gorton was the Rangers general manager who signed Kreider in 2020 to that long-term contract. He’s now the Canadiens’ president of hockey operations. Kreider’s former Rangers teammate Martin St. Louis coaches the Canadiens.
The Athletic, citing League sources, reported that the 35-year-old forward’s decision came down to three teams — with Montreal winning out due in part to Kreider’s comfort level with St. Louis and his history with Gorton, who was also assistant GM when the Rangers drafted the forward in the first round (No. 19 overall) out of Boston College in 2009.
Bell Centre fans must get accustomed to cheering for Kreider – they’ve consistently booed him since the 2014 Eastern Conference Final, when he collided with Canadiens star Carey Price in Game 1, knocking the goalie out of the series. New York went on to win the best-of-7 set in six games before losing the Stanley Cup Final to the Los Angeles Kings in five games.
The next season, Price exacted some revenge with a big hit behind his net, lowering his shoulder to send an onrushing Kreider flying. So, safe to say, no love lost there.
Ironically, Kreider will be on hand when the Canadiens honor Price on Nov. 10 – one day after he’s inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Canadiens sign ex-Ranger Chris Kreider to one-year contract
Kreider is third in Rangers history with 326 goals and one of four Blueshirts to reach the 50-goal mark – he scored 52 times in 2021-22, including 26 on the power play. He’s also tops in team history with 48 playoff goals.
His greatest moment wearing a Rangers sweater came in the spring of 2024, when he scored a natural hat trick in the third period to spark a comeback 5-3 victory and eliminate the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Second Round.
The former Boston College star won the prestigious Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award in 2021-22, as well as the Rod Gilbert Mr. Rangers Award that same season. He represented the Rangers in the 2020 and 2022 NHL All-Star Games and played for the United States at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February 2025.
New York traded Kreider to Anaheim on June 12, 2025, after he dropped to 22 goals and 30 points while battling injuries and illness in 2024-25. He put up 22 goals and 50 points with the Ducks last season, helping them reach the playoffs for the first time since 2018. Kreider had two goals and seven points in the playoffs, when the Ducks defeated the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference First Round (he scored the go-ahead goal in Game 6) before losing to the Vegas Golden Knights in the second round.
Kreider has 348 goals and 284 assists in 958 NHL regular-season games, and he’s riding a streak of eight straight seasons with at least 20 goals. The 6-foot-3 forward is known for his net-front presence and his ability on special teams. His speed and hard forechecking style should be an excellent fit on Montreal’s second line, and he has a lengthy history of strong play-driving numbers. The Canadiens have an opening on the second line opposite Ivan Demidov that they hope Kreider will fill.
Kreider joins a Canadiens team which finished third in the Atlantic Division last season (48-24-10) and advanced to the Eastern Conference Final before losing to the Hurricanes in five games.
